Principal Computer Aided Design Engineer

Microsoft Microsoft · Big Tech · Redmond, WA +1 · Hardware Engineering

This role focuses on designing, developing, and evaluating components for analog electronic devices, specifically within the Microsoft Quantum team. The engineer will define design approaches, technical specifications, and test requirements, leveraging industry-standard electronic design automation and electromagnetic simulation toolsets. A key aspect involves developing and refining process-design-kit (PDK) requirements for superconducting circuit technologies and collaborating with various teams to codesign for performance, scalability, and reliability. The role also includes leading the design and layout of superconducting cryogenic control and readout circuits and establishing physical-design, layout, and verification workflows. While the role mentions leveraging AI tools to accelerate discovery and drive innovation, the core craft is hardware engineering for quantum computing, not AI/ML model development.

What you'd actually do

  1. Leverage industry standard electronic design automation, electromagnetic simulation toolsets, and physical verificaton flows.
  2. Develop, maintain, and refine process‑design‑kit (PDK) requirements for superconducting circuit technologies, ensuring accurate device models, parameter extraction, and design‑rule coverage.
  3. Collaborate with device, packaging, and quantum‑hardware design teams to codesign for noise performance, scalability, and reliability.
  4. Lead the design and layout of superconducting cryogenic control and readout circuits operating at millikelvin temperatures for scalable quantum computing systems.
  5. Establish and own physical‑design, layout, and verification workflows, including design-rule checks (DRC), electrical-rule check (ERC), and layout-versus-schematic (LVS) tailored for superconducting circuit processes.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience OR Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 7+ years technical engineering experience OR equivalent experience.

Nice to have

  • Experienced with analog and high-performance circuit design and layout.
  • Experienced in construction and maintenance of process design kits.
  • Doctorate Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 5+ years technical engineering experience OR equivalent experience.

What the JD emphasized

  • Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role.
  • 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.