Senior Software Engineering Manager, Developer Tools

Clutch Canada; Bothell (WA); Hybrid; USD 201,000 - 263,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Home technology stipend

Unlimited PTO and paid holidays

401(k) matching

Job summary

IonQ, Inc. in Bothell, WA, is seeking a Senior Software Engineering Manager to lead and grow a developer tools team delivering SDKs for quantum computers and simulators.

You will engage with the developer community to stay current with trends in industry and research, guiding multiple initiatives with a balance of technical and business judgment. The role requires strong leadership, hands-on coding, and a track record of open-source contributions, with a focus on scalable, well-engineered

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Physics, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 6+ years of hands-on technical leadership and people management experience.
• 5+ years experience of open source contributions.
• 3+ years experience of programming experience in Python.
• Past experience building SDKs for hybrid cloud environments.
• Proficiency in quantum computing SDKs (Qiskit, Pennylane, CirQ).
• Experience managing distributed teams and driving high performance culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of software engineers creating SDKs and libraries for programming quantum computers and interacting with the systems and services around them.
• Contribute to codebase as a player-coach to stay connected with the team’s work.
• Engage with developer forums and events to track trends in industry and research communities.
• Provide technical leadership and drive robust, scalable software solutions and best practices.
• Drive delivery of key team and org-wide programs and initiatives.
• Partner with Engineering Managers, Product Managers, and cross-functional teams to define scope and drive programs to conclusion.
• Develop and iterate on program management techniques, KPIs, and success criteria.
• Create high-quality written proposals and documentation; build alignment across teams.
• Help influence peers and leaders and navigate ambiguity; hire key staff within first three months.

Skills

Python

Open source contributions

Leadership

Distributed teams

SDK development

Code reviews

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Physics

MS or PhD in related field (preferred)

Tools

Qiskit

Pennylane

CirQ

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 is based at our Bothell, WA office, with the option to work a few days a week remotely.

Job ID: 1734

The Role

We are looking for a senior software engineering manager to lead and grow our developer tools team. In this role, you’ll help deliver access to our industry‑leading quantum computers and simulators via software development kits (SDKs) that make programming them a delight. You’ll regularly engage with the developer community to stay up to date with trends in industry and research communities alike.

The ideal candidate will have experience leading or contributing to multiple simultaneous initiatives, balancing multiple activities with a keen eye for prioritizing for the biggest impact. You’ll be able to balance technical expertise and savvy with strong business judgment to make great technology choices with lasting impact. You’ll strive for simplicity and demonstrate significant creativity and incisive judgment. You'll enjoy learning technical topics, working across multiple business streams, and be uniquely positioned to help us reach the next horizon in secure quantum computing.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of software engineers creating SDKs and libraries for programming quantum computers and interacting with the systems and services around them
• Contribute to our codebase not as the lead developer, but to remain connected to the work your team is doing as a player‑coach
• Participate in developer forums and events to keep your finger on the pulse of this rapidly evolving field
• Provide technical expertise and strong thought leadership in building robust, well‑engineered, and scalable software solutions, participating in code reviews and ensuring best practices
• Drive functional and technical delivery of key team and org‑wide programs/initiatives
• Partner with Engineering Managers, Product Managers, and other cross functional partners to define, scope, and drive large programs to conclusion.
• Develop, implement, and iterate on program management techniques, frameworks, and KPIs to achieve goals with well defined success criteria.
• Define and produce high quality written proposals, communications and documentation
• Create widely circulated plans, driving consistency, clarity and building alignment across teams
• Help influence peers / leaders and build consensus while dealing with ambiguity
• In your first three months, you’ll be helping hire key staff to scale this function.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Physics, or related field, or equivalent practical experience
• 6+ years of hands‑on technical leadership and people management experience
• 5+ years experience of open source contributions
• 3+ years experience of programming experience in Python
• Past experience building SDKs, and ideally those built for use in hybrid cloud environments
• Proficiency in quantum computing SDKs (Qiskit, Pennylane, CirQ)
• Knowledge of team management best practices and demonstrated experience building and scaling effective teams that drives a high performance culture in a distributed work environment
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to partner and align with external software teams
• Sound project management, analytical skills and ability to establish metrics to measure and drive a high return on investment
• Expertise in modern software development practices and tools (e.g., continuous integration and delivery, observability, etc.)
• Client focus and the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with internal and external partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Computer Science, Physics, Quantum Information Science, or a related degree
• 10+ years of technical leadership and people management experience
• 3+ years of managing distributed teams
• Experience as an open source project maintainer with an active community
• A background in quantum computing and/or quantum information science

The approximate base salary range for this position is $200,698 - $262,765. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity, and a range of benefit options found on our career site.

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.