Full-Time
Staff Firmware Engineer
Real-Time Control Systems
Updated on 9/4/2026
IonQ
1,001-5,000 employees
Trapped-ion quantum computing hardware and services
Compensation Overview
$163.4k - $214k/yr
No H1B Sponsorship
Pleasanton, CA, USA
In Person
Onsite at the Pleasanton office; travel up to 5%.
US Citizenship Required
Bachelor's, Master's, PhD
 Software Engineering (1) |
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- A BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science with 8–12 years of experience, or a PhD with 8+ years of related work experience.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident, or within certain categories of refugees and asylees to comply with U.S. export control laws.
- Demonstrated mastery of complex embedded system architecture and designing software systems from the ground up.
- Deep understanding of hardware-software interfaces including TCP, UART, and MMAP, and low-level system programming.
- Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills using profilers, debuggers, and simulation tools.
- Proven ability to lead technical initiatives and influence engineering decisions across multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills for articulating complex concepts to diverse audiences.
- Must be comfortable working in a laboratory setting.
- Provide architectural direction for real-time control systems and lead technical discussions across hardware and firmware teams.
- Design system controllers on ARM SoC, including user-space drivers, libraries, and reusable frameworks for quantum system control.
- Write high-performance, production-quality code in C/C++ and Rust, establishing team-wide best practices and coding standards.
- Define and implement control algorithms, including robust control loops with reliable error handling for precision instruments.
- Lead board testing and hardware bring-up strategies in coordination with hardware engineers.
- Guide junior and senior engineers through code reviews, pair programming, and proactive technical coaching.
- Drive the evolution of development processes, tooling, and infrastructure, including CI/CD and automated testing.
- Act as the primary technical voice for the team during cross-functional reviews and strategic planning sessions.
- Extensive experience developing production Rust systems, including async runtimes, concurrency patterns, and performance optimization.
- Experience with embedded Linux and a strong understanding of C/C++ systems programming.
- Expert-level knowledge of PID, state-space controllers, and adaptive control algorithms.
- Experience with fixed-point algorithms, digital signal processing, and digital filter design.
- Strong background working with SoC/FPGA devices and Linux kernel/device driver development.
- Proficiency in Python for scientific libraries and developer tool creation.
- Hands-on experience using oscilloscopes, function generators, and voltmeters to verify code performance.
- Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and automated testing frameworks tailored for hardware and firmware.
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
- September 8, 2026 raised 2026 revenue guidance to $450 million-$460 million.
- Congruity360 signed an $8.18 million quantum-security deal on September 2026.
- DARPA’s $58 million optical-clock contract broadens non-computing revenue and defense credibility.
What critics are saying
- IonQ’s August 2026 warrant revaluation produced a $1.65 billion quarterly loss.
- Stock-based compensation hit $276 million in first-half 2026, diluting holders aggressively.
- If Superion 256 slips past 2027, customers choose IBM, Quantinuum, or Rigetti instead.
What makes IonQ unique
- IonQ’s trapped-ion systems keep high fidelity and all-to-all connectivity, simplifying algorithms.
- September 8, 2026 Superion 256 pairs chip fabrication with electronic qubit control.
- SkyWater ownership gives IonQ domestic manufacturing, packaging, and faster iteration versus rivals.
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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
↑ 3%1 year growth
↑ 0%2 year growth
↓ -1%IonQ CEO Niccolo de Masi said a 2,000-qubit quantum computer could break Bitcoin's elliptic-curve encryption in under 26 days. Speaking on CNBC, he reiterated 2028 as his expectation for "Q-Day", when quantum machines will threaten current public-key standards. De Masi noted the timeline has compressed significantly. A year ago, experts thought Q-Day would occur in the 2030s, but now understand it will happen in the 2020s. IonQ's CFO warned that financial services is waking up to the reality that encryption protocols securing Bitcoin wallets may be broken. De Masi acknowledged IonQ sells quantum security solutions whilst raising the alarm. The company just launched a quantum key distribution product aimed at protecting fibre networks. IonQ reported second-quarter revenue of $80.1 million, up 287% year over year.
IonQ and Congruity360 have announced an $8.18 million agreement to enhance quantum-safe data protection, marking one of the largest commercial quantum security deals in the United States. Under the partnership, Congruity360 will integrate IonQ's quantum key distribution and post-quantum cryptography appliances into its enterprise data management platform. The collaboration responds to a June 2026 White House executive order that moved federal post-quantum security deadlines forward to 2030 and extended requirements to contractors. IonQ will provide its Clavis QKD pairs and Solteris Network Appliances to protect sensitive data for Congruity360's clients across finance, healthcare, insurance, legal services, manufacturing, defence, and higher education sectors. The deal extends IonQ's quantum-safe network deployments, following earlier initiatives including a statewide network with Florida LambdaRail and upgrades in Switzerland with Cisco.
IonQ has launched its sixth-generation quantum computing platform, Superion 256, marking a shift toward scalable, manufacturable quantum systems. The 256-qubit system is the first in IonQ's Superion product line, built on semiconductor manufacturing processes rather than traditional one-off laboratory approaches. The platform uses IonQ's Electronic Qubit Control technology, which controls trapped-ion qubits with integrated electronics instead of laser systems. IonQ fabricated the chips at its subsidiary SkyWater, compressing design cycles from nine months to two. Superion 256 fits standard data center racks and draws less power than GPU racks. The platform is designed to scale from 256 qubits to millions, with IonQ already developing a 10,000-qubit version concurrently. The system is available for order now, with customer deliveries expected in 2027. IonQ pre-sold its first Superion 256 system in early 2026.
IonQ shares are trading near $39, valuing the quantum computing company at roughly $15 billion. The stock has traded as high as $84 over the past 12 months. The company reported $80.1 million in revenue in the second quarter of 2026, up 287% year-over-year. IonQ recently acquired chip foundry SkyWater for $1.8 billion in cash and stock. SkyWater generated $317.1 million in revenue through the first half of 2026. Management is guiding for full-year revenue of $280 million to $290 million. Combined with SkyWater's projected $600 million, IonQ could reach approximately $900 million in total revenue this year. However, IonQ reported a $254.7 million operating loss through six months of 2026. The company's share count is increasing significantly, with approximately 24 million new shares added from the SkyWater acquisition and $450 million in stock-based compensation over the past year.
IonQ reported second-quarter revenue of $80.1 million, up 287% year-over-year, and raised its full-year guidance to $280 million-$290 million from $260 million-$270 million. The company's remaining performance obligations grew 297% to $485 million. Quantum computing stocks have declined more sharply than the broader tech sector during sell-offs in 2025, falling harder than the Nasdaq-100 on 17 of 23 trading days when tech dropped at least 1.5%. The sector faces valuation concerns, with IonQ trading at significantly higher multiples than comparable unprofitable software companies like C3.ai and BigBear.ai, which trade at 6.9 times and 10.1 times forward sales respectively. September historically sees average market declines of 1.16%, though upcoming events including the jobs report and Federal Reserve meeting could increase volatility.