Staff Automation Engineer - Internal Audit

IonQ is developing the world's most powerful full-stack quantum computer based on trapped-ion technology. We are pushing past the limits of classical physics and current supercomputing technology to unlock a new era of computing. Quantum computing has the potential to impact every area of human society for the better. IonQ’s computers will soon redefine industries like medicine, materials science, finance, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cryptography, and more. IonQ is at the forefront of this technological revolution. 

The Process Engineer, Internal Audit is the architect of the modern audit function. This role is not about performing audits; it is about designing the systems that perform them. You will engineer, automate, and continuously optimize audit workflows by integrating Generative AI, agentic orchestration, and process engineering principles. Your goal is to move the department from "point-in-time" manual testing to a "continuous assurance" model that provides real-time risk insights.

Responsibilities: 

1. Audit Architecture & Process Re-Engineering

• Workflow Deconstruction: Analyze and map complex end-to-end audit processes (Risk Assessment through Issue Remediations) to identify "automation-first" opportunities.
• Lean Audit Design: Apply Lean/Six Sigma principles to eliminate "waste" in the audit lifecycle, such as manual data entry, redundant evidence requests, and administrative overhead.
• Scalable Solutions: Design standardized, modular workflow patterns that can be reused across Financial, IT, and Operational audit domains.

2. AI Agent Orchestration & Prompt Engineering

• Intelligent Augmentation: Build and deploy AI-assisted workflows using Vellum AI, Copilot Studio, and Claude 3.5/4 to automate:
• Control Mapping: Automatically mapping disparate business processes to COSO/NIST frameworks.
• Automated Walkthroughs: Using AI to summarize meeting transcripts and draft narrative documentation.
• Anomaly Narrative Generation: Converting complex data exceptions into plain-English audit findings for reports.
• Library Management: Develop and maintain a "Prompt Registry" and "Agent Library" to ensure consistency in how AI interacts with sensitive audit data.

3. Automation & Ecosystem Integration

• Agentic Workflows: Design "Agentic" automations in Microsoft Power Automate or Make.com that can reason through exceptions, route approvals, and update GRC platforms (e.g., AuditBoard, Workiva) without human intervention.
• Tool Mastery: Advanced deployment of DataSnipper for automated document matching (e.g., matching 1,000s of Invoices to POs in seconds) and population integrity testing.
• Real-time Risk Dashboards: Design and maintain Power BI or Tableau visualizations that provide a live "Risk Heatmap" based on automated testing results.

4. Governance, Privacy & "Auditability"

• AI Governance: Ensure all AI solutions are "explainable" and meet corporate Model Risk Management (MRM) and data privacy (GDPR/CCPA) standards.
• Validation Controls: Embed "Human-in-the-Loop" checkpoints into every automated process to ensure AI-generated output is validated by a subject matter expert.

You’d be a good fit with: 

Education & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Information Systems, Data Science, or Accounting with a heavy technical focus.
• Experience: 5–8+ years in Audit Transformation, Process Excellence, or Business Systems Engineering.

Technical Stack (2026 Proficiencies)

• AI Platforms: Hands-on experience with LLM orchestration (Vellum, LangChain, or Copilot Studio).
• Automation Hubs: Advanced proficiency in Power Automate, Zapier/Make, or n8n.

You’d be a great fit with:

• Industry Savvy: Strong background in manufacturing or organizations engaged in government contracting.
• Modern Audit Toolkit: Hands-on experience with SQL, Python,  DataSnipper or AI-based audit tools (e.g., Alteryx, MindBridge, or custom GPT agents). 
• Data: Proficiency in Data Governance, Datawarehouse (Snowflake/DataBricks)
• AI technology is evolving everyday, critical requirements for this role are passion for AI, self learning, willingness to experiment and implement solutions that are pushing the boundaries.
  
  

Location: Remote, US
Travel: 10% 
Job ID: 1389

The approximate base salary range for this position is $111,692 - $145,649. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, and equity.

Compensation will vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Beyond base salary, total compensation includes a variable bonus and equity component and a range of benefit options found on our career site at ionq.co/jobs.  Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided when a candidate receives an offer of employment. Our US benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, matching 401K, unlimited PTO and paid holidays, parental/adoption leave, legal insurance, a home internet stipend, and pet insurance! 

IonQ's HQ is located in College Park, Maryland, just outside of Washington DC. We are actively building out our recently opened manufacturing and production facility in Bothell, WA (near Seattle). Depending on the position, you may be required to be near one of our offices in College Park, Seattle, Toronto, Canada, and Basel, Switzerland. However, IonQ will expand into additional domestic and international geographies, so don’t let this stop you from applying!
 
At IonQ, we believe in fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all while striving to identify and eliminate barriers. We empower employees to thrive by fostering a culture of autonomy, productivity, and respect. We are dedicated to creating an environment where individuals can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.
 
We are committed to equity and justice. We welcome different voices and viewpoints and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

US Technical Jobs. The position you are applying for will require access to technology that is subject to U.S. export control and government contract restrictions.  Employment with IonQ is contingent on either verifying “U.S. Person” (e.g., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum) status for export controls and government contracts work, obtaining any necessary license, and/or confirming the availability of a license exception under U.S. export controls.  Please note that in the absence of confirming you are a U.S. Person for export control and government contracts work purposes, IonQ may choose not to apply for a license or decline to use a license exception (if available) for you to access export-controlled technology that may require authorization, and similarly, you may not qualify for government contracts work that requires U.S. Persons, and IonQ may decline to proceed with your application on those bases alone.  Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.  

US Non-Technical Jobs. Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.

If you are interested in being a part of our team and mission, we encourage you to apply!