Senior Silicon Validation Engineer

Location: Oxford, England, UK
Working pattern: Hybrid

Role:

We are looking for a Senior Silicon Validation Engineer to join our Cryo-CMOS IC team at IonQ Oxford. You will lead the validation and characterisation of analogue and mixed-signal ASICs for our trapped-ion quantum processors, from test planning and platform development through first-silicon bring-up, debug and system integration.

This is a hands-on technical role. You will shape our validation architecture, build reusable hardware and software, and provide the evidence needed to make confident silicon acceptance decisions. The work includes room-temperature silicon validation and silicon characterisation at cryogenic temperatures (around 4 kelvin), on packaged parts, chip-on-board assemblies and bare die on a cryogenic probe station.

 

Responsibilities:

You will own validation delivery across chip and system interfaces, working closely with analogue and digital design, verification, modelling, firmware and systems engineers. You will turn requirements into measurable tests, prepare platforms before silicon arrives and resolve failures across the chip, board and software.

As a Senior engineer, you will set technical standards, guide other engineers and improve coverage, repeatability and test efficiency across successive ASIC generations.

Key responsibilities include:

• Own the silicon validation strategy, plans, acceptance criteria and readiness reviews, with traceability from block and system requirements to tests, results and unresolved risks.

• Present the silicon acceptance report to the Cryo-CMOS IC Lead and programme stakeholders.

• Lead first-silicon bring-up and characterisation of sample-and-hold and switch arrays, DACs, ADCs, references, amplifiers, switches, regulators, clocking and device-level test structures, across supply, temperature, operating modes and device variation, with sound calibration and measurement uncertainty.

• Develop validation boards, fixtures and reusable Python automation, instrument drivers and regression suites, addressing signal integrity, grounding, power integrity and measurement access, with version-controlled tests and reproducible data analysis.

• Plan and lead cryogenic measurements with specialist colleagues, including bare-die probing and the cold signal chain, and drive failures to root cause, separating silicon defects from board, firmware and test artefacts and correlating results with simulations, device models and foundry or partner data.

• Influence testability before tape-out, coordinate validation with external design partners, the foundry and other IonQ sites.

• Lead technical reviews, mentor engineers and document methods to improve throughput, data quality and reuse.

 

Requirements:

You will bring substantial experience in analogue or mixed-signal silicon validation and characterisation, with ownership of multiple silicon bring-up programmes. A degree in electrical or electronic engineering, or equivalent practical experience, is expected. You should combine hands-on laboratory skills with sound judgement on test coverage, measurement confidence and programme risk.

You’d be a great fit with:

• Strong electronics fundamentals and experience validating precision signal chains, data converters or power-management circuits, including their digital control interfaces.

• Practical expertise with oscilloscopes, precision sources and meters, signal generators, spectrum and logic analysers; confidence designing reliable low-noise, low-leakage measurements.

• Strong Python programming for instrument control, automated testing and statistical analysis; disciplined use of Git or equivalent version control and maintainable test software.

• Experience designing and debugging test PCBs, reviewing layouts and working with interfaces such as SPI, I2C, JTAG and custom shift-register chains, alongside embedded firmware or FPGA-based platforms.

• A record of resolving complex chip, board and software interactions through structured experiments and collaboration.

• Experience leading technical projects, mentoring engineers and communicating evidence, uncertainty and decisions in clear written reports.

Useful additional experience includes cryogenic or other extreme-temperature testing; wafer or bare-die probing; early-stage IP or test-chip evaluation; FPGA development and C/C++; circuit simulation; and production test correlation. Prior quantum computing is welcome but not required.

 

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.