Full-Time
Federal Capture Director
Go-to-Market / Federal Growth
Posted on 8/21/2026
IonQ
1,001-5,000 employees
Trapped-ion quantum computing hardware and services
Compensation Overview
$147.7k - $211k/yr
No H1B Sponsorship
College Park, MD, USA
Hybrid
Based in the College Park office, with the option to work remotely a few days per week. Travel up to 25% domestically.
US Citizenship, US Top Secret Clearance Required
 Business & Strategy (2) |
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- At least 8 years of professional experience in Federal Capture Management, Business Development, or Program Management within the United States federal sector, including civilian agencies, the Department of Defense, or the Intelligence Community.
- A proven track record capturing federal contracts valued at $10 million or more for complex technical solutions, with direct experience in quantum technologies; broader deep-technology experience in cybersecurity, high-performance computing, cloud, artificial intelligence infrastructure, or advanced hardware is also considered.
- Demonstrated ability to organize and lead matrixed, cross-functional pursuit teams spanning technical, contracts, finance, and business development functions through qualification, proposal submission, and award.
- Proven experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder programs in a federal or defense context; technical program management experience is strongly preferred.
- Thorough understanding of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, Other Transaction Authority contracting vehicles, and the formal Shipley capture management lifecycle.
- An existing, referenceable network of federal customers, acquisition officials, and partner networks within the federal systems integrator community.
- Ability to synthesize complex, next-generation technical capabilities into compelling, mission-focused business cases for federal executives.
- United States citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a United States government security clearance at the Secret or Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level.
- Own the capture process for high-priority United States federal opportunities from identification through qualification, win-strategy development, proposal submission, and post-award transition.
- Formulate competitive positioning, pricing strategies, technical solutions, and value propositions that map to federal agency requirements and mission gaps.
- Identify, vet, and negotiate agreements with teaming partners, systems integrators, subcontractors, and small businesses to maximize probability of win.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with federal stakeholders, program managers, contracting officers, and industry partners to influence requests for information and requests for proposals.
- Lead formal lifecycle capture reviews, including Black Hat, Blue Team, Black Team, and Pink/Red Team reviews, and brief executive leadership on pursuit status, resource needs, and risk mitigation.
- Collaborate with the Proposal Manager and subject matter experts to transfer capture intelligence into compliant technical and management volumes.
- Conduct continuous competitive analysis and price-to-win assessments to position offerings against traditional and emerging competitors.
- Mature the federal pipeline by converting early-stage leads into qualified, actionable capture accounts.
- Current Secret, Top Secret, or Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance.
- Project Management Professional certification, Shipley Capture Management certification, or APMP Practitioner certification.
- Experience in a high-growth, venture-backed, or fast-paced commercial technology environment transitioning into the federal sector.
IonQ sells quantum computing through cloud access and on-site systems that use trapped-ion qubits. Its processors, such as Forte and Tempo, are accessed by customers via cloud platforms or deployed on customer sites, and the company is expanding into quantum networking, quantum key distribution, and sensing through acquisitions and a SkyWater Technology deal. It differentiates itself with trapped-ion technology and by building a broader quantum ecosystem through strategic acquisitions and partnerships to connect devices and services beyond hardware alone. Its goal is to scale commercial quantum computing, grow revenue, and strengthen its cash position to support ongoing expansion and ecosystem development.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
College Park, Maryland
Founded
2015
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- IonQ raised Q2 2026 revenue 287% to $80.1 million and lifted guidance.
- DARPA awarded IonQ up to $58 million on August 6, 2026.
- IonQ ended Q2 2026 with $485 million in remaining performance obligations and $3.0 billion cash.
What critics are saying
- Scott+Scott investigated IonQ in February 2026 after Wolfpack alleged misleading Pentagon-contract disclosures.
- IonQ’s $1.9 billion Q2 2026 GAAP loss exposed warrant-driven accounting volatility.
- If 256-qubit deployment slips beyond 2026, customers defer orders and backlog converts slowly.
