Senior Physicist, Quantum Memory R&D

IonQ; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 127,000 - 182,000; Full time

Job summary

IonQ in Chattanooga, TN seeks a Senior Physicist to develop the silicon vacancy quantum memory platform. You will lead the maturation of electrical and optical subsystems for defect-center memories and work with customers to test applications for quantum networks.

You will join a cross-functional team spanning research, engineering, and commercialization to push quantum technologies forward, including collaboration with industry partners and cloud providers.

Qualifications

• PhD in physics, applied physics, electrical engineering, or closely related field.
• Experience in quantum optics and gate-based quantum computing.
• Experience designing and testing opto-mechanical and opto-electronical setups.
• Experience applying quantum hardware to real-world use cases.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with partners and internal teams to implement new use-cases for the SiV memory platform.
• Evaluate hardware for compatibility with SiV memory nodes and enable new applications.
• Coordinate with internal and external teams to develop memory system subcomponents and software.

Skills

Quantum optics

Quantum computing

Hardware interconnects

Python (lab software)

Education

PhD in physics / applied physics / electrical engineering

Tools

Python

Data acquisition

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.

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: Chattanooga, TN (Onsite)

Travel: Up to 10%, domestic or international.

Job ID: 1789

The Role: IonQ is developing the world's most powerful full-stack quantum computer based on trapped-ion technology. We are pushing past the limits of classical physics and current supercomputing technology to unlock a new era of computing. Quantum computing has the potential to impact every area of human society for the better. IonQ's computers will soon redefine industries like medicine, materials science, finance, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cryptography, and more. IonQ is at the forefront of this technological revolution.

We are looking for a Senior Physicist for development of IonQ's silicon vacancy (SiV) quantum memory platform. As a Senior Physicist, 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 technologies to solve the world's most complex problems.

In this role, you will be an integral part of the commercialization process for IonQ's SiV quantum memories, with applications across quantum computing, networking, and sensing. You will develop and mature key electrical and optical subsystems for defect-center based quantum memory nodes. Example projects include development and integration of new hardware for integration with SiV memory nodes, and working with IonQ customers and collaborators to implement and test new applications and use‑cases for quantum networks and memories.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with IonQ's industry, government, and academic partners, as well as internal teams, to implement new use-cases and applications using the SiV quantum memory platform
• Evaluate and test new hardware (e.g. pair sources, sensors, etc.) for compatibility with SiV memory nodes, for example, to add new capabilities to the network, or to enable new distributed applications
• Coordinate with other teams internally at IonQ and/or with external vendors to develop or improve memory system subcomponents and software as needed

Requirements:

• PhD in physics, applied physics, electrical engineering, or closely related field
• Work in quantum optics and quantum computing (ideally previous work with single photons and/or gate-based quantum systems)
• Experience designing and testing complex opto-mechanical and opto-electronical setups
• Experience in implementing applications and use-cases using quantum hardware

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with defect center and/or solid-state qubits
• Experience in optically-mediated entanglement protocols between qubits
• Experience in writing software for lab environments (preferred language: Python)

The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity, and a range of benefit options found on our career site.

If this role has a commission structure, the compensation range below just reflects the base compensation range.

Wage Transparency:

$126,887—$181,949 USD

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
• 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.