Microsoft

Hardware Engineer

Microsoft • $85K — $168K *
Redmond, WA 98052In-Person
Telecommunications & Hardware
Less than 5 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field or equivalent experience.
  • 1+ years of experience in materials characterization, physical failure analysis, laboratory operations, or related engineering disciplines.
  • Hands-on experience with failure analysis techniques such as 2D/3D X-ray, SEM/EDS, FTIR, and Optical Microscopy.
  • Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills.
  • Able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

  • Perform material characterization and physical failure analysis on components and products.
  • Use analytical techniques to identify failure mechanisms and determine root causes.
  • Support engineering investigations throughout product development and manufacturing phases.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to aid in engineering investigations and product improvements.
  • Communicate technical findings clearly through reports and presentations.
  • Manage day-to-day operations of DAE laboratories to ensure safe and effective execution of analyses.
  • Own and manage the RDES operating budget, including annual planning and expense tracking.

Benefits

  • Opportunities for career growth and advancement within a leading technology company.
  • Access to cutting-edge tools and technology for material analysis and failure investigation.
  • Collaborative work environment with cross-functional teams.
  • Professional development and training resources to enhance technical skills.
  • Support for employee well-being and work-life balance.
Full Job Description
Overview

As a Device Analysis Engineer perform failure analysis and material characterization using cutting-edge instrumentation, analytical techniques, and critical thinking to identify failure mechanisms and root causes for complex engineering issues.

In addition to hands-on analytical investigations, this role owns the operational management of Device Analysis Engineering laboratories and the RDES budget, including laboratory planning, equipment management, procurement activities, vendor management, purchase orders, invoice processing, budget forecasting, and laboratory infrastructure support. The successful candidate will ensure DAE laboratories maintain the capabilities, resources, and operational efficiency required to support Microsoft's Surface, Xbox, Cloud, and Quantum programs.

Responsibilities
Failure Analysis & Material Characterization
  • Performs material characterization and physical failure analysis on components, subsystems, and products.
  • Uses analytical techniques to identify failure mechanisms and determine root causes.
  • Supports engineering investigations during product development, qualification, manufacturing, and sustaining phases.
  • Works closely with Development, Manufacturing, Reliability, Quality, Supply Chain, and Operations teams to support engineering investigations and product improvements.
  • Communicates technical findings through clear reports, presentations, and engineering reviews.
  • Assists in developing and improving analytical methodologies, laboratory procedures, and best practices.
Laboratory Operations Management
  • Owns day-to-day operation of DAE laboratories to ensure safe, efficient, and effective execution of analytical activities.
  • Manages the laboratory equipment lifecycle, including procurement, calibration, maintenance, repair, and replacement.
  • Maintains laboratory inventory, consumables, chemicals, software licenses, and service agreements.
  • Develops and maintain laboratory operating procedures, safety practices, asset-tracking processes, and maintenance schedules.
  • Ensures laboratory readiness and operational efficiency to support engineering investigations and business priorities.
  • Supports implementation of new analytical capabilities and laboratory improvements.
RDES (Reliability, Device Analysis Engineering, Product Safety) Budget Ownership
  • Owns the RDES operating budget, including annual planning, forecasting, spending reviews, and expense tracking.
  • Manages laboratory operating expenses, capital equipment purchases, maintenance contracts, software licenses, and external analytical service costs.
  • Develops business justifications for equipment purchases, laboratory upgrades, and capability investments.
  • Monitors expenditures and ensure spending remains aligned with approved budgets.
  • Partners with Finance and Procurement teams to support budget execution and compliance with company policies.
Purchasing & Vendor Management
  • Manages procurement activities, including vendor quotations, purchase requisitions, purchase orders (POs), invoice approvals, and contract coordination.
  • Manages relationships with equipment suppliers, service providers, and external laboratories.
  • Ensures timely acquisition of equipment, consumables, and services required to support laboratory operations.
  • Coordinates with internal and external laboratories to support analysis projects and business needs.


Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
    • 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. a7 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.


Preferred Qualification:
  • 1+ years of experience in materials characterization, physical failure analysis, laboratory operations, or related engineering disciplines.
  • Hands-on experience with failure analysis and analytical techniques such as 2D/3D X-ray, Mechanical Cross-Sectioning/Dye & Pry, SEM/EDS, FTIR, Optical Microscopy, and XRF.
  • Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills.
  • Ability to clearly communicate analytical findings through written reports and presentations.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment supporting both technical investigations and laboratory operations.
  • Experience with laboratory operations, including equipment management, calibration, maintenance, inventory control, and laboratory safety practices.
  • Experience managing budgets, purchase orders (POs), invoices, vendor relationships, equipment procurement, and operational expenditures.
  • Experience coordinating with internal and external laboratories, equipment suppliers, and service providers.
  • B.S. in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline required.


#W+D #EiP

Hardware Engineering IC2 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $85,400 - $168,100 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 $111,100 - $183,700 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.

About Microsoft

Microsoft is an American multinational corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells a range of software products and services. Microsoft’s devices and consumer (D&C) licensing segment licenses the Windows operating system and related software, Microsoft Office for consumers, and the Windows Phone operating system. The company’s computing and gaming hardware segment provides Xbox gaming and entertainment consoles and accessories, second-party and third-party video games, and Xbox Live subscriptions; surface devices and accessories; and Microsoft PC accessories. Its phone hardware segment offers Lumia smartphones and other non-Lumia phones. Its D&C segment provides Windows Store, Xbox Live transactions, and Windows phone store; search advertising; display advertising; Office 365 Home and Office 365 Personal; first-party video games; and other consumer products and services as well as operating retail stores. Microsoft’s commercial licensing segments license server products, including Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Studio, System Center, and related Client Access Licenses (CALs); Windows Embedded; Windows operating system; Microsoft Office for business, including Office, Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, and related CALs; Microsoft Dynamics business solutions; and Skype. Its commercial segment offers enterprise services, including premier support services and Microsoft consulting services; commercial cloud comprising Office 365 Commercial, other Microsoft Office online offerings, Dynamics CRM Online, and Microsoft Azure; and other commercial products and online services. The company markets and distributes its products through original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and resellers, as well as online.

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Learn more about Microsoft
Size
181,000 employees
Market Cap
$1,762.4 billion
Industry
Enterprise Technology
Net Income
$51.3 billion
Founded
1975
5 Year Trend
+15.5%
Revenue
$153.2 billion
NASDAQ
MSFT
* Ladders Estimates

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