Research & Development Intern
IonQAbout the role
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.
Location: College Park, MD, onsite
Travel: Less than 10%
Job ID: 1655
The Role:
We are looking for a 1-year intern with AMO physics background and experience in ion trapping. As an intern, you will work alongside other physicists and engineers in the Photonic Interconnects (PI) team within R&D at IonQ’s College Park headquarters, and have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in an exciting and rapidly evolving field of physics application. The PI team is a hands-on team focused on the design, development and instantiation of photonic interconnect systems and protocols to extend IonQ quantum computer system capabilities and to provide the framework for network linkage to other quantum computing systems and to quantum memories, sensing and other quantum devices. In this mission the group works with both internal and external customers and collaborators to advance early-stage technologies to higher levels of technology readiness.
Responsibilities:
- You must be authorized to work or study within the United States.
- You must be enrolled in an Undergraduate / Masters / PhD science or engineering program relevant to quantum computing, or have recently (within the past 1 year) received a BS/BA or higher degree from a program relevant to quantum computing.
Requirements:
- You would be a good fit if you have demonstrated coursework and research experience in quantum computing.
- You would be a great fit if you have:
- Experience with fabrication or characterization of photonic devices
- Experience working with ion traps, ultra-high vacuum and cryogenic systems
- Experience simulating optical or microwave devices
- Understanding of free-space optics and imaging systems
- Experience working with visible-light laser sources and fiber components
- Strong programming skills.
Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education, qualifications
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