Jobs and Careers

Principal Quantum Instrumentation Lead

United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 13 Aug 2025

💰 $304,200/yr($139,900/yr – $304,200/yr)

About the role

Microsoft Quantum has assembled a talented and diverse international team to create the world’s first scalable quantum computing system. Our full-stack approach involves exciting innovation from the physics of quantum devices through scalable readout and control systems based on cryo-electronics. The Microsoft Quantum program strives to fundamentally change the world of computing to help solve some of humankind’s currently unsolvable problems. We are on the cusp of an accelerated effort in quantum computing. This position offers an opportunity to have a meaningful influence on a revolutionary technology. For more information about the Microsoft Quantum team, please visit  https://quantum.microsoft.com/  

The Quantum Systems team is seeking a Principal Quantum Instrumentation Lead to drive the architecture, integration, and scaling of advanced instrumentation systems. This technical leadership role is responsible for setting the direction of measurement, control, and data acquisition systems, while collaborating cross-functionally with quantum physicists, cryo/mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, and firmware/software teams.

As a technical authority in instrumentation, you will play a pivotal role in evolving our hardware stack to meet the performance, reliability, and throughput demands of next-generation quantum computing.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we 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.

Responsibilities

Collaborate closely with our leads in readout, control, and system integration to develop the system architecture for room-temperature instrumentation. This includes components such as radio frequency (RF) and microwave systems, direct current (DC) sources, digitization tools, and timing mechanisms.

Lead the design and selection of scalable hardware for qubit control and measurement, including arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs), digitizers, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), digital-to-analog converters (DACs), and multiplexing hardware.

Define and implement instrumentation roadmaps, balancing near-term experimental needs with long-term scalability. This would include providing make versus buy decisions along this roadmap.

Develop and apply instrumentation standards and best practices across multiple teams and projects,

Collaborate with cross-functional teams including quantum research, quantum architecture, quantum experimentalists, cryogenics, software, electrical engineering, and test engineering to define requirements and ensure tight integration across the stack.