Microsoft

Principal Quantum Hardware Engineer

Microsoft • $142K — $274K *
Reston, VA 20191In-Person
Technical Services
Less than 5 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Doctorate in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years of relevant experience, OR
  • Master's in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years of relevant experience, OR
  • Bachelor's in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years of relevant experience, OR equivalent experience.
  • Proficiency in Python or similar scripting languages and Linux-based systems.
  • Ability to meet advanced security screening requirements for export-controlled information.

Responsibilities

  • Plan and execute cryogenic quantum hardware experiments, including device bring-up and troubleshooting.
  • Operate, maintain, and improve dilution refrigeration and related cryogenic systems.
  • Configure and debug RF/microwave control and measurement systems for experiments.
  • Develop automation scripts and procedures to streamline data collection and analysis.
  • Integrate various hardware components into stable experimental platforms in collaboration with teams.
  • Support lab safety and compliance procedures, maintaining documentation and readiness for milestones.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health coverage including medical, dental, and vision plans.
  • 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions.
  • Generous paid time off and holiday policies.
  • Professional development opportunities and resources.
  • Flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance.
Full Job Description
Overview

As a Principal Quantum Hardware Engineerexperimentalist, you will help build, integrate, and operate cryogenic quantum hardware experiments in a forward-deployed quantum laboratory. You will work hands-on with dilution refrigerators, cryogenic and vacuum systems, RF/microwave control and readout chains, low-noise measurement infrastructure, device bring-up, and experimental automation. This role partners closely with scientists, hardware engineers, systems architects, program managers, and ecosystem partners to accelerate experimental learning and advance Microsoft's path toward useful quantum computing.

Responsibilities

  • Experimental Execution: Plan and execute cryogenic quantum hardware experiments, including device bring-up, characterization, calibration, data analysis, and iterative troubleshooting of low-temperature measurement systems.


  • Cryogenic Systems: Operate, maintain, and improve dilution refrigerators systems, including cryogenic wiring, vacuum systems, thermal anchoring, filtering, shielding, and related infrastructure required for reliable low-temperature measurements.


  • Instrumentation & Measurement: Configure and debug RF/microwave control and readout chains, DC electronics, data acquisition systems, signal generators, digitizers, amplifiers, and custom test setups used in quantum device experiments.


  • Automation & Data: Develop scripts, procedures, and analysis workflows for experiment automation, data collection, system monitoring, and reproducible measurement execution.


  • Hardware Integration: Partner with scientists, engineers, vendors, and systems architects to integrate devices, packages, interconnects, cryogenic components, control hardware, and software into stable experimental platforms.


  • Lab Readiness, Safety & Compliance: Support safe operation of cryogenic, electrical, vacuum, and export-controlled lab environments; contribute to procedures, documentation, change control, and readiness for internal and external milestones.


Other:
  • Embody our Culture and Values


Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
  • Doctorate in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment
    • OR Master's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment
    • OR Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment
    • 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.
  • Ability to work in an 4;AI-first4; environment using modern AI tools to accelerate discovery through both hardware and software development.
  • Ability to use and help build AI agents/copilots that assist with experimental workflows - e.g., instrument configuration, maintenance tracking, safety/readiness checklists, protocol templating, logbook summarization, and knowledge retrieval from instrument manuals, install guides, and configuration documentation.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience designing, building, operating, or troubleshooting experimental systems involving cryogenic, vacuum, RF/microwave, or low-noise measurement infrastructure.
  • Experience standing up, operating, or improving experimental quantum, cryogenic, condensed matter, superconducting device, semiconductor, or related low-temperature measurement laboratories.


  • Deep hands-on experience with cryogenic systems, dilution refrigerators, vacuum systems, RF/microwave wiring and I/O, filtering, shielding, low-noise electronics, and related low-temperature measurement infrastructure.


  • Experience with export-controlled or government-program environments (ITAR/EAR), including compliance, configuration management, and document/records control.


  • Experience integrating complex experimental hardware systems, coordinating with vendors, and managing components, spares, calibration, and logistics for cryogenic or precision measurement platforms.


  • Proficient background in Python or similar scripting languages, Linux-based systems, experiment control, lab automation, data acquisition, and analysis of experimental measurement data.


  • Excellent organizational, verbal, and written communication skills, and the judgment to set the operational foundation for a new facility.


  • Ability to partner across science, hardware engineering, systems architecture, program management, facilities, vendors, and government/ecosystem stakeholders in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary experimental environment.


#Quantum #QuantumCareers #MDQCareers

Quantum Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 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 $188,000 - $304,200 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.

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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