Quantum Engineer - Physics & Performance

Job Description

Job Title: Principal Quantum Engineer – Systems Physics & Performance. Location: Redmond, WA, USA

Job Type: Full-Time (Hybrid, 3 days/week in-office)

Responsibilities:

• Develop frameworks to diagnose and optimize multi-component quantum systems beyond single-device metrics.
• Analyze interacting qubit systems, emergent disorder phenomena, and correlated error sources.
• Design and evaluate computational benchmarks to quantify and mitigate error behaviors;
• Translate physics insights into corrective procedures and architectural improvements for scalable quantum processors.
• Collaborate with theorists, device physicists, and materials scientists to connect theoretical models with experimental observations.

Materials and Device Diagnostics

• Guide interpretation of advanced materials and device measurements, including morphology, chemistry, and electronic properties.
• Design and support measurement campaigns using large-scale metrology facilities such as x-ray synchrotrons.
• Integrate diagnostic results into fabrication and hardware design feedback loops;
• Identify new characterization methods to detect failure modes and performance limitations.

Emerging Interfaces: Optics, THz, and Readout Systems

• Explore next-generation readout and control approaches for quantum systems.
• Investigate optical signal distribution and on-chip demultiplexing strategies for scalable readout.
• Collaborate with quantum electronics, photonics, and cryogenic engineering teams.
• Evaluate performance limits and scalability of advanced readout architectures.

Other

• Contribute to Microsoft’s culture, values, and collaborative research environment.

Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Physics, Engineering, or a related field with 6+ years of experience,
  OR Master’s degree with 10+ years of experience,
  OR Bachelor’s degree with 12+ years of experience,
  OR equivalent experience;
• Ability to pass Microsoft Cloud Background Check and meet export control requirements.
• Ability to work in an AI-first environment using modern AI tools.
• Experience building AI-assisted tools for experimentation, reporting, and knowledge retrieval.

Preferred:

• Doctorate in Physics, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field with 7+ years of postdoctoral or equivalent experience.
• Expertise in interacting quantum systems, disorder physics, or complex quantum device behavior.
• Experience with advanced experimental diagnostics such as spectroscopy, x-ray scattering, or nanoscale probes.
• Proven ability to integrate theory, experiment, and hardware development;
• Recognized contributions in quantum materials, condensed matter physics, or quantum devices.
• Experience with system-level performance modeling and physics-based error analysis.
• Familiarity with superconducting, topological, or hybrid quantum platforms;
• Knowledge of cryogenic measurement techniques and device fabrication workflows.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Excellent communication and scientific writing abilities.

Benefits and Compensation:

• Base salary range:
  • $163,000 – $296,400 per year (U.S. standard range)
  • $220,800 – $331,200 per year (San Francisco Bay Area and New York City range)
• Access to Microsoft benefits and additional compensation programs (role-dependent).
• Opportunity to work on world-leading topological quantum computing systems;
• Collaborative, research-driven environment with global impact.

Other Information:

• Travel requirement: less than 25%.
• Work environment: hybrid with 3 days per week in-office.
• Requires eligibility for export-controlled information access;
• Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates.
• Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.