QEC Researcher

The posting, as IonQ wrote it

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 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 .

Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Our quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers, while we also meet the needs of networking and sensing customers across land, sea, air, and space. IonQ is making quantum platforms more accessible and impactful than ever before.

Role Overview
Role:
We are looking for a QEC Researcher to work on quantum error correction. You will be part of a cross-functional team whose mission is to lead IonQ on its journey to build the world's best quantum computers to solve the world's most complex problems.
In this role, you will contribute to the design of IonQ's fault-tolerant quantum computer by conducting research in quantum error correction and fault-tolerant quantum computing. You will design, optimise and simulate quantum error correction codes, decoders and logical operations, which sit at the core of our large-scale quantum computing architecture.
Responsibilities:
Your research will feed directly into the architecture of our fault-tolerant machines, from the choice of codes and logical operations through to the decoders that run them. You will also help build and extend the simulation tools the quantum error correction team relies on to evaluate new protocols.
You will share your results through research papers and conference talks, and work closely with colleagues whose expertise and experience differ from your own.
Key responsibilities include:

• Contribute to the design of core components of our fault-tolerant quantum computer architecture, such as quantum error correction protocols, logical operations or decoders.
• Contribute to the development of the quantum error correction team's simulation tools.
• Contribute to research papers.
• Collaborate with team members with different areas of expertise and experience.

Requirements

To succeed, you will need a PhD in quantum computing, mathematics, physics, computer science or a related field, and around five years of research experience. Strong expertise in QEC simulation and physics simulation, including Stim and Monte Carlo methods, is central to the role.
You will be comfortable working across theory
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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.

US Technical Jobs. The position you are applying for will require access to technology that is subject to U.S. export control and government contract restrictions. Employment with IonQ is contingent on either verifying “U.S. Person” (e.g., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum) status for export controls and government contracts work, obtaining any necessary license, and/or confirming the availability of a license exception under U.S. export controls. Please note that in the absence of confirming you are a U.S. Person for export control and government contracts work purposes, IonQ may choose not to apply for a license or decline to use a license exception (if available) for you to access export-controlled technology that may require authorization, and similarly, you may not qualify for government contracts work that requires U.S. Persons, and IonQ may decline to proceed with your application on those bases alone. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.

US Non-Technical Jobs. Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.

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