Senior Research Scientist - Thin-Film Lithium Niobate

About IonQ: 

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum company delivering solutions to solve the world’s most complex problems. IonQ’s newest generation quantum computers, IonQ Tempo and IonQ Forte Enterprise, are the latest in cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners such as Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve 20x performance results. The company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance in 2025.

The company is accelerating its technology roadmap and intends to deliver the world’s most powerful quantum computers with 2 million qubits by 2030 to accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. IonQ’s advancements in quantum networking position the company as a leader in building the quantum internet.

 

Location: This role will be based on-site at our Boston, MA office. We are open to a hybrid option for the right candidate.
Travel: Less than 10% 
Job ID: 1461

The Role: 

We are looking for a Thin-Film Lithium Niobate Research Scientist. As a Nonlinear Optics Fabrication Research Scientist, you'll be part of a cross-functional team whose mission is to lead lonQ on its journey to build the world's best quantum computers to solve the world's most complex problems. 

In this role, you will be deeply involved in the fabrication and testing of state-of-the-art photonic integrated circuits, with a primary focus on thin-film nonlinear optics platforms. You will play a hands-on role in developing cutting-edge technology that directly enables advanced quantum interconnects. As part of our research organization, your work will be driven by ambitious system-level specifications, pushing the boundaries of current material and fabrication capabilities to achieve unprecedented device performance.

Responsibilities:

• Fabricate and characterize thin-film integrated photonic devices and circuits.
• Process devices in a cleanroom user facility, focusing on core techniques like etching and lithography. 
• Conduct metrology and physical characterization to evaluate the quality of fabricated structures. 
• Partner with internal test and measurement teams to ensure devices meet target specifications. 
• Build relationships with external vendors to scale up fabrication and testing.

Requirements:

• A PhD in electrical engineering, physics, materials science, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience working with lithium niobate integrated photonics or other similar materials.
• Deep expertise in cleanroom fabrication environments, particularly excelling in lithography and etching processes. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Specialized knowledge in the periodic poling of lithium niobate to enable efficient non-linear frequency conversion. 
• Previous involvement in transitioning in-house processes to external foundries, including tapeout experience. 
• Hands-on experience with optical testing setups, specifically the optical and electrical probing of integrated photonic chips. 
• Familiarity with architectures for distributed quantum computing, sensing, and networking.

The approximate base salary range for this position is $126,887 - $166,127. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity, and a range of benefit options found on our career site.

Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education, qualifications, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location, and calibration against relevant market data and internal team equity.  Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Our benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, matching 401K, 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. 

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 barr