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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal Quantum Engineer - Quantum Systems - **Company:** Microsoft - **Location:** San Francisco, CA, United States - **Experience:** Experienced - **Salary:** $142,800.0 - $274,800.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Data Analysis, Systems Engineering, Microsoft Online Services, Computer Programming, Hardware Design, Python (Programming Language), MATLAB, Software Tools, Systems Integration - **Published:** September 25, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.dice.com/job-detail/d9d9d8e3-606f-473b-a1ac-1b250bfae4ac ## About the Role * Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment + OR Master's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment + OR Doctorate in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment + OR equivalent experience. Other Requirements Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings: * 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 (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 will be required to 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 to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) tools to drive innovation and efficiency (e.g., measurement, performance modeling and analysis, research gathering, day-to-day task automation).Ability to work in an "AI-first" environment using modern AI tools to accelerate discovery through hardware development. * Ability to work in an "AI-first" environment using modern AI tools to accelerate discovery through hardware development., * Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 12+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment OR Master's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment OR Doctorate in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 5+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment OR equivalent experience. * Deep experience in one or more quantum engineering areas, such as materials, fabrication, cryogenic hardware or electronics, measurement and characterization, simulation, systems engineering, or systems integration. * Experience guiding multidisciplinary teams through ambiguous technical problems, system tradeoffs, and engineering risk reduction.Experience developing or scaling experimental equipment, engineering tools, test methods, technical processes, or integrated hardware systems. * Experience establishing safety, quality, security, documentation, or engineering practices that are reused across teams.Programming experience in a high-level language (e.g., Python, MATLAB) for tasks such as data analysis, instrument control, simulation, or automation.Demonstrated depth of expertise in an engineering or scientific domain relevant to complex hardware systems. * Experience leading complex experimentation, simulation, measurement, device development, or systems integration work from definition through technical decision-making. * Experience leading collaboration across engineering and scientific disciplines and communicating complex technical recommendations to varied stakeholders. * Experience developing engineering methods, tools, processes, or documentation that improve quality, reliability, or scalability across a team. * Programming experience in a high-level language (e.g., Python, MATLAB) for tasks such as data analysis, instrument control, simulation, or automation. * Demonstrated depth of expertise in an engineering or scientific domain relevant to complex hardware systems. * Experience leading complex experimentation, simulation, measurement, device development, or systems integration work from definition through technical decision-making. * Experience leading collaboration across engineering and scientific disciplines and communicating complex technical recommendations to varied stakeholders. * Experience developing engineering methods, tools, processes, or documentation that improve quality, reliability, or scalability across a team. ## Description This role combines deep technical ownership with cross-team leadership and engineering execution. Key responsibilities of the role: * Design and direct specialized experiments or simulations, guide data collection and analysis, and ensure results inform subsequent engineering decisions. * Lead the development and optimization of equipment, devices, components, tools, or processes needed for quantum development and research. * Lead collaboration across hardware, software, algorithm, and other technical teams to define subsystem requirements and interfaces, resolve system-level challenges, and validate integrated system performance. * Establish and apply engineering best practices that improve reliability, repeatability, scalability, quality, and performance. * Identify significant technical risks and documentation gaps, guide root-cause investigations, and drive recommendations through implementation. * Create, review, and improve technical documentation and reusable methods so work can be applied consistently within and across teams. * Guide teams in upholding safety, security, compliance, and secure-by-design practices in laboratory, engineering, and collaborative work. ## Related Videos - [ Secure Code Superstars: Empowering Developers and Surpassing Security Challenges Together](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/422-secure-code-superstars-empowering-developers-and-surpassing-security-challenges-together) - [Data Science in Retail](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/586-data-science-in-retail) - [Leveraging Large Language Models for Legacy Code Translation: Challenges and Solutions](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1157-leveraging-large-language-models-for-legacy-code-translation-challenges-and-solutions) - [Quantum Computing - The tiny and the big challenges](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/934-quantum-computing-the-tiny-and-the-big-challenges) - [Software stack under and over the hood of the fastest accelerating car in the world](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/221-software-stack-under-and-over-the-hood-of-the-fastest-accelerating-car-in-the-world) - [Old tools, new tricks](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1916-old-tools-new-tricks) ## Related Articles - [7 Cloud Computing Trends Coming in 2025 for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/412-7-cloud-computing-trends-coming-in-2025-for-developers) - [The Fastest-Growing Tech Sectors to Look Out for in 2025](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/373-the-fastest-growing-tech-sectors-to-look-out-for-in-2025) - [How to Become an AI Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/331-how-to-become-an-ai-engineer) - [What Are The Top Skills Required For Azure Developers?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/77-what-are-the-top-skills-required-for-azure-developers) - [The 12 Best Jobs for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/401-the-12-best-jobs-for-software-engineers) - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again)