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Designs and optimizes free-space optical communication terminals for space-based laser networks, leading engineering from concept to launch while ensuring performance and mass-production feasibility.
About IonQ:
IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] 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 the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, and AstraZeneca achieve 20x performance results and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance.
Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Our quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers, while we also meet the needs of networking and sensing customers across land, sea, air, and space. IonQ is making quantum platforms more accessible and impactful than ever before.
About Skyloom
Skyloom, an IonQ company, is a telecommunications company founded with the mission to develop, deploy, and operate one of the fundamental pieces of tomorrow’s space communication infrastructure to provide data transport services on a planetary scale. If you have a strong sense of purpose, focus, urgency, and willingness to compete—or if working on space lasers excites you—join our team to develop the future generation of space communication technology.
Location: This role will be based at our Broomfield, Colorado, office, with the option to work a few days a week remotely.
Travel: Up to 5%
Job ID: 1621
The Role
We are seeking a highly skilled and innovative Chief Architect to join our team. This position reports directly to Skyloom's VP of Engineering as a member of the Engineering & Operations leadership team.
As Chief Architect, you will lead the architecture, design, and development of next-generation Optical Communication Terminals (OCTs) for government and commercial space applications. You will drive system architecture, optimize end-to-end optical communication performance, and contribute to innovation in areas including free-space optical communications, adaptive optics, beam steering, and laser propagation. This role also provides technical leadership across multidisciplinary engineering teams while helping shape the future of Skyloom's optical communications products.
Chief Architect with Free Space Optical Communication Terminal Expertise
As a Chief Architect, you will design, implement, and optimize free-space optical communication terminals across government and commercial customers. You will analyze and improve system performance metrics—such as wavefront error, SNR, and BER—while contributing to innovation in areas like atmospheric turbulence mitigation, adaptive optics, and laser propagation.
This role also offers leadership opportunities, including guiding projects, collaborating across disciplines, and contributing to R&D shaping next-generation OCT products.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate has led the architecture and development of Optical Communication Terminals (OCTs) or Free Space Optical (FSO) communication systems for commercial or government space applications. You bring deep expertise in optical communications system architecture with hands-on experience developing complex optical communication systems. Direct experience with Optical Inter-Satellite Links (OISLs), LEO optical networking, and high-speed optical communications (100 Gbps or greater preferred) is strongly desired.
Responsibilities
Communication & Teamwork Skills
Requirements
Preferred Experience
Compensation
The approximate base salary range for this position is $167,808 - $219,704. The total compensation package includes base salary, bonus, equity, and a range of benefits.
**Benefits will be provided by Skyloom, Inc., an IonQ Company, and will differ from the benefits listed on the IonQ website.**
Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education, qualifications, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location, and calibration against relevant market data and internal team equity. Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Our benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, matching 401(k), unlimited PTO and paid holidays, parental/adoption leave, legal insurance, and a home technology stipend. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided when a candidate receives an offer of employment.
At IonQ, we believe in fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all while striving to identify and eliminate barriers. We empower employees to thrive by fostering a culture of autonomy, productivity, and respect. We are dedicated to creating an environment where individuals can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.
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.
US Technical Jobs. The position you are applying for will require access to technology that is subject to U.S. export control and government contract restrictions. Employment with IonQ is contingent on either verifying “U.S. Person” (e.g., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum) status for export controls and government contracts work, obtaining any necessary license, and/or confirming the availability of a license exception under U.S. export controls. Please note that in the absence of confirming you are a U.S. Person for export control and government contracts work purposes, IonQ may choose not to apply for a license or decline to use a license exception (if available) for you to access export-controlled technology that may require authorization, and similarly, you may not qualify for government contracts work that requires U.S. Persons, and IonQ may decline to proceed with your application on those bases alone. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.
US Non-Technical Jobs. Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.
If you are interested in being a part of our team and mission, we encourage you to apply!
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