Microsoft
Principal Quantum Systems Modeling Engineer
$143K–$304K
Santa Barbara, CA +1 · On-site · Principal · Full-time · Posted Oct 19, 2026
- Location
- Santa Barbara, CA
Redmond, WA - Experience
- Required alternatives: 3+ years with a doctorate, 6+ years with a master’s degree, or 8+ years with a bachelor’s degree in industry or R&D; or equivalent experience. Preferred alternatives: 5+, 8+, or 12+ years, respectively; or equivalent experience.
- Education
- Physics, Engineering, or related field; doctorate, master’s, or bachelor’s degree as paired with the experience alternatives, or equivalent experience.
About the job
Leads development and integration of performance models for a topological quantum computing platform, using them to guide architecture, assess uncertainty, and inform technical decisions.
What you'll do
- Set the vision and roadmap for end-to-end system performance modeling and integrate subsystem models into a prediction framework.
- Define model interfaces, assumptions, and validation criteria; resolve inconsistencies and address modeling gaps with domain experts.
- Use integrated models to assess trade-offs and performance gaps, guide technical roadmaps, and apply AI tools to accelerate modeling and analysis.
What they ask for
- Doctorate in Physics, Engineering, or related field plus 3+ years of industry or R&D experience; OR Master’s degree plus 6+ years; OR Bachelor’s degree plus 8+ years; OR equivalent experience.
- Meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements, including a Microsoft Cloud Background Check.
- Provide citizenship, U.S. permanent residency, or other protected-status documentation for export-control eligibility assessment; citizenship will be verified with a valid passport, with other documents applicable to certain statuses.
Nice to have
- Doctorate plus 5+ years; OR Master’s degree plus 8+ years; OR Bachelor’s degree plus 12+ years in industry or R&D; OR equivalent experience.
- Familiarity with quantum computing systems and experience in quantitative modeling, composable frameworks, multidisciplinary collaboration, or applying AI tools to scientific modeling and engineering.
Pay
USD $142,800 - $274,800 per year (base pay); USD $188,000 - $304,200 per year (base pay, San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area)
Tools
quantum error correction, physical qubit modeling, control & readout modeling, pulsing and control chain, AI tools, agentic workflows
AI focus
Uses modern AI tools and agentic workflows to accelerate model integration, prototyping, performance analysis, research synthesis, and routine workflow automation, with validation and traceability.
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