Quantum Materials Nanofabrication Engineer

Job Description

Job Title: Principal Quantum Materials Nanofabrication Engineer. Location: West Lafayette, Indiana, United States

Job Type: Full-Time, Individual Contributor, On-site

Responsibilities:

• Develop, execute, and optimize semiconductor and hybrid device fabrication processes in cleanroom environments.
• Contribute to full end-to-end fabrication workflows for advanced quantum devices, from wafer preparation to final device definition.
• Identify process failures, sensitivities, and variability sources, and improve yield, reproducibility, and device performance.
• Fabricate devices for materials and device characterization experiments with high process accuracy and documentation quality;
• Collaborate closely with materials growth, measurement, and device physics teams to translate experimental requirements into fabrication workflows.
• Design and execute experiments to evaluate and improve fabrication processes.
• Document all fabrication processes, protocols, and experimental results to ensure reproducibility and knowledge transfer.
• Support transfer of R&D fabrication processes into scalable manufacturing workflows.
• Assist with maintenance, qualification, and stewardship of cleanroom tools and processes.
• Train and mentor junior engineers on cleanroom equipment, safety, and fabrication best practices;
• Use AI tools to improve process development, data analysis, experimentation workflows, and documentation efficiency.

Qualifications:

• PhD with 3+ years experience in relevant R&D or industry role
  OR
• Master’s degree with 6+ years experience
  OR
• Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years experience
• Background in Physics, Engineering, or related field
• Experience working in semiconductor or advanced fabrication environments
• Ability to meet security screening and citizenship requirements;
• Experience operating in controlled fabrication or cleanroom environments

Preferred:

• Hands-on experience with electron-beam lithography
• Experience with atomic layer deposition (ALD)
• Thin-film metal deposition and characterization experience
• Gate dielectric deposition and process optimization;
• Ion milling and etching processes
• Strong track record improving semiconductor process flows affecting device performance
• Experience with thin-film dielectric optimization
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience handling hazardous materials in cleanroom environments
• Ability to independently operate in cleanroom fabrication workflows

Benefits and Compensation:

• Competitive U.S. salary range: $142,800 – $274,800 per year (up to $304,200 in certain regions)
• Full Microsoft benefits package including healthcare, retirement, and paid leave programs
• Access to advanced research and fabrication facilities;
• Opportunities to work on next-generation topological quantum computing systems
• Career growth in a high-impact research and engineering environment
• Exposure to AI-assisted engineering workflows and advanced quantum hardware development

Other Information:

• Travel requirement: 25%–50%
• Worksite: Fully on-site
• Must meet Microsoft security screening requirements, including background checks
• Citizenship or legal status verification required due to export control regulations
• AI tools are actively used to support engineering workflows and productivity
• Microsoft promotes an inclusive, diverse, and growth-oriented work culture;