Principal or Senior Quantum Engineer - Readout Design

Job Title

Principal or Senior Quantum Engineer - Readout Design

Role Summary

Design the readout system for topological qubits at component, subsystem, and system levels. Work on scalable readout circuitry and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to co-design readout and control interfaces.

Work is research-and-development focused with an in-office requirement of three days per week in Redmond, WA.

Experience Level

Senior-level individual contributor. Expected to be an experienced engineer; see Education Requirements for degree/experience equivalencies and specific hiring bands.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include:

• Design scalable readout circuitry for topological qubits at component, subsystem, and system levels.
• Co-design readout with qubit and control teams; define interfaces and control requirements.
• Perform simulations, analyze and interpret results, document findings, and present technical results to internal and external audiences.
• Develop engineering tools, processes, and automation to accelerate hardware R&D.
• Adhere to and help define safety and compliance protocols in the lab and engineering environments.
• Collaborate across disciplines and contribute to knowledge sharing and networking efforts.

Requirements

Must-have qualifications and constraints:

• Proven experience designing readout circuitry or related analog/RF electronics for quantum or semiconductor devices.
• Experience with simulation, data analysis, technical documentation, and presentations.
• Systems-engineering mindset with ability to coordinate across multiple teams and evolving designs.
• Experience building engineering tools, automation, or workflows to support research and development.
• Ability to meet Microsoft security and export-control screening requirements (background check, citizenship or residency verification); candidate must be eligible to access export-controlled information.
• On-site work three days per week in Redmond, WA; travel under 25%.
• Practical use of AI tools to improve engineering productivity is expected.

Preferred / Nice-to-have:

• Experience with semiconductor spin qubits or semiconductor devices.
• Experience with cryogenic microwave experiments and low-noise amplifiers.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Education Requirements

Degree and experience options: Doctorate (PhD) in Physics, Engineering, or related field (common hire point); Master’s in Physics, Engineering, or related field; or Bachelor’s in Physics, Engineering, or related field. Microsoft lists degree-plus-experience equivalencies in the posting (examples: PhD +1 year industry/R&D experience; Master’s +4 years; Bachelor’s +6 years, or equivalent practical experience). Preferred thresholds for higher-level consideration: PhD +3 years, Master’s +6 years, Bachelor’s +8 years.

About the Company

Company: Microsoft

Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States

Microsoft is a global technology company that develops and sells software, services, devices, and solutions. Known for its Windows operating system, Office suite, and Azure cloud platform, Microsoft aims to empower individuals and organizations around the world to achieve more. The company fosters a culture of innovation and inclusion, focusing on delivering trusted experiences to customers and partners globally.