Staff Field Engineer, Federal

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.

Job title: Field Engineer, Federal
Location: College Park, hybrid or remote
Travel: Up to 20%

Role:

IonQ is building the world's best quantum security solutions, and our Federal customers face some of the most complex security problems there are. As a Field Engineer, Federal, you will join the Field Engineering team, which sits where customers, markets, products and quantum security applications meet. This is the team where quantum security ideas become applied work with real mission impact.

You will work alongside scientists, engineers, sales, marketing, business development and product management to grow IonQ's quantum security business across Federal civilian, defense and intelligence agencies. We are looking for a versatile engineer who enjoys technical sales, demonstrations and working directly with customers, and who wants to bring IonQ's quantum security products to the Federal market.

Responsibilities:

You will be the technical voice of IonQ in Federal customer conversations. You will explain our strategy and quantum security portfolio, answer detailed technical questions, and help agencies see how quantum security, post quantum cryptography and quantum key distribution apply to their missions. You will turn customer needs into technical proposals and proofs of concept, working closely with the IonQ Application Engineering team.

You will also feed what you learn back into the business. Insights from Federal customers will shape our products through Product Management and Engineering. Working with sales, marketing, developer relations and business development, you will build a pipeline, handle competitive objections and grow IonQ's presence in the Federal security community.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading Federal customer discussions, workshops and technical demonstrations that show how quantum security applications can support their mission

• Mapping customer requirements to quantum security approaches, including post quantum cryptography implementations, and delivering proofs of concept with Application Engineering

• Turning customer needs into technical proposals, and creating sales assets that explain IonQ's quantum security and wider quantum products

• Working with the sales team to develop and progress a pipeline of Federal opportunities, including competitive objection handling

• Representing IonQ at industry and government conferences and events, and bringing customer insight back to Product Management and Engineering

You’d be a good fit with:

• 4+ years of field engineering experience, helping customers solve complex problems through technology

• 6+ years of experience working with Federal civilian, defense or intelligence agencies, or Federal systems integrators

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Data Science, or another STEM field such as Chemistry, Physics, or Engineering

• Background in cyber security, ideally in network and cloud security

You’d be a great fit with:

• A security clearance

• A master's degree or PhD in a STEM field adjacent to quantum computing, security or cryptography

• Experience in technical sales or another customer-facing technical role, including leading technical events and speaking in public

• Broad architecture skills across a range of technologies

OTE for this role is expected to be $250K
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 401(k), 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.

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 “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!