Senior Quantum Systems Electrical Engineer

Microsoft · Washington · $119,800–$234,700 (stated in the posting)

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Microsoft is the world’s center of expertise on topological quantum computing.   We are building a scaled, fault‑tolerant quantum computer grounded in topological qubits and integrated end‑to‑end with the Azure Quantum software stack. 

As a Senior Quantum Systems Electrical Engineer, you’ll collaborate closely with quantum physicists, systems software, RF/EE, and manufacturing/production to help define, design, and deliver FPGA‑based, ultra‑low‑latency digital subsystems that sit at the heart of our topological quantum engine—spanning readout classification, error‑decoder acceleration, room‑temperature front‑ends for cryogenic control, high‑speed interconnects, and precision clocking networks. Your work will directly impact logical‑qubit stability, throughput, and system scale. 

At Microsoft Quantum, we aim to empower science and scientists to solve the world’s biggest problems by realizing advanced computing platforms at the intersection of high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum information technology. Microsoft Quantum will change the world of computing and help solve some of humankind’s currently unsolvable problems. For more information about our team, visit https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/quantum. 

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.   

• Design & implement Prototype Circuits and PCBs for custom electronics devices, high speed digital (FPGA based) designs, RF designs, and mixed signal electronics.  

• Verification and validation: develop and document tests to validate custom circuits at the component and system level.  Support lab bring‑up of new designs with scopes, VNAs, LA/SC, and RF instruments. 

• Tool flow & CI: support CI pipeline standup and assist with test development.  

• Quality & documentation: produce clear design docs, interface specs, and bring‑up guides; participate in rigorous code/design reviews. 

• Other

  • Embody our Culture and Values 

Required Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Physics, Electrical/Computer Engineering, or related field AND 1+ year(s) software industry experience, including research and/or development of commercial software, compilers, scientific computing applications, or multi-component systems

  • OR Master's Degree in Physics, Electrical/Computer Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years software industry experience, including research and/or development of commercial software, compilers, scientific computing applications, or multi-component systems
  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Electrical/Computer Engineering, or related field AND 4+ years software industry experience, including research and/or development of commercial software, compilers, scientific computing applications, or multi-component systems
  • 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 work in an "AI first" environment using modern AI tools to accelerate discovery through hardware development.

  Familiarity with designing and building AI agents/copilots that assist with experiment setup, log triage, measurement report generation, protocol templating, and knowledge retrieval (e.g. instrument manuals, design docs). 

Additional or Preferred Qualifications:

• 3+ years delivering custom electronics designs. 

• Familiarity with RFSoC architectures  

• Familiarity with RF and high-speed digital designs. 

• Comfort working across HW/SW boundaries (GPIO, SPI, Serial, USB) and with scientific instrumentation. 

• Exposure to RTL and FPGA design. 

• Familiarity with signal processing/control or quantum control/readout concepts (nice to have; curiosity and fast learning are more important). 

• Experience with Windows & Linux, VS Code, Git/GitHub, Azure DevOps CI/CD; scripted builds (Tcl/Python); design docs + code reviews + comprehensive testing are part of our quality bar. 

#Quantum #QuantumCareers #MDQCareers  

Quantum Engineering IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 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 $160,200 - $261,000 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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