Principal Technical Program Manager (Quantum Hardware and Firmware Systems)

Job Title

Principal Technical Program Manager (Quantum Hardware and Firmware Systems)

Role Summary

Lead end-to-end delivery of next-generation quantum hardware and firmware systems within Microsoft Quantum. This individual contributor role coordinates research, engineering, and external partners to align roadmaps, manage risk, and deliver scalable, production-ready quantum solutions.

Work closely with subsystem R&D leaders, hardware and firmware engineers, supply chain, and cloud teams to accelerate development and scale-up of topological qubits and supporting hardware platforms.

Experience Level

Senior. Typical guidance: minimum ~6 years of relevant technical experience with program management responsibility; preference for candidates with 10+ years for large multi-year hardware portfolios. At least 3 years managing cross-functional projects.

Responsibilities

Manage complex, cross-disciplinary hardware and firmware programs from concept through validation and scaling.

• Drive program execution across concept, design, prototyping, validation, operational scaling, and ongoing delivery.
• Create and maintain strategic roadmaps, align technical milestones, allocate resources, and manage schedules and risks.
• Coordinate across device physics, cryoelectronics, materials, control systems, manufacturing, integration, and cloud operations to deliver integrated hardware solutions.
• Engage and manage external partners: foundries, equipment vendors, research labs, and contract manufacturers.
• Identify, monitor, and mitigate technical, scheduling, and operational risks; apply continuous improvement practices.
• Oversee Agile program processes, remove impediments, and ensure transparency via regular reviews and reporting.
• Incorporate feedback from internal and pilot customers (researchers, manufacturing partners, Azure teams) to improve hardware and processes.
• Prepare concise, data-driven executive updates on status, milestones, risks, dependencies, and impact.

Requirements

Key required skills and experience, followed by preferred qualifications.

• Must-have: Minimum 6+ years of technical experience in quantum information, physics, materials science, electrical engineering, hardware systems, or related technical domains; 3+ years managing cross-functional or cross-team projects.
• Must-have: Demonstrated program management of complex hardware/firmware projects, including system integration, schedule and risk management, supplier/partner management, and executive communication.
• Must-have: Ability to pass specialized security screenings and provide proof of citizenship or lawful permanent resident status where required for export-controlled information.
• Must-have: Experience operating in matrixed product development environments using Agile methodologies and program tools for issue/risk tracking and schedule management.
• Nice-to-have: Experience with BIOS, drivers, embedded systems, SoC/ASIC/FPGA bring-up, cryoelectronics, advanced chip packaging, or quantum device development; experience with supply chains, R&D foundries, and contract manufacturing.
• Nice-to-have: Hands-on firmware or low-level systems R&D experience and experience scaling R&D into manufacturing, including test/validation protocols and hardware quality systems.
• AI skills: Ability to leverage AI tools to accelerate engineering and lab workflows and to design agentic solutions with measurable metrics and human-in-the-loop safeguards per responsible-AI practices.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in quantum information, physics, materials science, electrical engineering, hardware systems, engineering, or a related technical field is specified; equivalent practical experience is explicitly accepted as an alternative.

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.