Staff Supplier Quality Engineer

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 is based at our Bothell, WA office, with the option to work a few days a week remotely.
Travel: 25%-50% (primarily for supplier visits/audits)
Job ID: 1454 

The Role:

We are looking for a hands-on Staff Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE). As a Staff SQE, 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 computers to solve the world’s most complex problems. 

In this role, you will partner with teams from manufacturing, supply chain, and design engineering to create and maintain the quality systems and processes that ensure the reliability and performance of components and materials from our supply base. Supplier quality is paramount to IonQ, and this Staff SQE role will help ensure a systematic approach to implementation, execution, and maintenance of a robust Quality Management System (QMS) as it pertains to external suppliers.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with St. Sourcing and Engineering & Technology on supplier selection and qualification activities, including conducting on-site audits and assessments to evaluate potential new suppliers.
• Monitor and manage ongoing supplier performance, driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance quality, reliability, and delivery from the existing supply base.
• Lead the execution of incoming material inspection, supplier audits, and comprehensive supply base change management.
• Support incoming material inspection, concurrently establishing, refining, and documenting robust procedures for future operational hand-off.
• Drive specific Supplier Quality Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure supplier performance and determine how these efforts drive overall quality improvement, leading to better customer satisfaction and lower total cost of ownership.
• Lead and conduct supplier audits and assessments to evaluate supplier quality management systems, manufacturing processes, and overall capability. Drive continuous improvement initiatives at supplier sites.
• Conduct the company's Supplier Corrective Action Request (SCAR) process. Drive the resolution of complex supplier quality issues, working cross-functionally to identify appropriate containment, perform in-depth root cause analysis, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions. Track quality-related action items with vendors and suppliers, verifying completion and driving issues to closure.
• Actively Participate In the Qualification Review Board (QRB), collaborating with Engineering and Manufacturing to manage changes and qualifications for supplied materials, parts, and processes, particularly for critical components.
• Represent Supplier Quality on the company process Change Control Board (CCB), leading significant supplier-related process changes and continual improvement initiatives within the supply chain.

Requirements:

• Minimum of 8+ years related Supplier Quality, manufacturing, and/or manufacturing engineering experience in a production environment.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or other technical discipline.
• Extensive experience in supplier failure analysis, root cause analysis, corrective actions, implementing robust process controls, and leading process improvement within a supply chain context.
• ERP & MRP system experience, preferably Oracle NetSuite.
• Experience and knowledge of Quality Management Systems (QMS), such as ISO 9001, and achieving business certifications.
• Experience with quality methods and tools such as Six Sigma or Eight Disciplines (8D) for complex supplier issue resolution.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, particularly in interacting with external suppliers and senior management, including the