Location: This role can be based at our office in Bothell, WA (US) or in Oxford, England (UK).
Travel: Twice per year
Job ID:  1452

The Role

As a Senior Software Engineer for Developer Tools, you will be a key contributor to the software that connects quantum developers to IonQ's hardware. You will focus on contributing to quantum compiler tools and features that our users and internal research teams depend on to run applications. You will build tooling to give users deep insights into how their circuits are optimized and create intuitive, user-friendly interfaces for hardware-specific compiler passes, such as quantum error mitigation and quantum error correction, and ensure our tools are robust and well-documented. You will work closely with our Compiler, QEC, and Applications teams to take new features through development, testing, documentation, packaging, and release, and use software engineering best practices to document, distribute, and use them in quantum software applications.

The Developer Tools team builds the critical software layer for the quantum ecosystem. In this role, you will help shape an ecosystem of tooling that turns high-level quantum circuits into optimized instructions for our quantum computers. Your work will directly impact the performance, reliability, and capabilities of quantum applications running on IonQ systems by focusing on the compiler's application-facing features and its connection to the hardware.

The compiler is where quantum algorithms meet quantum hardware. Your work sits at the heart of this critical transformation. The tools you build will define how developers interact with our systems, enabling them to extract maximum performance, trust the compilation process, and tailor optimization strategies for their specific use cases.

By focusing on compiler tools for applications, you empower developers to tackle real-world problems and push the boundaries of what's possible on quantum computers. You'll make advanced techniques accessible, from sophisticated error mitigation to hardware-aware compilation. This role offers a unique opportunity to work with world-class researchers and translate their innovations into production software that accelerates the path to quantum advantage for everyone.

Responsibilities:

• Design, build, and maintain compiler toolchains, optimization tools, and circuit transformation libraries for developer-facing applications.
• Work with the Compiler and Applications teams to package, test, and document new compilation features for both internal and external developers.
• Architect and implement interfaces for hardware-specific compilation features, giving developers deeper control and visibility.
• Integrate automated error mitigation, quantum error correction, and other advanced compilation strategies into our cloud platform and SDKs.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation, examples, and tutorials for compilation workflows.
• Support the testing and validation of compilation features across different IonQ backends and system configurations, and capabilities such as mid-circuit measurement and branching.
• Collaborate with the Applications Engineering team to understand and address customer needs related to compilation and circuit optimization.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, or a related field, or equivalent training, fellowship, or work experience.
• 6+ years of professional software engineering experience in team environments.
• Deep proficiency in Python, our primary language.
• Experience with quantum computing, with an understanding of quantum gates and circuits.
• Familiar with the fundamentals of quantum compilation, error mitigation and quantum error correction.
• Experience with software maintenance, user community stewardship and software engineering best practices.
• Experience working with research or academic concepts and integrating them into scientific software workflows.
• Familiarity with Agentic AI coding tools and techniques such as skills, docstring generation, code review, and software engineering best practices.
• A track record of creating clear, comprehensive technical documentation.
• Experience with automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, and scientific software validation.
• Strong collaboration skills, with experience working across research and engineering teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 8+ years of professional software experience.
• An advanced degree (PhD or Master's) in Physics, Computer Science, or a related field with a focus on quantum computing.
• A background in compiler development for either classical or quantum systems.
• An interest in or experience with hardware-level and hardware-specific compilation, such as pulse-level control or dynamic circuits.
• System-level programming experience with C++ or Rust for performance-critical code.
• Deep experience with quantum compilers, circuit optimization, or quantum error correction.
• Experience with quantum computing SDKs (Qiskit, Pennylane, Cirq).
• Understanding of trapped-ion quantum computing systems and their specific noise characteristics.
• Proficiency with or strong interest in open-source compiler tools like ucc and jeff
• Publications or significant contributions to quantum computing research or open-source projects.

The approximate base salary range for this position is $145,920 - $191,047 (USD). The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity, and a range of benefit options found on our career site.

