Physicist, System Operations in Oxford

Oxford Ionics, now part of IonQ, is pioneering the next generation of quantum computing. Using our world‑leading trapped‑ion technology, we’re building the most powerful, accurate and reliable quantum systems to tackle problems that today’s supercomputers cannot solve. Joining Oxford Ionics means becoming part of a global IonQ team that is transforming the future of quantum technology - faster, at scale, and with real‑world impact.

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum company delivering solutions to solve the world’s most complex problems. IonQ’s newest generation quantum computers, IonQ Tempo and IonQ Forte Enterprise, are the latest in cutting‑edge systems that have been helping customers and partners such as Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve 20x performance results. The company achieved 99.99% two‑qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance in 2025. The company is accelerating its technology roadmap and intends to deliver the world’s most powerful quantum computers with 2 million qubits by 2030 to accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. IonQ’s advancements in quantum networking position the company as a leader in building the quantum internet.

We are looking for a Senior Physicist, System Operations to join our System Operations team at IonQ. In this role, you will be responsible for operating, maintaining, and improving our trapped‑ion quantum computers, contributing to the team’s mission of keeping IonQ’s quantum systems running reliably and effectively. You’ll play an important part in shaping the processes, observability, automation, and maintenance practices that support our work in building and operating advanced quantum systems. In the first few months, the focus will be on learning how to maintain the hardware and software that underpin our commercial and development systems.

In this position, you will work on the day‑to‑day operation, monitoring, maintenance, and optimisation of our quantum computing systems, supporting the effective delivery of reliable system performance across commercial and development environments. You’ll have the opportunity to improve uptime, strengthen operational practices, and deepen understanding of hardware behaviour through data and hands‑on system work, contributing directly to the success of the wider quantum computing programme.

Key responsibilities include:

• Participate in follow‑the‑sun on‑call rotations to help keep systems running at peak performance.
• Build and maintain observability and automation to support high uptime across commercial and development quantum computers.
• Carry out regular and emergency hardware maintenance on trapped‑ion quantum systems.
• Interpret telemetry data to diagnose system status and improve understanding of hardware behaviour.
• Collaborate across teams and time zones, including coordinating with customers on system access and status updates.

To be successful, you will need:

• A strong foundation in physics, engineering, or another physical science, along with hands‑on laboratory experience relevant to operating complex experimental systems.
• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in physics, engineering, or another physical science.
• Hands‑on laboratory experience in atomic and/or optical physics, ideally including optical bench setups, precision alignment, laser frequency stabilisation, and optical modulators.
• Strong communication skills, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to work effectively in a distributed team.
• Flexibility to work changing hours as part of a 24/7 on‑call rotation, alongside a strong willingness to learn and adapt.
• Experience with statistics, telemetry or data analysis, and ideally programming in Rust or Python, software engineering, or RF / analog / digital electronics in precision control systems.

Be part of a team that’s shaping the future of quantum. We offer more than just a role; you’ll join a world‑class community of scientists, engineers, and innovators working to unlock the full potential of quantum computing. We offer a range of benefits, including opportunities to further your career alongside industry leaders, a competitive salary with IonQ stock options, an annual performance bonus, generous annual leave, flexible working, private medical and dental insurance for you and your family, and much more. Join us and be part of the future of quantum computing. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.