Senior Staff Field Engineer - Quantum Applications - Europe

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 helped customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and others achieve performance improvements and accelerate innovation across drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense.

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 in building the world’s best quantum solutions and solving the world’s most complex problems. Field Engineering sits at the intersection of customers, markets, products, algorithms, applications, innovation, and strategy – this is the team where ideas become applied and have impact.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and shepherd client discussions, inspiring them to see how quantum applications can be implemented in their business domain.
• Work through business needs and map Quantum Algorithms into application code and execute Proof‑of‑Concepts together with the IonQ Application team.
• Inspire prospective clients by explaining IonQ’s strategy, portfolio and answering technical questions about the quantum portfolio and quantum applications.
• Share insights from clients with the IonQ Product Management and Engineering teams so 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 dialogues from initial ideation to focused exploration of 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 worldwide.
• Attend industry conferences as needed.
• Deliver technical customer‑facing solutions with a balance of compensation acceleration for success and a base salary that ensures credibility and technical correctness.

Requirements:

• 10+ years of professional experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Masters or PhD focused on Quantum Computing, Algorithms and Applications, Complexity Theory with 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 including leadership roles – provides customer empathy.
• Experience in technical customer‑facing roles or equivalent capacity; ability to communicate at various levels of depth, persuade clearly, and demonstrate strong EQ.
• Expert architecture skills across various technologies (“full stack skills”).
• Experience leading technical events.

Compensation: The total compensation package includes OTE (base and commission) and equity. Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education, qualifications, experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location, and calibration against relevant market data and internal team equity.

Benefits: 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.

We believe in fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all while fostering a culture of autonomy, productivity, and respect. We are dedicated to creating an environment where individuals feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

Export Control Compliance: The position requires compliance with U.S. export control laws and government contract restrictions. Candidates must be U.S. persons or demonstrate the necessary license or exemption status as required by law.