Senior Quantum Nanofabrication Engineer

Job Title

Senior Quantum Nanofabrication Engineer

Role Summary

Senior individual-contributor role in Microsoft Quantum based at the West Lafayette, IN site. Provide hands-on technical leadership for semiconductor and quantum-device nanofabrication processes, from experiment design and process development to integration with device and materials teams.

The role focuses on developing, qualifying, and improving fabrication processes to enable advanced quantum devices and improve yield, reliability, and repeatability.

Experience Level

Senior-level. The posting indicates senior-level responsibilities and preferred multi-year hands-on experience in advanced micro-/nanofabrication (see Requirements for details).

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include process development, integration, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Develop and build quantum devices using a wide set of nano-fabrication techniques.
• Plan and execute experiments to create and optimize fabrication processes; use quantitative metrology and characterization to define process windows and failure mechanisms.
• Troubleshoot process and equipment issues; design experiments and analyze results to improve repeatability and yield.
• Translate device requirements into practical fabrication processes working closely with device physicists, materials scientists, growth engineers, and characterization teams.
• Identify process and equipment capability gaps and support equipment upgrades or tool development to address those gaps.
• Collect, maintain, and analyze fabrication and characterization data to drive process improvements and performance gains.
• Collaborate across teams and document processes and results to enable reproducible integration into device fabrication flows.
• Embody Microsoft’s stated culture and values in day-to-day work.

Requirements

Must-have items and additional preferred qualifications.

• Must-have: Ability to meet Microsoft security and export-control screening requirements, including passing periodic Microsoft Cloud Background Checks and providing proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency when required.
• Must-have: Proven ability to independently own technically challenging fabrication processes, identify problems, design experiments, and implement process improvements.
• Must-have: Ability to leverage AI tools to improve engineering and lab workflows (e.g., experiment setup automation, log triage, measurement reporting, protocol templating, knowledge retrieval).
• Must-have: Willingness and ability to work fully on-site at the West Lafayette, IN facility and to travel as required (travel estimate in posting: 25–50%).
• Nice-to-have / Preferred: Extensive hands-on experience developing semiconductor, superconducting, MEMS, photonic, or other micro-/nanofabrication processes.
• Nice-to-have: Deep experience with electron-beam lithography or advanced optical lithography, and thin-film deposition techniques (ALD, e-beam evaporation, sputtering, CVD).
• Nice-to-have: Experience developing plasma etch processes (ion-mill, RIE, atomic layer etch) for sensitive nanoscale devices and experience with III-V semiconductor processing and gate dielectric deposition on III-Vs.

Education Requirements

Required education options stated in the posting: Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field with 3+ years technical engineering experience; OR Bachelor's degree in the same fields with 5+ years technical engineering experience; OR equivalent practical experience. Preferred education options include Doctorate in the same fields (or higher years of experience with lower degrees). Fields referenced: Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical fields. "Or equivalent experience" language is explicitly allowed.

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.