Senior Quantum Simulation Engineer

Overview

Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. 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 (AI), and quantum information technology.

We are looking for a diverse set of talented and focused people to accelerate the delivery of useful quantum computers. Microsoft has an internal program pursuing topological qubits for large-scale quantum computing. We are also working closely with a growing list of companies to advance quantum computer systems at every layer of the stack and bring them to market on the Microsoft Quantum accelerator platform. We believe AI can accelerate both the creation of useful quantum computers and bring-in the timelines for their realization. For more information about the Microsoft Quantum team, please visit https://quantum.microsoft.com/

The Quantum Design team at Microsoft is seeking a Senior Quantum Simulation Engineer to model and simulate the dynamics of topological qubit and related devices. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence groundbreaking technology and accelerate progress toward scalable quantum computing.

As a Senior Quantum Simulation Engineer, you will develop and refine advanced simulation methods to model open quantum systems, interpret results, and deliver actionable insights that guide qubit designs and operational protocols. You’ll collaborate closely with system and measurement teams in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary environment, working alongside world-class engineers and scientists to push the boundaries of quantum technology.

Responsibilities

• Simulation Development: Design, build, and refine complex models of quantum devices and operations.
• Validation & Optimization: Develop, test, and validate models, iterating to improve accuracy and performance.
• Predictive Analysis: Compare simulation outcomes with experimental data to ensure reliability and guide improvements.
• Tool Creation: Build and maintain simulation tools, libraries, and modeling systems to support device development.
• Large-Scale Modeling: Conduct simulations to explore device behavior and scalability.
• Insight Generation: Translate theoretical and simulation results into design and optimization strategies.
• Cross-Team Collaboration: Collaborate effectively across teams, demonstrating clear communication.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment OR Master's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 4+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment OR Doctorate in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 1+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment OR equivalent experience.
• Research experience in the theory of quantum devices (superconducting, topological, spin, ...) or related domains.
• Familiarity with numerical methods for simulating quantum devices.
• Effective communication skills for working across teams and conveying complex ideas.

Other Requirements

• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role.
• Ability to work in an “AI-first” environment using modern AI tools to accelerate discovery through both hardware and software development.
• Ability to design and build AI agents/copilots that assist with experiment setup, log triage, measurement report generation, protocol templating, and knowledge retrieval (e.g. instrument manuals, design docs).

Additional Or Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment (completion of a postdoctoral research position may be included) OR Master's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment OR Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment OR equivalent experience.
• Experience modeling the dynamics of open quantum systems.
• Background in topological and mesoscopic device physics.
• Proficiency with high performance computing environments.
• Experience with collaborative code development in Python or Julia.

Key skills/competency

• Quantum Simulation
• Topological Qubits
• Open Quantum Systems
• Numerical Methods
• Predictive Analysis
• Device Modeling
• High-Performance Computing
• Python/Julia Programming
• AI/Machine Learning
• Cross-Functional Collaboration