Harness Engineer

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc. 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 a cutting‑edge system that has helped customers and partners such as Amazon Web Services and AstraZeneca achieve 20x performance results and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, finance, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense.

In 2025, the company reached 99.99% two‑qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance.

Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ operates in the United States and around the world, providing quantum computing services through all major cloud providers and through land, sea, air, and space sensing customers.

Capella, an IonQ company, spans national security, advanced sensing, and next‑generation compute to deliver secure, mission‑ready intelligence. The company values curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to tackle hard problems with precision and creativity. No prior space experience is required, and Capella encourages applicants from historically underrepresented groups.

Based onsite at our Louisville, CO office. Travel up to 10%, domestic or international.

As a Staff Electrical Hardware Design Engineer, you will take ownership of full‑cycle PCBA designs, from early concept to flight readiness. You will work cross‑functionally with RF, mechanical, software, FPGA/SoC, and operations teams to bring high‑reliability, space‑ready electronics to orbit. You will guide the Electrical Engineering team on special topics and present across disciplines to facilitate ideas, product readiness, and conduct reviews.

• Design system‑level harnesses from power distribution to high‑speed communications.
• Own the harness design lifecycle and implement best practices.
• Collaborate across teams—mechanical, RF, electrical, and systems—to ensure seamless integration and apply industry‑standard design principles.
• Act as technical point of contact for wire, cable, connector, and harness suppliers.
• Support resolution of non‑conformances from harness suppliers.
• Provide critical input to schedule planning, hardware requirements, and process improvements.
• Define test plans and verification strategies that meet flight‑readiness requirements.

• Consistently deliver flight‑quality harnesses on schedule with minimal oversight.
• Proactively identify and articulate system‑level risks, driving mitigation early.
• Communicate across hardware/software and cross‑functional gaps with confidence and clarity.
• Make thoughtful trade‑offs in constrained environments and justify them with data.
• Show curiosity about advanced areas such as architecture optimization or radiation mitigation, even if outside your current scope.
• Exhibit advanced, wide‑ranging experience in harness engineering, leveraging professional knowledge.
• Get things done, align with stakeholders, and document concisely.

• Bachelor of Science or higher in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related discipline, or equivalent experience/combined education.
• 5+ years of experience designing, testing, and troubleshooting complex harnesses.
• Experience with systems from beginning to end of the product lifecycle.
• Knowledge of PCBA and collaboration with electrical design engineers to define harnessing requirements and inform board‑level design decisions.
• Understanding of RF cabling, components, and testing.
• Excellent organizational skills and strong documentation habits.
• Strong knowledge of industry harnessing standards such as NASA‑STD‑8739.4 and IPC/WHMA‑A‑620.
• Experience with Solid Works or other CAD applications.
• Experience with Zuken or other harness design applications.
• Experience in engineering product lifecycle management tools.
• Strong knowledge of cable assembly design.
• Understanding of electromagnetic effects, including EMC and EMI.
• Conformity to U.S. Government space technology export regulations (ITAR). Capella employees must be U.S. citizens, lawful U.S. permanent residents, or otherwise…