Systems Operations Manager

Job Description

Quantum is now, and it's built here.

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.

What to Expect:
We are looking for a Manager, System Operations to join our Operations team at IonQ. In this role, you will lead our on-site team in Daejeon, South Korea, helping to maintain, improve, and scale IonQ’s commercial quantum systems and supporting platforms. The role is focused on keeping systems up, performant, and well supported, while building strong local operational capability.

You will play an important part in shaping the processes, team capability, and operational rhythm that support IonQ’s commercial quantum fleet. Working as part of a broader global operating model, this role will also help connect local system operations with cross-functional teams across the business.

What You'll be Doing:

In this position, you will lead a team of system operators on site, coordinate across technical and non-technical stakeholders, and help drive reliable day-to-day operation of IonQ’s commercial systems. The role sits close to the work: supporting incident response, improving operational processes, and helping the team execute against wider company and department priorities.

You will have the opportunity to improve uptime, strengthen operational resilience, and build trust with both internal stakeholders and external partners. This is a people-led technical operations role, with a strong focus on leadership, coordination, and continuous improvement rather than being the deepest individual subject matter expert in the room.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead a high-performing on-site team in Daejeon responsible for the maintenance, enhancement, and scaling of IonQ’s quantum systems and supporting platforms.=
• Recruit, onboard, develop, and retain technical talent to build a strong operations capability in South Korea.
• Act as a key liaison across customers, vendors, leadership, engineers, operators, and other stakeholders to resolve blockers and support smooth system operations.
• Lead or coordinate incident response for complex system issues, including root cause analysis, corrective actions, and preventative improvements.
• Oversee and improve operational processes, priorities, and performance metrics to minimise downtime and support reliable fleet performance.

Requirements

To be successful, you will need solid experience leading technical teams in an operations, production, or R&D environment, along with the judgement to coordinate across multiple stakeholders and keep complex systems running effectively. We are looking for someone who can lead people well, stay close enough to the technical detail to be credible, and turn broader strategy into clear operational action.

This role would suit someone who enjoys leadership more than individual contribution, is comfortable working across functions, and can help create structure, momentum, and trust in a small but important on-site team.

You’d be a great fit with:

• 5+ years of hands-on technical leadership and people management experience, including direct supervision of technical teams.
• Experience managing physicists, scientists, engineers, or similarly technical specialists in a production, R&D, or operations setting.
• A background in operations management, system reliability, or high-availability technical environments.
• Familiarity with incident response, root cause analysis, and approaches to improving uptime, resilience, and operational performance.
• Strong communication and cross-functional leadership skills, with the ability to work effectively across technical teams, leadership, customers, and external partners.

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.