Senior Software Engineering Manager, Runtime

Bothell, Washington, United States

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. Quantum computers at scale will be able to perform certain calculations faster and on larger datasets than even the world’s biggest supercomputers. But they’ll still need to integrate with classical computers for end to end calculations. Just like how the device you’re reading this job description on combines CPUs, GPUs, to render efficiently, the datacenters of the future will combine CPUs, GPUs, and QPUs to solve the world’s hardest problems. We are looking for a senior software engineering manager to lead and grow our Runtime team, which builds and maintains our hybrid classical-quantum computing environment for customers. In this role, you’ll provide capabilities to customers like quantum emulation, pluggable compilers, efficient performance, and ultimately our fault-tolerant quantum computing layer at scale. You’ll work closely both with our API teams and our full-stack hybrid computation effort. The ideal candidate will have experience leading or contributing to multiple simultaneous initiatives, balancing multiple activities with a keen eye for prioritizing for the biggest impact. You’ll be able to balance technical expertise and savvy with strong business judgment to make great technology choices with lasting impact. You’ll strive for simplicity and demonstrate significant creativity and incisive judgment. You'll enjoy learning technical topics, working across multiple business streams, and be uniquely positioned to help us reach the next horizon in secure quantum computing.

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to our codebase not as the lead developer but to remain connected to the work your team is doing as a player-coach
• Participate in developer forums and events to keep your finger on the pulse of this rapidly evolving field
• Provide technical expertise and strong thought leadership in building robust,

well-engineered, and scalable software solutions, participating in code reviews and ensuring best practices

• Drive functional and technical delivery of key team and org-wide programs/initiatives
• Partner with Engineering Managers,

Product Managers, and other cross functional partners to define, scope, and drive large programs to conclusion.

• Develop,

implement, and iterate on program management techniques, frameworks, and KPIs to achieve goals with well defined success criteria.

• Define and produce high quality written proposals,

communications and documentation

• Create widely circulated plans,

driving consistency, clarity and building alignment across teams

• Help influence peers / leaders and build consensus while dealing with ambiguity

In your first three months you’ll be helping hire key staff to scale this function.

You’d be a good fit with:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science Physics or related field or equivalent practical experience
• 13+ years of professional experience or an equivalent combination of education & experience
• 6+ years of hands-on technical leadership & people management experience
• 3+ years of experience with Kubernetes & containerization; strong understanding of container orchestration microservices architecture & cloud-native principles
• Experience with low latency environments (e.g., streaming trading high-performance computing)
• Experience with hyperscalar cloud platforms & their Kubernetes services
• Excellent taste in developer-friendly API design
• Knowledge of team management best practices & demonstrated experience building & scaling effective teams that drives a high performance culture in a distributed work environment
• Sound project management analytical skills & ability to establish metrics to measure & drive a high return on investment
• Expertise in modern software development practices & tools (e.g., continuous integration & delivery observability etc.)
• Client focus & ability to establish & maintain effective relationships with internal & external partners.

You’d be a great fit with:

• MS or PhD in Computer Science Physics Quantum Information Science or related degree
• 10+ years of technical leadership & people management experience
• 3+ years managing distributed teams
• Strong expertise in virtual machines Linux/UNIX systems kernels & networking
• Contributions to large open source projects
• Past experience delivering & scaling a computation-as-a-service platform
• Familiarity with Google Kubernetes Engine
• A background in quantum computing &/or quantum information science

Location: This is a hybrid role based at our Bothell Washington location. Travel: Up to 10% Job ID: 1156 The approximate base salary range for this position is $187358 - $245300. The total compensation package includes base bonus equity. Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education qualifications experience of final candidate(s) specific office location calibration against relevant market data internal team equity. Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Our benefits include comprehensive medical dental vision plans matching 401K unlimited PTO paid holidays parental/adoption leave legal insurance home technology stipend. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided when candidate receives offer of employment. At IonQ we believe in fair treatment access opportunity advancement for all while striving to identify eliminate barriers. We empower employees to thrive by fostering culture autonomy productivity respect. We are dedicated creating environment where individuals can feel welcomed respected supported valued. We are committed equity justice. We welcome different voices viewpoints do not discriminate on basis race religion ancestry physical mental disability medical condition genetic information marital status sex gender gender identity gender expression transgender status age sexual orientation military veteran status any other basis protected by law. We are proud Equal Employment Opportunity employer. US Technical Jobs. The position you are applying for will require access technology subject U.S export control government contract restrictions. Employment IonQ contingent either verifying “U.S Person” (e.g., U.S citizen U.S national U.S permanent resident lawfully admitted into U.S refugee granted asylum) status export controls government contracts work obtaining any necessary license confirming availability license exception under U.S export controls. Please note absence confirming you are U.S Person export control government contracts work purposes IonQ may choose not apply license decline use license exception (if available) access export-controlled technology may require authorization similarly may not qualify government contracts work requires U.S Persons IonQ may decline proceed application those bases alone. Accordingly we will have some additional questions regarding immigration status used export control compliance purposes answers reviewed compliance personnel ensure compliance federal law. US Non Technical Jobs. Due applicable export control laws regulations candidates must be U.S citizen national U.S permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder) lawfully admitted into U.S refugee granted asylum. Accordingly we will have some additional questions regarding immigration status used export control compliance purposes answers reviewed compliance personnel ensure compliance federal law. If you are interested being part our team mission encourage apply!