Overview
Microsoft Quantum has assembled a talented and diverse international team to create the world's first scalable quantum computing system. The research effort includes a diverse staff of theoretical and experimental physicists, hardware designers and software engineers around the world collaborating in a very fast-paced environment, where good communication and good documentation are key to the success of the program.
This role sits on the software team building the control, measurement, and bring-up stack for Microsoft's topological qubit chips and the broader quantum machine we are engineering. As a Senior Software Engineer (Measurement and Bring-up), you will partner closely with the Measurement team to implement the test, characterization, calibration, and tuning routines in software-shaping how the software is structured and how the instruments rack is orchestrated to deliver robust, fast, and correct execution in the lab.
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to Microsoft's Quantum Program, dedicated to building a scalable quantum computer to tackle humanity's most complex challenges.You'llhelp make the quantum machine operable as it scales by turning characterization and bring-up needs into dependable software-connecting sophisticated instrumentation to clear, repeatable workflows that accelerate learning cycles in the lab, as well as into robust qubit chip bring-up software for the quantum machine. At Microsoft Quantum, we aim to empower science and scientists to solve the world's biggest problems by realizing advanced computing platforms at the intersection of high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum information technology. Microsoft Quantum will change the world of computing and help solve some of humankind's currently unsolvable problems. For more information about our team, visit https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/quantum.
Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Asemployeeswe come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
You will work closely with quantum device characterization experts, experimental physicists, and the teams building instrument racks and control infrastructure across multiple quantum labs.You will collaborate with the Measurement team to translatebring-up and tuningroutines into high-quality software: aligning on APIs and abstractions, mapping requirements to the larger bring-up stack, and ensuring the instruments are used effectively to achieve repeatable, trustworthy results. You will deliver features end-to-end-implementation, testing, documentation, operationalization, and iteration based on user feedback-making pragmatic trade-offs under time pressure whilemaintainingcode quality and long-term maintainability.
Responsibilities
Work with the Measurement team to implement andmaintainmeasurement, characterization, and bring-up routines for qubit devices-turning experimental intent into robust, repeatable software workflows used in the laband in the quantum machine.
Develop Python software that controls and coordinates a complex instruments rack (timing, triggering, waveform generation, acquisition, and metadata capture) to execute high-fidelity experiments reliably and safely.
Build reusable building blocks (drivers/wrappers, experiment templates, calibration primitives, analysis utilities, configuration/schema models) that enable rapid development of new routines.
Ensure measurement data is high quality and traceable: consistent metadata, validation, versioning, and reproducible analysis pipelines.
Contribute to software engineering best practices: code reviews, testing, CI/CD, packaging, documentation, andon-call/triage support as needed in a fast-moving environment.
- Troubleshoot end-to-end issues across software and hardware boundaries (instrument communications, timing, signal integrity symptoms reflected in data) and make cleartrade-offsbetween rapid bring-up and long-term robustness.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
Other requirements
- Abilityto meet Microsoft,customerand/or government security screening requirements arerequiredfor this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:
- Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will berequiredto 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 willbe requiredto 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 toleverageAI tools to drive innovation and efficiency (e.g., research gathering, day to day task automation).
Preferred Qualifications
- Doctorate in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related fieldAND 2+ years software industry experience
- OR Master's Degree in a related field AND 4+ years software industry experience
- OR Bachelor's Degree in a related field AND 6+ years software industry experience
-
2+ years of prior experiencebuilding software for qubit (or closely related) test, characterization, calibration, or bring-up routines, including hands-on work with lab instrumentation and measurement workflows. -
Experience with instrumentation control and lab automation frameworks (e.g.,QCoDeSor similar), including driver development and integration with vendor SDKs. Experience developing software that interacts with sophisticated hardware(instrument racks, RF/microwave equipment, digitizers, AWGs, DC sources, cryogenic/facility sensors, or similar), including debugging communications, timing/triggering, and reliability issues. -
Strong Python software engineering skills: writing maintainable, testable code; solid grasp of language idioms and the standard library; experience with the scientific Python stack (e.g., NumPy, SciPy, pandas,xarray) and typed/data-modelingapproaches (e.g.,pydantic). Familiarity with modern development operationsand tooling such asCI&CD on platforms likeGitHubandAzure DevOps, and Python tooling (pip/uv, ruff, pre-commit,packagingand dependency management). -
Experience designing experiment abstractions, configuration systems, and data/metadata schemas for traceable measurement at scale. Experience with scientific data analysis pipelines, statistical methods, optimization/fitting, and uncertainty quantification applied to device characterization. - Experience improving engineering quality in research environments (test strategies for hardware-interfacing code, simulation/mocking of instruments, reliability engineering).
-
Collaborative engineering experienceworking with other software developers on shared codebases: design discussions, code reviews, feature ownership, and incorporating feedback from both peers and end users. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including comfort working under time pressure and making pragmatic decisions balancing speed, quality, and robustness. -
Customer obsession:demonstratedability todistilrequirements from user stories, fit requests into a larger architecture, deliver iteratively, and communicatetrade-offsclearly. -
Familiarity with observability/telemetry and data platforms used for debugging large experimental systems (structured logging, time-series data, Kusto/Azure Data Explorer, or equivalent). -
Embody ourCulture and Values.
#Quantum #QuantumCareers #MDQCareers Quantum Software Engineering IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 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 $158,400 - $258,000 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.
|