Principal Quantum Engineer - Systems Physics & Performance

• SystemsLevel Physics & Quantum System Performance: Develop frameworks for diagnosing and optimizing multicomponent quantum systems, going beyond singledevice metrics to capture interactions, emergent error sources, and disorder effects.
• Design and analyze computational benchmarks with known cleanlimit solutions to extract, quantify, and mitigate effective local random fields and other correlatederror phenomena that arise in realworld problem instances.
• Translate insights from interactingqubit physics into practical corrective procedures and architectural recommendations for nextgeneration topological quantum processors. Collaborate closely with theorists, device physicists, and materials scientists to bridge physicalmodel predictions with experimentally accessible observables.
• Materials & Device Diagnostics: Provide guidance on the interpretation of advanced materials and device measurements, including morphology, chemistry, electronic states, and interfacial properties of multilayer quantumdevice stacks.
• Partner with internal and external teams to design measurement campaigns at large national and international metrology facilities, including xray synchrotrons, and integrate results into devicefabrication and hardwaredesign feedback loops.
• Identify and champion novel characterization approaches that illuminate failure modes or performance bottlenecks in quantumdevice systems-while ensuring deep collaboration and alignment with existing internal metrology teams.
• Emerging Interfaces: Optics, THz, & Alternative Readout Pathways: Support exploratory, highimpact research directions related to futuregeneration readout and control schemes, such as, quantifying and reducing the fundamental timescales associated with topologicaldevice readout under realistic noise and errorrate constraints, investigating architectures in which RF signals are distributed via optical carriers into the cryostat, including onchip demultiplexing strategies for scalable, highbandwidth readout infrastructure and collaborate with quantumelectronics, photonics, and cryogenicengineering teams to evaluate practical and theoretical boundaries of these approaches.
• Other:
  • Embody ourCultureandValues

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• Doctorate in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment
  • OR Master's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 10+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment
  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 12+ 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 or Export Administration Regulations, 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 both hardware and software development.
• Ability to design and build 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/Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctorate degree in Physics, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field AND 7+ years of postdoctoral or equivalent research experience in quantum condensedmatter physics, strongly correlated systems, quantum devices, mesoscopic physics, or related areas.
  • OR equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in the physics of interacting quantum systems, disorder phenomena, or complex device behavior.
• Experience designing, interpreting, or leading advanced experimental diagnostics (e.g., xray scattering, spectroscopy, nanoscale probes, timeresolved techniques, or equivalent).
• Proven ability to drive scientific programs that integrate theory, experiment, and hardware development.
• Internationally recognized contributions in condensedmatter physics, quantum materials, or quantum devices.
• Experience with systemlevel performance modeling or physicsbased erroranalysis methodologies.
• Familiarity with superconducting, topological, or hybrid semiconductorsuperconductor quantum platforms.
• Knowledge of cryogenic measurement techniques and devicefabrication workflows.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor teams and foster crossfunctional collaboration.
• Excellent communication, scientificwriting, and externalengagement skills.
• Ability to navigate a rapidly evolving research and engineering environment with flexibility and creativity.

#Quantum #QuantumCareers #MDQCareers

Quantum Engineering IC6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $163,000 - $296,400 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 $220,800 - $331,200 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.

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.