Microsoft
Senior or Principal Process Design Kit (PDK) Engineer
$120K–$304K
Redmond, WA · On-site · Principal · Full-time · Posted Jul 8, 2026
- Experience
- Required alternatives: 6+ years with a bachelor’s degree; 4+ years with a master’s degree; 1+ year in industry or R&D with a doctorate (including postdoctoral research). Preferred senior-level alternatives: 12+ years with a bachelor’s degree; 8+ years with a master’s degree; 5+ years with a doctorate; or equivalent experience.
- Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field; OR master’s degree in those fields; OR doctorate in Physics, Engineering, or related field; OR equivalent experience.
- Visa sponsorship
- The role requires documentation of citizenship or U.S. permanent residency or other protected status to assess eligibility for access to export-controlled information. Applicants’ citizenship will be verified; lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees may use other documents where applicable.
About the job
Develop and mature cryogenic process-design kits for superconducting quantum hardware by connecting device characterization measurements to models, design rules, and process guidance.
What you'll do
- Own cryogenic process-primitive characterization workflows, from test definition and measurement planning through analysis, parameter extraction, and model updates.
- Develop cryogenic PDK requirements and plan, design, and analyze characterization test chips.
- Work with foundries and internal teams to extend and validate PDKs for cryogenic quantum-hardware applications.
What they ask for
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field and 6+ years technical engineering experience; OR Master’s degree in those fields and 4+ years; OR doctorate in Physics, Engineering, or related field and 1+ year in industry or R&D; OR equivalent experience.
- Ability to meet Microsoft security screening requirements, including the Microsoft Cloud Background Check.
- Provide citizenship or qualifying status documentation for assessment of access to export-controlled information; citizenship will be verified with a valid passport, with other documents accepted where applicable for certain statuses.
- Ability to use AI tools and work in an AI-first environment.
Nice to have
- Proficiency in semiconductor or superconducting process characterization, device modeling, parameter extraction, and test-chip analysis.
- Proficiency in building and maintaining PDKs, translating measured device behavior into models, design rules, and documentation.
Pay
USD $142,800 - $274,800 per year (base salary); USD $188,000 - $304,200 per year (base salary); USD $119,800 - $234,700 per year (base salary); USD $160,200 - $261,000 per year (base salary)
Tools
cryogenic PDK, superconducting circuit technologies, electronic-design-automation, layout, physical-verification, design-of-experiments
AI focus
Use AI tools for measurement, performance modeling and analysis, research gathering, and task automation; work in an AI-first environment to accelerate hardware development and discovery.
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative