Senior Engineer- Space Electronics

About IonQ:

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world's leading quantum company delivering solutions to solve the world's most complex problems. IonQ's newest generation quantum computers, IonQ Tempo and IonQ Forte Enterprise, are the latest in cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners such as Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve 20x performance results. The company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance in 2025.

The company is accelerating its technology roadmap and intends to deliver the world's most powerful quantum computers with 2 million qubits by 2030 to accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. IonQ's advancements in quantum networking position the company as a leader in building the quantum internet.

About Vector Atomic:

Vector Atomic, an IonQ company, is building quantum technology to transform navigation, timing, geophysical exploration, and telecommunications. Our team of engineers, scientists, software developers, and operations professionals works together to solve complex challenges and turn bold ideas into real-world solutions. We value collaboration, curiosity, and diverse perspectives, and we give every team member the opportunity to make an immediate impact while growing their skills. If you're excited to work on breakthrough technology in a fast-paced, hands-on environment, we'd love to hear from you.

The Role:

We are seeking experienced electronic engineers to join a multidisciplinary team of physicists and electrical, mechanical, software, and optical engineers. In this role, you will lead the design of advanced electronics for next‑generation quantum sensors, with a focus on specifying, designing, characterizing, and testing PCB assemblies featuring complex FPGA, MCU, mixed‑signal, and RF architectures. Designs must meet the stringent reliability and environmental requirements of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missions.

As a key contributor, you will drive the full lifecycle of electronic subsystem development-from concept through implementation-while developing innovative solutions for novel quantum instruments. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast‑paced environment, shifting fluidly between deep design challenges and hands‑on troubleshooting, and consistently delivering high‑quality results.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the high‑level electrical architecture for next‑generation quantum sensors, balancing size, weight, power, and performance (SWaPC).
• Collaborate across disciplines to translate system requirements into detailed electronic designs.
• Own end‑to‑end PCB development, including requirements definition, schematic design, layout, fabrication coordination, and performance verification.
• Support system integration and testing to ensure instrument‑level requirements are met.
• Develop new circuits and adapt existing designs for reliable operation in LEO.
• Partner with firmware and RTL engineers to implement radiation‑tolerant techniques such as error detection/correction, bit scrubbing, and recovery methods.
• Create environmental test plans simulating LEO conditions; estimate FIT rates and electronics lifetimes based on mission parameters.
• Oversee testing at external facilities and refine test protocols to optimize outcomes.
• Use electronic test and measurement equipment to characterize and validate design performance.