Senior Staff Field Engineer - Quantum Applications - Europe in Oxford

About IonQ: IonQ, Inc. 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.

Location: This position can work onsite or hybrid from one of our offices or fully remote in Europe. Travel: 20% travel domestically and globally.

The Role: We are looking for a Quantum Field Engineer that specializes in Quantum Algorithms and Applications. As a Quantum Field Engineer, you’ll be part of a team whose mission is to lead IonQ on its journey to build the world’s best quantum solutions for the market and solve the world’s most complex problems. Field Engineering sits at the intersection of customers, markets, products and product teams, algorithms, applications, innovation and strategy - this is the team where ideas become applied and have impact. Join a nimble team of scientists, engineers, salespeople, marketers, business developers, and product managers to drive an entirely new quantum computing business. We’re seeking versatile engineers and architects skilled in technical sales, technical demos and customer interactions who feel energized to deliver IonQ’s quantum computing products and quantum applications.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and shepherd client discussions, inspiring them to see how quantum applications can be implemented in their business domain.
• This includes working through business needs and mapping Quantum Algorithms (financial services, bioscience, chemistry and materials, optimization, generative AI, and other domains) into application code and executing Proof-of-Concepts together with the IonQ Application team.
• Inspire prospective clients by explaining IonQ’s strategy, portfolio and answering technical questions about quantum portfolio (compute, network, security, sensing and space) and quantum applications.
• When possible and applicable rotate into the Application team where development of new algorithmic intellectual property is developed.
• Share insights from clients with the IonQ Product Management and Engineering teams such that client feedback is incorporated into our products.
• Navigate competitive objection handling.
• Translate business needs expressed by our clients into technical work projects in collaboration with other team members.
• Create assets to explain features of our quantum applications and other IonQ quantum products.
• Move dialogs from initial ideation to focused exploration domain through to proof-of-concept and ultimately into production workflows.
• Lead client discovery sessions for business oriented use cases that uncover potential overlap with development of useful quantum algorithms together with the IonQ Application team.
• Partner with marketing, developer relations and business development to grow awareness of IonQ in the world at large.
• Attend industry conferences as needed.

This is a technical customer-facing role with the appropriate balance of compensation acceleration for success and a base salary to ensure that credibility and technical correctness always comes first.

Requirements:

• 10+ years of professional experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Masters or PhD with a focus on Quantum Computing, Algorithms and Applications, Complexity Theory.
• Hands-on experience with Qiskit, Cirq, Classiq or other quantum computing SDKs.
• Broad published research and other vehicles for increased impact radius.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Time on the customer side in various verticals included leadership roles - this provides customer empathy.
• Some experience in technical customer-facing roles or equivalent capacity.
• The ability to communicate (at the various context-appropriate levels of depth) and persuade clearly, have strong EQ, and other customer facing skills are critical.
• Expert architecture skills across various technologies (“full stack skills”).
• Experience leading technical events.

The total compensation package includes OTE (base/commission) and equity. 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 401K, 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.

If you are interested in being a part of our team and mission, we encourage you to apply!