Chief Architect - Optical Communication Terminals

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

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 the subjects listed above, effectively communicating with a broad range of cross-functional teams.

Communication & Teamwork Skills

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)

Present program updates and technical solutions to internal/external stakeholders

Mentor and support team members within a collaborative engineering environment

Possess excellent communication skills to convey technical concepts clearly and efficiently across a range of subject areas, engaging with management, peers, and suppliers.

Organize and deliver assigned projects independently according to the project schedule.

Demonstrate enthusiasm for working on multiple projects simultaneously in a self-directed manner, thriving 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.

Practical experience with fiber optic and free-space optics laboratory setups

Familiarity with relevant communication standards and coding techniques

Strong understanding of wavefront errors, SNR, BER, and link budgets

Exhibit 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.

Team player with strong problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Knowledge in the development of space optical instruments, especially in the field of telescopes, spectrometers, and interferometers within an industrial or scientific environment.

Strong quantitative data analysis abilities using tools such as Matlab, Python, or equivalent.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, the candidate 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.

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 speaking is a plus

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