Senior Manager, AMO Theory

Boulder, Colorado, United States;
College Park, Maryland, United States - IonQ is developing the world's most powerful full‑stack quantum computer based on trapped‑ion technology. We are pushing past the limits of classical physics and current supercomputing technology to unlock a new era of computing. Quantum computing has the potential to impact every area of human society for the better. IonQ’s computers will soon redefine industries like medicine, materials science, finance, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cryptography, and more.

IonQ is at the forefront of this technological revolution.

We’re looking for an enthusiastic, hands‑on technical leader to manage our atomic physics (AMO) theory team. You will work in a dynamic, cross‑disciplinary environment alongside our world‑leading quantum scientists and engineers, leading cutting‑edge research to enable our roadmap. The AMO theory team is responsible for (1) performing detailed, low‑level analysis and simulations of ion control methods, making sure we understand the physics before attempting experiments, (2) coming up with creative new ideas to allow us to accelerate our roadmap, and (3) working with experimentalists to understand unexpected issues and help with debugging.

It works in close collaboration with the Science and Systems Architecture teams to guide the team towards the most impactful and important problems – and that the solutions we develop are practical and scalable. You will lead a team of AMO theorists, starting with around 5‑8 staff distributed around North America and the UK. As a strong technical leader, you will work with deep technical experts on specific topics, defining with them what is important and how to understand completion.

You will be responsible for defining priorities and clearly communicating progress with key technical stakeholders across the organisation – including experimental and theoretical physicists, as well as the broader engineering staff. You will also take charge of the team's organisation and professional development.

Technical leadership

• Lead the AMO theory team and work with other scientific and engineering teams to define the research needed to develop our quantum computers
• Turn internal conversations with other teams into actionable AMO theory projects
• Proactively look out for opportunities for the AMO theory team can support internal work
• Understand conflicting priorities and manage the team to deliver according to company needs and timescales
• Ensure the excellence of the results produced by the team but understand when sufficient has been done on any given topic to meet requirements.
• Provide clear updates on issues and progress to all stakeholders
• Be the first point of call for others in the company to understand the priorities and outputs of the AMO theory team.

Team management

• Ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the AMO theory team to deliver
• Ensure that the team maintains the right balance between delivery speed and quality
• Champion the team culture of scientific rigour, openness and collaboration by driving a suitable balance of company proprietary information and publications
• Support members of the team
  • Looking out for their well‑being
  • Conducting their performance reviews
  • Supporting their career development
• Work with the senior management team to plan future team growth
• Work collaboratively with other teams to develop stronger cross‑team interfaces and processes

• Proven ability to lead subject matter experts, setting priorities, giving clear expectations, and ensuring results are suitable for the internal and external stakeholders
• Deep technical knowledge of atomic physics theory
• Ability to write, read, and debug scientific simulations
• Experience leading AMO theory projects
• Demonstrated success in collaborating with experimental teams

• Knowledge of ion trapping physics
• Experience managing and growing a team inside a scientific/engineering organisation

Location: This role will work onsite at our office located in Boulder, CO or College Park, MD.

Travel: Up to 20% (~1x per month to visit different sites)

Job : 1317

The approximate base salary range for this position is $192,979 - $252,659. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, and equity.

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.