{"id":130148,"url":"https://alion.io/job/ionq-software-engineer-sdk-developer-tools","title":"Software Engineer (SDK), Developer Tools","company":{"id":1800,"name":"IonQ","domain":"ionq.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/ionq","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":78,"open_postings":24,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.875,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":40,"computed_at":"2026-10-16T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"Backend","role_family":"Backend","seniority":"staff","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":["Bothell, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":60000,"max":140000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":140000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"AI Agents","optional":false},{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"CI/CD","optional":false},{"name":"Cirq","optional":false},{"name":"IonQ","optional":false},{"name":"PennyLane","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Qiskit","optional":false},{"name":"Rust","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-08-24T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":null,"last_verified_at":"2026-08-24T00:00:00Z","board_verified":false,"closed_at":null,"days_open":54,"trust":{"level":"not_scored","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":54},"description":"Job Description\nJob Title: Staff Software Engineer (SDK), Developer Tools. Location: Bothell, Washington, USA\nResponsibilities:\nDefine the technical strategy and roadmap for IonQ's public-facing quantum SDKs, including native SDKs and integrations with Qiskit, Cirq, and PennyLane.\nEnsure SDKs are maintainable, performant, intuitive, and designed for broad developer adoption.\nLead the productization and open-sourcing of internal quantum developer tools.\nEstablish release processes, licensing, packaging, and community contribution workflows;\nServe as the primary architect for the programming paradigms and abstractions exposed through IonQ's SDKs.\nDesign and implement robust, well-documented SDK interfaces for quantum circuit construction, compilation, simulation, and hardware execution.\nManage public repositories, review community contributions, establish contribution guidelines, and build a healthy open-source contributor ecosystem.\nCollaborate with Applications Research and Compiler teams to prototype and introduce advanced quantum capabilities, including error mitigation and optimization techniques, as SDK features.\nOversee documentation, examples, tutorials, and quickstart guides to provide a strong developer experience.\nEstablish best practices for API design, software architecture, testing, and open-source maintenance.\nMentor engineers and help improve the technical capabilities of the engineering team;\nSupport the Applications Engineering team by translating customer and partner requirements into SDK features and improvements.\nDrive improvements in automated testing, CI/CD, and validation standards across the SDK ecosystem.\nWork across Applications, Compiler, and Engineering teams to align SDK development with IonQ's quantum hardware and research capabilities.\nQualifications:\nBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, or a related field, or equivalent training, fellowship, or professional experience.\n10+ years of professional software engineering experience, including significant experience in technical leadership or architecture.\n7+ years of experience designing, developing, and maintaining public-facing SDKs or developer libraries.\nStrong focus on API design and developer experience.\nDeep expertise in Python and large-scale developer-facing software systems.\nExperience managing or contributing to open-source projects with external contributors;\nExperience with release management, community engagement, and contribution governance.\nProven ability to lead complex, cross-functional engineering projects from concept through production.\nDemonstrated experience mentoring engineers and improving the technical capabilities of engineering teams.\nFamiliarity with Agentic AI coding tools and techniques and their use in modern software development workflows.\nExcellent written and verbal communication skills.\nExperience creating technical documentation, specifications, and developer guides.\nPreferred:\nMaster's or PhD in Physics, Computer Science, or a related field, particularly with a focus on quantum computing or programming language design.\nExpert-level understanding of quantum computing principles, quantum circuits, optimization techniques, and compiler fundamentals.\nDeep expertise in C++ or Rust for high-performance computing or hardware interaction.\nSignificant open-source contributions to the quantum computing ecosystem, including Qiskit, PennyLane, or Cirq;\nExperience with quantum error mitigation, quantum error correction, quantum compilers, or circuit optimization.\nDirect experience with programming language or API design for scientific or technical users.\nDemonstrated ability to influence technical direction across organizational boundaries and gain support for strategic initiatives.\nBenefits and Compensation:\nApproximate base salary: $174,520 to $228,492 per year.\nTotal compensation includes base salary, bonus, and equity.\nCompensation varies based on education, qualifications, experience, office location, market data, and internal equity.\nComprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.\n401(k) matching;\nUnlimited paid time off and paid holidays.\nParental and adoption leave.\nLegal insurance.\nHome technology stipend.\nOther Information:\nWork arrangement: On-site or hybrid in Bothell, Washington.\nTravel: Approximately once per quarter.\n Job ID: 1105.\nIonQ is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace.\nThe position involves access to technology subject to U.S. export control and government contract restrictions;\nFor certain technical work, employment may require verification of U.S. Person status, an applicable license, or confirmation of a license exception.\nCandidates will be asked additional immigration-status questions for export-control and compliance 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