Physicist, System Operations - Oxford

Oxford, United Kingdom
3 weeks ago
Job Type
Permanent
Work Pattern
Full-time
Work Location
On-site
Seniority
Senior
Education
Degree
Posted
20 Apr 2026 (3 weeks ago)

Benefits

24/7 on-call rotation Flexible working hours

Quantum is now, and it's built here.

Oxford Ionics, now part of IonQ, is pioneering the next generation of quantum computing. Using our world-leading trapped-ion technology, we’re building the most powerful, accurate and reliable quantum systems to tackle problems that today’s supercomputers cannot solve. Joining Oxford Ionics means becoming part of a global IonQ team that is transforming the future of quantum technology - faster, at scale, and with real world impact.

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.

We are looking for a Senior Physicist, System Operations to join our System Operations team at IonQ. In this role, you will be responsible for operating, maintaining, and improving our trapped-ion quantum computers, contributing to the team’s mission of keeping IonQ’s quantum systems running reliably and effectively.

You’ll play an important part in shaping the processes, observability, automation, and maintenance practices that support our work in building and operating advanced quantum systems. In the first few months, the focus will be on learning how to maintain the hardware and software that underpin our commercial and development systems.


What You'll be Doing:

In this position, you will work on the day-to-day operation, monitoring, maintenance, and optimisation of our quantum computing systems, supporting the effective delivery of reliable system performance across commercial and development environments. You’ll have the opportunity to improve uptime, strengthen operational practices, and deepen understanding of hardware behaviour through data and hands-on system work, contributing directly to the success of the wider quantum computing programme.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Participate in follow-the-sun on-call rotations to help keep systems running at peak performance.
  • Build and maintain observability and automation to support high uptime across commercial and development quantum computers.
  • Carry out regular and emergency hardware maintenance on trapped-ion quantum systems.
  • Interpret telemetry data to diagnose system status and improve understanding of hardware behaviour.
  • Collaborate across teams and time zones, including coordinating with customers on system access and status updates.

Requirements

To be successful, you will need a strong foundation in physics, engineering, or another physical science, along with hands-on laboratory experience relevant to operating complex experimental systems. We’re looking for someone who can work carefully and collaboratively in a distributed team, communicate clearly across time zones, and adapt in a fast-moving technical environment.

You’d be a great fit with:

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in physics, engineering, or another physical science.
  • Hands-on laboratory experience in atomic and/or optical physics, ideally including optical bench setups, precision alignment, laser frequency stabilisation, and optical modulators.
  • Strong communication skills, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to work effectively in a distributed team.
  • Flexibility to work changing hours as part of a 24/7 on-call rotation, alongside a strong willingness to learn and adapt.
  • Experience with statistics, telemetry or data analysis, and ideally programming in Rust or Python, software engineering, or RF / analog / digital electronics in precision control systems.

Benefits

Be part of a team that’s shaping the future of quantum. We offer more than just a role, you’ll join a world-class community of scientists, engineers and innovators working to unlock the full potential of quantum computing.

We offer a range of benefits, including opportunities to further your career alongside industry leaders, a competitive salary with IonQ stock options, an annual performance bonus, generous annual leave, flexible hybrid working, private medical and dental insurance for you and your family, and much more.

Join us and be part of the future of quantum computing.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Related Jobs

View all jobs
Spotlight

Lead Quantum Error Correction Researcher

Spotlight

Quantum Error Correction Researcher (Algorithms)

Riverlane Cambridge, United Kingdom
£60,000 – £85,000 pa Hybrid

Staff Quantum Physicist - System Operations - IONQ-987

Oxford Ionics Basel, Basel City

Deployment Physicist, On-premises Installation - 572

Quantinuum United States
US$175,000 – US$210,000 pa

Deployment Physicist, On-premises Installation - 572

Quantinuum United Kingdom
Hybrid

Deployment Physicist, Global On-premises Installation - 572

Quantinuum Japan

Deployment Physicist, Global On-premises Installation - 572

Quantinuum Singapore

Senior Manager, System Operations - Oxford

Oxford Ionics Oxford, United Kingdom
On-site

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Where to Advertise Quantum Computing Jobs in the UK (2026 Guide)

Advertising quantum computing jobs in the UK requires a fundamentally different approach to most technical hiring. The global talent pool is tiny — measured in thousands, not tens of thousands — and concentrated around a small number of university physics departments, national laboratories and well-funded hardware startups. Many of the strongest candidates hold PhDs in quantum physics, quantum information or adjacent disciplines and are embedded in academic or research communities that rarely intersect with mainstream job boards. General platforms are largely ineffective for quantum hiring. Specialist boards, academic channels and direct community outreach are not optional extras — they are the primary sourcing strategy. This guide, published by QuantumComputingJobs.co.uk, covers where to advertise quantum computing roles in the UK in 2026, how the main platforms compare, what employers should expect to pay, and what the data says about hiring across different role types.

Quantum Computing Jobs UK 2026: What to Expect Over the Next 3 Years

Quantum computing is no longer a discipline that exists purely in academic papers and government roadmaps. It is entering a phase of genuine commercial momentum — one that is beginning to reshape the jobs market in ways that are both significant and, for well-positioned job seekers, enormously promising. The UK sits at the centre of this shift. With the government's £2 billion National Quantum Strategy committed through to 2034, a network of world-class university research groups, a growing cluster of quantum hardware and software companies, and deepening investment from major technology and defence organisations, Britain has established itself as one of a handful of countries genuinely competing at the frontier of quantum computing development and commercialisation. But the quantum computing jobs market of 2026 is a nuanced one. It is not yet the broad, deep hiring market that artificial intelligence or cloud computing represents. It is a specialist, technically demanding, and rapidly evolving landscape where the roles being created today look quite different from those that existed three years ago — and where the roles that will dominate hiring in 2028 are already beginning to take shape. The candidates who will thrive over the next three years are those who understand where the sector is heading — which technical areas are moving from research into commercial application, which adjacent skills are becoming as important as quantum physics itself, and how to position a quantum computing career that will remain valuable as the technology scales. This article breaks down what the UK quantum computing jobs market is likely to look like through to 2028 — covering the titles emerging right now, the technologies driving employer demand, the skills that will matter most, and how to position your career at the leading edge of one of the most consequential technology transitions of the coming decade.

New Quantum Computing Employers to Watch in 2026: UK and International Companies Advancing Quantum Careers

Quantum computing is no longer confined to research labs. As companies convert quantum theory into testable products, algorithms, and computing platforms, demand for professionals with quantum knowledge — whether physics, algorithms, software development, or hardware engineering — is rising. In 2026, quantum computing organisations are securing significant funding, industry partnerships, and contracts across sectors such as energy, finance, telecommunications, defence, and healthcare. For candidates exploring opportunities on www.QuantumComputingJobs.co.uk , understanding which employers are hiring now and scaling quantum teams is crucial. This article profiles the new and high‑growth quantum computing employers to watch in 2026, with a specific focus on UK‑based innovators, international firms with UK operations, and leading global quantum organisations.