March 19, 2026 Melissa Kashouh

IonQ – Staff Cryogenics Engineer

  • Anywhere

● TALENT ONE MARKET INTELLIGENCE: IONQ

πŸ”₯ TALENT LIQUIDITY:
Extremely low. The intersection of cryogenics and quantum networking is a niche with fewer than 500 qualified practitioners globally.

πŸ“ˆ ALPHA SIGNAL:
Quantum hardware is the new ‘Big Iron.’ By mastering the thermal backbone of these systems, you become a foundational asset in a multi-billion dollar industry, ensuring your compensation scales with the hardware’s commercial adoption.

EST. COMPENSATION
$190k – $245k Base + Equity Package
SECTOR HEAT
86.8/100
CANDIDATE PROTOCOL: Focus on your experience with long-term system uptime and remote maintenance of cryogenic subsystems. Your ability to make ‘lab-grade’ hardware ‘field-ready’ is the primary value driver.

Official Role Description: IonQ

IonQ is developing the world’s most powerful full-stack quantum computer based on trapped-ion technology. We are pushing past the limits of classical physics and current supercomputing technology to unlock a new era of computing. Quantum computing has the potential to impact every area of human society for the better. IonQ’s computers will soon redefine industries like medicine, materials science, finance, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cryptography, and more. IonQ is at the forefront of this technological revolution. 

We are looking for a Staff Cryogenic Engineer for support and developing a cryogenic platform for diamond-based photonic interconnects between IonQ quantum processors. As a Staff Cryogenic Engineer, you’ll be part of a cross-functional team whose mission is to lead IonQ on its journey to build the world’s best quantum technologies to solve the world’s most complex problems. 

In this role, you will be an integral part of the commercialization process for IonQ’s SiV quantum memories, with applications across quantum computing, networking, and sensing. You will develop and mature cryogenic subsystems for defect-center based quantum memory nodes. Specifically, this involves engineering R&D-scale subsystems and processes into robust, reliable elements deployable at other IonQ and/or customer sites, which can be efficiently maintained and/or updated as the technology evolves. 


Responsibilities: 

  • Customize commercially available cryostats for quantum memory-specific needs
  • Work with vendors to design and configure deployable cryogenic systems 
  • Work with IonQ internal teams to improve the current cryogenic platforms
  • Provide operational support for the current fleet of cryostats 


You’d be a good fit with: 

  • Masters in physics, applied physics, mechanical engineering, or closely related field
  • Experience working in cryo industry for 7+ years 
  • Experience in designing and evaluating performance of complex cryogenic systems
  • Experience with operating and maintaining dilution, sorption, 1K cryostats 
  • Experience with cryogenic wiring, sensors, and heaters 
  • Experience with UHV systems in cryogenic environment: pumping, leak detection, sealing and joining techniques
  • Experience with CAD systems and manufacturing 


You’d be a great fit with: 

  • PhD in physics, applied physics, mechanical engineering, or closely related field
  • Experience working in cryo industry for 10+ years 
  • Experience with managing complex production lines 
  • Experience managing customer projects 
  • Experience with free-space or fiber optics 
  • Experience with working and integration of superconducting magnets 

Location: This role will be based on-site at our Boston, MA office.
Travel: Occasional domestic travel to customer/other IonQ site
Job ID:
 1367

The approximate base salary range for this position is $167,808 $219,704. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, and equity.

Compensation will vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Beyond base salary, total compensation includes a variable bonus and equity component and a range of benefit options found on our career site at ionq.co/jobs.  Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided when a candidate receives an offer of employment. Our US benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, matching 401K, unlimited PTO and paid holidays, parental/adoption leave, legal insurance, a home internet stipend, and pet insurance! 

IonQ’s HQ is located in College Park, Maryland, just outside of Washington DC. We are actively building out our recently opened manufacturing and production facility in Bothell, WA (near Seattle). Depending on the position, you may be required to be near one of our offices in College Park, Seattle, Toronto, Canada, and Basel, Switzerland. However, IonQ will expand into additional domestic and international geographies, so don’t let this stop you from applying!
 
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.

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 β€œU.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!

 

Melissa Kashouh

Founder of Talent One I help enterprise leaders and investors forecast hiring surges, talent shortages, and market friction up to six weeks in advance using our patent-pending predictive intelligence platform. As the founder of Talent One AI (the intelligence layer of The Talent One), I built a system that turns lagging recruiting data into actionable foresight β€” helping companies reduce technical debt, protect employer brand, and hire ahead of the curve. Based in Providence, Rhode Island.
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