Location: This role can be based at our office in Bothell, WA (US) or in Oxford, England (UK).
Travel: Twice per year
Job ID: 1453

The Role

As a Staff Software Engineer for Developer Tools, you will be responsible for delivering the next generation of quantum compiler tools and features, with the focus of integration into quantum software applications, overall developer experience, documentation and developer tooling. Your work will involve setting high-level technical standards, mentoring senior engineers and scientists, and providing deep expertise to solve the most challenging problems in quantum compilation, optimization, and hardware interfaces. You will drive the adoption and enhancement of critical, user-facing compiler infrastructure, ensuring our tools are aligned with cutting-edge quantum research (e.g., advanced error mitigation, novel compiler optimization techniques). You will work across organizational boundaries, Compiler, QEC, Applications, and Engineering, to support scientific breakthroughs and define the technical strategy for packaging, documentation, and release processes for major components of IonQ’s developer tooling ecosystem.

The Developer Tools team builds the critical software layer for IonQ’s quantum software tools. In this Staff role, you will be a key driver in shaping the future of this ecosystem, and bridging the gap between critical parts of our engineering and computing organizations. Your impact will be measured by the successful delivery of critical, cross-functional projects and the elevation of technical execution across the entire team.

As a Staff Software Engineer, your influence extends beyond a single project; you define the technical bedrock upon which IonQ's developer ecosystem is built. The compiler is the critical interface where quantum algorithms are realized on hardware, and your architectural decisions will dictate the performance ceiling and accessibility of our systems. You will lead the charge in making advanced quantum techniques, from sophisticated hardware-aware compilation to state-of-the-art error mitigation, seamlessly available to every developer. This role offers the unique opportunity to leverage your deep experience to solve fundamental technical challenges, mentor the next generation of quantum software leaders, and accelerate the global adoption of quantum computing.

Responsibilities

• Define the technical strategy and roadmap for major components of the compiler toolchain, optimization suite, and developer interfaces, ensuring long-term maintainability and performance.
• Serve as the primary architect and technical lead for large, complex engineering projects spanning multiple teams (e.g., integrating a new compilation paradigm or full-stack error mitigation strategy).
• Drive the design and implementation of highly scalable and robust interfaces for hardware-specific compilation features, including advanced pulse-level control and system diagnostics.
• Establish best practices and mentor engineers on software architecture, design patterns, testing methodologies, and maintainership.
• Collaborate closely with research teams to evaluate, prototype, and productize novel quantum algorithms and compilation techniques, bridging the gap between research and production.
• Oversee the comprehensive documentation, examples, tutorials, and packaging strategy for all compiler-related developer tools to ensure ease of adoption and a world-class user experience.
• Act as a key technical resource for the Applications Engineering team, providing deep expertise to employ compilation techniques to solve customer-specific challenges and gather requirements for new features.
• Champion continuous improvement in software engineering processes, automated testing, CI/CD, and validation standards across the Developer Tools organization.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, or a related field, or equivalent training, fellowship, or work experience.
• 10+ years of professional software engineering experience, with a significant portion spent in a technical leadership or architectural role.
• Deep expertise in Python and experience designing and maintaining large-scale, performance-critical software systems.
• Expert-level understanding of quantum computing principles, quantum circuits, optimization techniques, and compiler fundamentals.
• Proven track record of driving complex, cross-functional engineering projects from concept to production delivery.
• Experience in system-level architecture and design, translating high-level requirements into clear, actionable technical specifications and implementation plans.
• A history of mentorship and elevating the technical capabilities of a multi-level engineering team.
• Familiarity with Agentic AI coding tools and techniques, and experience integrating them into modern software development workflows.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of authoring impactful technical papers, specifications, and external documentation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• An advanced degree (PhD or Master's) in Physics, Computer Science, or a related field with a focus on quantum computing or compiler technologies.
• Direct experience in compiler development (classical or quantum), particularly with optimization passes, intermediate representations, or static analysis tools.
• Deep expertise in system-level programming (C++, Rust) for high-performance computing or hardware interaction.
• Significant contributions to open-source software, especially in the quantum computing ecosystem (e.g., Qiskit, Pennylane, Cirq, ucc, jeff).
• Experience with low-level hardware control, pulse-level programming, dynamic circuits, or systems programming.
• A strong background in applied quantum error correction (QEC) or advanced quantum error mitigation techniques.
• A demonstrated ability to influence technical direction across organizational boundaries and secure buy-in for strategic initiatives.

The approximate base salary range for this position is $167,808 - $219,704 (USD). The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity, and a range of benefit options found on our career site.