Senior Photonics Test Engineer

Clutch Canada; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 127,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) match

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

IonQ is seeking a Senior Photonics Test Engineer to lead characterization of on-chip photonic devices within the Quantum Interconnect Division. You will design and scale testing infrastructure, automate data collection, and collaborate across teams to improve device performance.

The role requires 3+ years in photonics or PIC testing, a Master/PhD or equivalent, and strong programming skills in Python or Matlab for automation. On-site in Boston with travel < 10% and a competitive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 3+ years hands-on characterization of PIC devices or equivalent experience.
• Master or PhD in engineering or related field or equivalent practical experience.
• Programming experience in Python, Matlab, or similar for test automation.

Responsibilities

• Design, upgrade, and expand testing infrastructure for characterizing photonics devices.
• Develop and perform robust testing procedures for component-level characterization.
• Automate test pipeline: instrument setup, data acquisition, and analysis.
• Carry out characterization using room-temperature and cryogenic setups and provide feedback to design teams.
• Collaborate with design, packaging, and system teams to optimize testing features.

Skills

Python

Matlab

Test automation

Room-temperature tests

Cryogenic tests

Data analysis

Education

Master's or PhD in engineering

Tools

Test instrumentation

Cryogenic optical test setups

Characterization equipment

Job description

About IonQ:

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum platform and merchant supplier - delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. IonQ’s newest generation of quantum computers, the IonQ Tempo, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, and AstraZeneca achieve 20x performance results and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance.
Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Our quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers, while we also meet the needs of networking and sensing customers across land, sea, air, and space. IonQ is making quantum platforms more accessible and impactful than ever before.

Location: This role will be based on-site at our Boston, MA office.
Travel: Less than 10%
Job ID: 1632

The Role:

We are looking for a Senior Photonics Test Engineer to join our Quantum Interconnect Division. As a Senior Photonics Test Engineer, you’ll be part of a cross-functional team whose mission is to lead IonQ on its journey to build the world’s best quantum computers to solve the world’s most complex problems. In this role, you will be responsible for the characterization and test development of on-chip photonic devices. The ideal candidate is someone who is a detail-oriented problem solver with strong teamwork skills.

Responsibilities:

• Design, upgrade, and expand the testing infrastructure for characterizing classical integrated photonics devices and components (passive and active) at chip and wafer level scale, utilizing both room-temperature and cryogenic setups.
• Develop and perform robust testing procedures for component-level characterization.
• Automate the test pipeline, including instrument setup, data acquisition, and analysis, while maintaining high-quality, scalable, and well-tested scripts.
• Conduct characterization using room-temperature and cryogenic setups and provide data-driven feedback to design engineers to improve component performance.
• Collaborate with design, packaging, and system teams to optimize testing features and develop a library of testing structures for platform improvement.

Requirements:

• 3+ years of professional experience in the hands-on characterization of PIC devices or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Master or Ph.D. in engineering or related field/discipline or equivalent practical experience.
• Programming experience in a general-purpose programming language (like Python, Matlab, etc.) for test automation.
• Experience with test instrumentation and methods for characterizing classical integrated photonics devices.
• Strong data processing, visualization, and organizational skills.
• Hands‑on experience with room-temperature optical test setups

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of design and characterization experience of classical integrated photonics devices.
• 3+ years of industry experience.
• Familiarity with free-space optics and imaging systems.
• Hands‑on experience with cryogenic optical test setups.
• Experience working with laser sources and fiber components.
• Strong programming skills for data analysis and experimental automation software, and experience with version control systems such as git.
• Familiarity with fabrication processes and design constraints for PICs.

The approximate base salary range for this position is $126,887 - $166,127.

Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education, qualifications, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location, and calibration against relevant market data and internal team equity. Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Our benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, matching 401(k), unlimited PTO and paid holidays, parental/adoption leave, legal insurance, and a home technology stipend. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided when a candidate receives an offer of employment.

At IonQ, we believe in fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all while striving to identify and eliminate barriers. We empower employees to thrive by fostering a culture of autonomy, productivity, and respect. We are dedicated to creating an environment where individuals can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.

We are committed to equity and justice. We welcome different voices and viewpoints and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

US Technical Jobs. The position you are applying for will require access to technology that is subject to U.S. export control and government contract restrictions. Employment with IonQ is contingent on either verifying “U.S. Person” (e.g., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum) status for export controls and government contracts work, obtaining any necessary license, and/or confirming the availability of a license exception under U.S. export controls. Please note that in the absence of confirming you are a U.S. Person for export control and government contracts work purposes, IonQ may choose not to apply for a license or decline to use a license exception (if available) for you to access export-controlled technology that may require authorization, and similarly, you may not qualify for government contracts work that requires U.S. Persons, and IonQ may decline to proceed with your application on those bases alone. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.

US Non-Technical Jobs. Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.