What makes IonQ unique
- IonQ’s trapped-ion architecture delivered 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity in 2026.
- IonQ closed SkyWater on July 31, 2026, becoming vertically integrated in chips.
- IonQ combines computing, networking, sensing, and security under one full-stack platform.
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Benefits
Biweekly catered lunches
Parental leave
Health, vision, & dental insurance
Flexible time off
401(k) with 5% match
University facilities
Commuter benefits
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↓ -5%1 year growth
↓ -8%2 year growth
↓ -10%IonQ, a quantum computing company, is developing technology toward practical applications despite current accuracy limitations. The company's systems achieve 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, the industry's best, though still below classical computer standards. IonQ is working on a fault-tolerant 10,000-qubit quantum computer, considered the minimum for mainstream viability. Its 256-qubit system is currently undergoing testing. In Q2, IonQ's revenue surged 287% year over year to $80.1 million. Acquisitions contributed to this growth, but management projects over 100% organic growth for the year, measuring only gains from existing business units. The company is collaborating with customers and partners to fund research and develop commercially viable products. IonQ stock currently trades below its all-time highs.
IonQ has secured a $28 million contract modification from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop optical atomic clocks, with an option for an additional $30 million. The Maryland-based quantum technology company will produce 25 Evergreen-05 optical atomic clocks initially, with the potential for 100 more units if the option is exercised. IonQ is investing $15 million in manufacturing infrastructure to support production. The clocks will be used for radar, secure communications, and geolocation where GPS access is compromised. The Evergreen-05 is a shoebox-sized device that accumulates less than one second of timing error over 30 million years. It delivers timing stability of 50 femtoseconds at one second in approximately 1/75th the volume of an active hydrogen maser. The technology is designed for terrestrial, sea, and airborne military platforms.
IonQ reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $80.1 million, up 287% year over year, exceeding its own expectations by 20%. The quantum computing company raised its standalone full-year revenue outlook to $280 million–$290 million whilst maintaining expectations for roughly 100% organic growth. The company recently completed a $1.8 billion acquisition of SkyWater Technology, adding US-based semiconductor design, fabrication and packaging capabilities. IonQ is targeting commissioning of 256-qubit systems in 2027 and developing a path toward 10,000-qubit chips. The company reported a $1.9 billion GAAP net loss, largely due to a $1.6 billion non-cash warrant valuation impact. Adjusted EBITDA was negative $120.3 million.
IonQ reported first-quarter revenue of $64.7 million for the period ended March 2026, representing a 755% year-over-year increase. The quantum computing company achieved a gross margin of 24% and completed its acquisition of SkyWater Technology whilst introducing new earth monitoring capabilities. By comparison, Advanced Micro Devices generated $10.3 billion in revenue for the quarter ended March 2026, with a net income margin of 14%. The processor manufacturer entered a capacity agreement with Core Scientific and launched new processing hardware. The revenue comparison highlights the differing scales between the established artificial intelligence sector and emerging quantum computing industry. Whilst AMD demonstrates significantly larger absolute revenue figures, IonQ's triple-digit growth rate reflects the substantial expansion potential within quantum computing technology.
BigBear.ai and IonQ represent contrasting investment opportunities in the tech sector. BigBear.ai provides AI-driven decision intelligence solutions primarily to US federal agencies, focusing on logistics and cybersecurity challenges. In fiscal 2025, BigBear.ai reported revenue of $127.7 million, down 19.3% year-over-year, with a net loss of $293.9 million. The company maintains a current ratio of 1.8x and zero debt-to-equity ratio, though free cash flow was negative $42.5 million. IonQ develops trapped-ion quantum computing systems for applications in medicine, finance, and logistics, delivering services through cloud platforms including Amazon's. The company acquired SkyWater Technology in July 2026 to establish its own semiconductor foundry. Both companies face distinct challenges: BigBear.ai's heavy reliance on government contracts creates concentration risk, whilst IonQ pursues longer-term quantum computing opportunities.