Device Operations Director

Oxford Ionics
Oxford
1 month ago
Create job alert
Description

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.

What to expect:

In this role, you will lead our Device Operations Team, which produces and tests the Quantum Processing Units (QPUs) which sit at the heart of our Quantum Computers. We are looking for someone with a strong technical background, capable of managing highly technical teams but also maintaining strong relationships with external suppliers.

The team currently consists of five people and is set to double in size over the next nine months. You will set the technical direction, shape culture and standards, and work closely with colleagues and suppliers to make sure our devices are delivered on time and at the highest quality.

The Device Operations team is responsible for a range of areas concerning the manufacturing and test of our devices:

  • Rapid production of devices in prototype quantities using our in-house fabrication facilities.
  • Maintaining relationships with industrial fab partners involved in the production of our devices, owning the delivery of these devices.
  • Developing packaging flows and processes needed for our unique devices, both in-house and with industrial partners.
  • Packaging of the quantum processor devices in prototype quantities.
  • Low-volume manufacturing test of non-quantum parameters of the devices.
What you'll be responsible for:

You will provide technical leadership and ensure our device manufacturing processes are set up for success. You’ll balance rapid prototyping with long-term reliability, develop packaging capabilities, and align internal fabrication and test roadmaps. You’ll also take ownership of delivering prototypes and QPU devices, working closely with both in-house and external fabrication partners.

  • Lead and grow the Device Manufacturing Team, setting direction and standards while mentoring junior staff.
  • Define and develop packaging and manufacturing test processes, combining in-house and external capabilities.
  • Own delivery of QPU prototypes and devices from our internal uFab and industrial partners.
Alongside technical leadership, you’ll play a key role in team and supplier management. You’ll work with colleagues across engineering and operations to plan future capability, select external partners where needed, and ensure the team has the resources to deliver at pace. 

Requirements

You’ll need a strong technical background in device packaging and fabrication, with proven experience taking devices from prototype through to early product stage. You should bring both hands-on expertise and the ability to lead teams, with a solid understanding of how processes and stack-ups impact yields, timescales and delivery.

  • Significant packaging experience in microelectronics, photonics, or a related sector.
  • Track record of delivering prototypes and early-stage devices into production.
  • Experience leading technical teams and setting direction in complex projects.
  • Knowledge of supply-chain management across fabrication and packaging stages.
Beyond technical skills, we’re looking for someone who thrives in fast-moving, evolving environments. Clear communication, collaboration and a growth mindset are essential, alongside the resilience and adaptability that come with working in a scaling company.

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

Process Engineer

Manufacturing Process Engineer

Semiconductor Design Engineer

Process Engineer

Process Engineer

Process Engineer

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

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

Jobs Careers

Semiconductor Jobs for Career Switchers in Their 30s, 40s & 50s (UK Reality Check)

Semiconductors sit behind almost everything: smartphones, EVs, medical devices, aerospace systems, telecoms networks, cloud data centres & the AI boom. In the UK, the semiconductor ecosystem spans chip design, IP, photonics, compound semiconductors, testing, packaging, equipment, supply chain & R&D. That breadth creates real opportunities for career switchers in their 30s, 40s & 50s, especially if you target roles where experience, process discipline & delivery skills matter as much as deep device physics. This article gives you a UK reality check: what semiconductor jobs actually look like, which roles are realistic for career switchers, what skills employers value, how long retraining tends to take & whether age is a barrier.

Jobs

How to Write a Semiconductor Job Ad That Attracts the Right People

Semiconductors sit at the heart of modern technology. From consumer electronics and automotive systems to AI, defence, telecoms and advanced manufacturing, semiconductor professionals play a critical role in designing, fabricating and testing the components that power the global economy. Yet many employers struggle to attract the right candidates. Semiconductor job adverts often receive either very few applications or a high volume of unsuitable ones. Experienced engineers and scientists frequently ignore adverts that feel vague, generic or disconnected from the realities of semiconductor development and manufacturing. In most cases, the issue is not a shortage of talent — it is the clarity and quality of the job advert. Semiconductor professionals are detail-oriented, process-driven and highly selective. A poorly written job ad signals weak technical understanding and unclear expectations. A well-written one signals credibility, precision and long-term intent. This guide explains how to write a semiconductor job ad that attracts the right people, improves applicant quality and strengthens your employer brand.

Education Jobs

Maths for Semiconductor Jobs: The Only Topics You Actually Need (& How to Learn Them)

If you are aiming for semiconductor jobs in the UK it is easy to assume you need a PhD level maths toolkit. In practice most roles do not. Whether you are targeting device engineering, process engineering, yield engineering, product engineering, test, reliability, RF, analogue, digital design, EDA, packaging or applications engineering, the maths you actually use clusters into a few workhorse areas. This guide strips it back to the topics that genuinely help you get hired & perform well on the job: Exponents, logs & “physics curves” (Arrhenius style behaviour, subthreshold, leakage) Calculus in plain English (rates, gradients, differential equations intuition) Device electrostatics & transport basics (Poisson equation intuition, drift & diffusion) Complex numbers for AC & RF (impedance, phasors, frequency response) Signals maths (Fourier intuition, bandwidth, noise density) Probability & statistics for manufacturing (SPC, DOE, yield models, reliability basics) Basic optimisation habits (fitting models, tuning trade-offs, making decisions with data) You will also get a 6 week plan, portfolio projects & a resources section you can follow without getting pulled into unnecessary theory.

🍪 We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience on our website. By continuing to use this site, you consent to the use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy. You can review our Cookie Policy for more information.