Full-Time
Senior Hardware Test Automation Engineer
IonQ
1,001-5,000 employees
Trapped-ion quantum computing hardware and services
Compensation Overview
$126.9k - $181.9k/yr
Louisville, CO, USA
In Person
Onsite in Louisville, Colorado; travel up to 10% domestically.
Bachelor's
 QA & Testing (1) |
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- At least 6 years of experience in a similar role.
- A bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
- Experience with version control using Git and continuous integration and continuous delivery pipelines.
- Experience with aerospace, defense, semiconductor, robotics, or other complex hardware systems.
- Proficiency in hands-on hardware testing of electrical or mechanical systems, subsystems, or components.
- Proficiency in Python for test scripting and automation.
- Familiarity with laboratory equipment, including oscilloscopes, power supplies, spectrum analyzers, and network analyzers, and with control interfaces including GPIB, Ethernet, and USB.
- Strong problem-solving and debugging skills in a hardware-centric environment.
- Ability to work hands-on with test setups, cabling, and instrumentation.
- Own automated test development from concept through deployment for new hardware.
- Develop and maintain automated test capabilities, primarily in Python, to control laboratory equipment, run procedures, and verify and validate hardware behavior.
- Create reusable frameworks and libraries for test automation across multiple hardware subsystems.
- Collaborate with hardware engineers to design test cases that capture functional requirements, corner cases, and fault conditions.
- Execute hardware test campaigns, analyze results, and identify root causes of anomalies.
- Interface with flight software and ground software teams to ensure cohesive test interfaces.
- Document test procedures, results, and configurations for traceability and reproducibility.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of test infrastructure, tools, and processes.
- Experience testing aerospace or other high-reliability hardware systems.
- Knowledge of hardware-in-the-loop testing methodologies.
- Knowledge of embedded systems interfaces and protocols including UART, SPI, I²C, CAN, and SpaceWire.
- Experience with continuous integration systems and automated test execution pipelines; GitLab is preferred.
- Familiarity with data analysis libraries including NumPy, pandas, and matplotlib for test result processing.
- Familiarity with data visualization or graphical interface libraries including Matplotlib, Plotly, PyQt, and Grafana.
- Strong documentation and communication skills, with an emphasis on reproducibility and rigor.
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.