Principal Solutions Architect - Quantum-Safe Networks

We are looking for a Principal Solutions Architect to design how networks become quantum-safe — for the largest network operators, enterprises, and government agencies in the world. Today's networks are secured with cryptography that a cryptographically relevant quantum computer will break. Every operator and enterprise will have to inventory their cryptography, make it agile, migrate to post-quantum algorithms, and in the highest-assurance segments complement that with quantum-safe key distribution. Almost nobody knows yet what that architecture actually looks like. That is the problem you will solve — first with customers, on real networks, and then as reusable architectures that shape what IonQ builds. This role sits deliberately in multiple places. A part of your time is customer-facing: in collaboration with our GTM colleagues, you'll lead architecture discussions, design quantum-safe target architectures and migration paths, run proofs of concept and interoperability tests, and support complex pursuits as the technical authority. The other part of your time is spent on design authority, standards work, and providing thought leadership internally and externally, including public speaking: turning what you learn in the field from internal and external peers into reference architectures, migration playbooks, standards, white papers, blogs, conference talks, and product requirements that our engineering and product teams build against. You are equally comfortable in a firewall design review as you are in a discussion about hybrid key exchange and crypto-agility. You can explain to a CISO why their crypto inventory is the hard part, and to a network engineer exactly which IPsec algorithms to use and where they could insert external key material in order to become quantum-safe. This is not a software architecture role — you will not own a codebase (it's a plus if you can do some scripting). It is an architecture and customer role: you own designs, decisions, and the technical credibility of IonQ's quantum-safe networking story.

Responsibilities

Design quantum-safe target architectures and migration paths for customer networks spanning WAN/transport, data center/campus, segmentation/access control, key management, and cryptography; Lead technical discovery and architecture workshops with network, security, and infrastructure teams, assess current state, identify brittle cryptography, and build executable migration plans; Own the technical thread in complex pursuits: architecture proposals, RFI/RFP responses, security/compliance questions, competitive positioning, and objection handling in partnership with Sales; Design and run proofs of concept, interoperability tests, and pilots including PQC and hybrid key exchange in production-representative environments and QKD-integrated links where relevant; Translate field learning into reusable reference architectures, migration playbooks, interoperability matrices, and design guides; Serve as customer voice in product process, bring architectural constraints, integration gaps, and roadmap requirements to Product and Engineering; Track standards and threat landscape, contribute to NIST PQC standards, IETF protocol work, national/sector mandates, and keep architectures ahead; Partner with Marketing, Corporate Communications, and GTM to build technical presence via talks, papers, blogs, standards bodies, and industry events; Raise the technical bar through architecture reviews, mentoring, and reusable design patterns

Requirements

15+ years designing and securing enterprise and/or service provider networks in a solutions architecture, network architecture, security architecture, or senior customer-facing engineering capacity; Deep hands-on knowledge of routing/switching, IP transport, network segmentation, firewall/access control design, VPN/encryption at network layer, Zero Trust principles, and multi-vendor experience (Cisco, Juniper, Palo Alto, Fortinet, Nokia); Working knowledge of applied cryptography in networks: TLS, IPsec, MACsec, PKI/certificate lifecycle, key management, and algorithm/key material choices; Demonstrated ability to lead customer workshops, architecture discussions, and credible conversations with CISO/SVP about risk, cost, and sequencing; Serious interest and grounding in post-quantum cryptography, crypto-agility, quantum key distribution, and network migration challenges; Strong written communication for architectures, migration plans, and design guidance; Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or related field or equivalent practical experience; Willingness to travel up to 30%, primarily within the US, with incidental international travel

Nice to have

Experience with post-quantum cryptography migration: cryptographic discovery and inventory, crypto-agility architecture, hybrid key exchange, or PQC deployment in network/PKI context; Hands-on exposure to quantum key distribution or quantum networking (testbeds, carrier/research trials, key delivery interfaces to encryptors, optical/transport-layer integration); Experience at network/security vendor, service provider, hyperscaler, or large enterprise network/security team with accountability for architecture decisions at scale; Familiarity with NIST CSF, CIS Benchmarks, ISO 27001, FISMA, FedRAMP, or sector-specific regulation; Public-sector, defense, financial services, or telecom experience; Contributions to standards or technical community: IETF, ETSI, national PQC migration working groups, published writing, or conference talks; Certifications such as CISSP, CCIE/JNCIE, CCNP Security, or equivalent; Comfort with automation and tooling: Python, config-as-code, network telemetry

Benefits

comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans; matching 401(k); unlimited PTO and paid holidays; parental/adoption leave; legal insurance; home technology stipend