Quantum Systems Stability & Sensitivity Engineer

Microsoft · Washington · $102,100–$202,200 (stated in the posting)

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Microsoft Quantum has assembled a talented and diverse international team to create the world's first scalable quantum computing system. Our full-stack approach involves exciting innovations from physics on the quantum plane to providing global quantum services. With new developments happening at every part of the stack, it is more important than ever to understand and control how the individual components come together to form a stable, sensitive, integrated system.

Our Systems Integration team is looking for a Quantum Systems Stability & Sensitivity Engineer with a passion for hands-on troubleshooting to help characterize and improve the stability and sensitivity of the world's first topological quantum computer. The focus of this role is electrical interference, pickup, vibration, and long‑term drift in quantum hardware and instrumentation, particularly as affected by rack layout, cabling, and fridge vibration. You will own investigations and fixes of current systems, support rack buildout and upgrades across our sites, and participate in the design of future systems.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.  

This role combines hands-on experimental work with systematic problem solving. Key responsibilities of the role:

• Investigate and resolve sources of electrical interference, signal pickup, mechanical vibration, and long‑term drift that affect quantum hardware and instrumentation.
• Characterize how rack layout, cabling, grounding, shielding, and fridge vibration influence system stability and measurement sensitivity.
• Build and validate test racks, including baseline measurements of system noise and stability.
• Support rack buildout and upgrades across our sites — including hands-on assembly, cabling, grounding/shielding work, and on-site validation — which will require regular travel to other Microsoft Quantum locations.
• Perform expert-level troubleshooting of room temperature and cryogenic systems, including instrumentation faults, environmental noise, and mechanical issues.
• Contribute to the design of future systems, recommending improvements to layout, cabling, shielding, grounding, and vibration isolation.
• Analyze, document, and communicate the results of investigations and corrective actions to cross-disciplinary teams.

Other:

• Embody our Culture and Values

Required/minimum qualifications 

• Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 2+ years technical engineering experience
  • OR equivalent experience 

Other Requirements 

• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings: 
  • Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter. 
  • Citizenship & Citizenship Verification: This role will require access to information that is controlled for export under export control regulations, potentially under the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the EU Dual Use Regulation, and/or other export control regulations. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide either proof of their country of citizenship or proof of their U.S. permanent residency or other protected status (e.g., under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)) for assessment of eligibility to access the export-controlled information. To meet this legal requirement, and as a condition of employment, the successful candidate’s citizenship will be verified with a valid passport. Lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees may verify status using other documents, where applicable.
• Ability to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) tools to drive innovation and efficiency (e.g., measurement, performance modeling and analysis, research gathering, day-to-day task automation).
• Ability to work in an "AI-first" environment using modern AI tools to accelerate discovery through hardware development. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
  • OR Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years technical engineering experience
  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 5+ years technical engineering experience
  • OR equivalent experience 
• Hands-on experience using instrumentation to measure, characterize, or troubleshoot physical and electronic systems in a research, development, test, or applied engineering environment.
• Experience with low-noise electronic measurements (spectrum/network/audio analyzers, lock-in amplifiers, low-noise pre-amps, etc.) and identifying or mitigating mains and EMI noise.
• Some mechanical mindset, with comfort handling fit-up, assembly, and vibration-related work.
• Willingness and ability to travel to other Microsoft Quantum sites to support system buildout, upgrades, and on-site troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with cabling, connectors, attenuators, filters, grounding, and shielding.
• Experience with vibration measurement and isolation.
• Experience with cryogenic systems (He3 cryostats or dilution refrigerators).
• Applied experience in electrical characterization and tuning of quantum devices (e.g. SQUIDs, spin qubits, superconducting qubits, etc.).
• Experience with data acquisition and programming in a high-level language (e.g., Python, MATLAB) in a version-controlled environment (e.g., git).
• Team player with excellent communication skills and documentation rigor.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to new situations in a rapidly changing research environment.

#Quantum #QuantumCareers #MDQCareers

Hardware Engineering IC3 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $102,100 - $202,200 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $133,800 - $219,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.

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