Staff Software Engineer - Developer Tools

IonQ

About The Position

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.

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.

Nice To Haves

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.

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.