Chief Architect - Optical Communication Terminals

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, helps 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.

Skyloom, an IonQ company, is a telecommunications company developing and operating space communication infrastructure to provide data transport services on a planetary scale. The team is building the future generation of space communication technology, including space lasers for optical communication terminals (OCTs).

About the role

We are seeking a highly skilled and innovative Chief Architect to lead the architecture, design, and development of next-generation Optical Communication Terminals (OCTs) for government and commercial space applications. This position reports directly to Skyloom's VP of Engineering as a member of the Engineering & Operations leadership team. You will drive system architecture, optimize end-to-end optical communication performance, and contribute to innovation in free-space optical communications, adaptive optics, beam steering, and laser propagation.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering activities for an optical communications payload from concept through launch.
• Define, analyze, and validate system and subsystem requirements for space environments.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop integrated communication solutions, focusing on system architecture, performance, and reliability.
• Derive quantified requirements for optical communication terminals using analytical techniques, numerical modeling, and bench-top testing.
• Conduct hardware/software validation of optical communication systems and subsystems.
• Provide technical support for integration and troubleshooting of optical systems and develop root cause analysis for products exhibiting non-conformances in the optics subsystem.
• Analyze large amounts of laboratory data for validation and improvement purposes.
• Provide clear and rigorous presentations/reports on technical subjects, effectively communicating with cross-functional teams.
• Own critical design review processes, ensuring quality, completeness, and compliance.
• Lead system-level test planning, verification, and compliance analysis.
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams (RF, software, FPGA, integration, quality, operations).
• Organize and deliver assigned projects independently according to the project schedule.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm for working on multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, multi-cultural startup environment.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience designing and developing Free Space Optical (FSO) communication systems or Optical Communication Terminals (OCTs).
• Demonstrated experience in optical system design, modeling, and validation.
• Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Strong understanding of wavefront errors, SNR, BER, and link budgets.
• Strong analytical skills for building models and solving complex problems.
• Experience with optical simulation/modelling tools (e.g., Zemax, Code V, MATLAB, Python).
• Knowledge of adaptive optics, beam steering, Pointing, Acquisition and Tracking (PAT), and pointing error impacts.
• Knowledge in the development of space optical instruments, especially telescopes, spectrometers, and interferometers within an industrial or scientific environment.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State to conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations.

Preferred Experience

• Space-flight industry experience.
• Laser Safety knowledge.
• Experience transitioning an optical product into production.
• Direct experience with Optical Inter-Satellite Links (OISLs) and high-speed optical communication systems, including 100 Gbps LEO optical networks.
• Spanish language proficiency is a plus.

Pay

The approximate base salary range for this position is $167,808 - $225,704. The total compensation package includes base salary, bonus, and equity.

Benefits

Benefits will be provided by Skyloom, Inc., an IonQ Company, and will differ from those listed on the IonQ website.