Mechanical Designer - Cryomechanical Systems

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, and quantum information technology. Microsoft Quantum will change the world of computing and help solve some of humankind’s currently unsolvable problems. For more information about our team, visit https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/quantum.

The Cryomechanical team enables Microsoft Quantum’s hardware roadmap by designing, integrating, and sustaining cryogenic mechanical systems, packaging solutions, and laboratory infrastructure that support reliable experimentation, scalable system integration, and disciplined transition from research concepts to producible hardware.

As a Mechanical Designer – Cryomechanical Systems You will own products from cradle to grave, working hands on to oversee initial builds, incorporating customer feedback to make improvements and driving continuous improvements to equipment as the state-of-the-art advances. You help shape requirements, create complete three-dimensional (3D) models from scratch, produce two-dimensional (2D) drawings, document Bill of Materials (BOM), create standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work hands on in installations to guide products through their entire lifecycle.

At Microsoft, our mission—to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more—guides how we partner with customers to deliver trusted, impactful solutions. With a growth mindset culture, we innovate responsibly and measure success by shared progress—people, teams, and customers. Join us to do meaningful work that changes the world and helps shape what’s next for everyone.

• Own end-to-end three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD) for cryogenic subassemblies and top-level mechanical integrations, including cold fingers, millikelvin (mK) and 4 kelvin (4 K) stages, radiation shields, vacuum interfaces, and cable or harness routing fixtures; create fully detailed two-dimensional (2D) drawings with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and tolerance stackups.
• Build and steward the top assembly and bill of materials (BOM) by managing part numbering, configurations, engineering change order (ECO) and engineering change request (ECR) workflows, and product data management/product lifecycle management (PDM/PLM) toolchains such as SolidWorks, Windchill, and OnePDM.
• Lead Cryomechanical Engineering (CryoME) design reviews using standard review packages that include three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD), two-dimensional (2D) drawings, critical-to-function specifications, materials, coatings, finishes, incoming quality control (IQC), cryogenic screening plans, manufacturing and assembly flows, risks, and schedules.
• Translate system requirements into mechanical specifications for thermal anchoring, heat-load budgets, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch management, vacuum sealing, vibration isolation, radio frequency (RF) and direct current (DC) cable management, and integration across temperature stages.
• Create SOPs by making detailed work instructions for installing parts, recording key data during installation and making sure that engineering intent is effectively communicated to engineers and technicians in the field.
• Drive design for manufacturing/design for excellence (DFM/DFX) with suppliers by generating clear build packages, supporting fabrication through first-article approval, dispositioning nonconformances with data-driven tolerance and fit assessments, and capturing as-built changes in drawings and bills of materials (BOMs).
• Other:
  • Embody our Culture and Values.

Required Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field.
  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 2+ 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 or Export Administration Regulations, 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.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate in Physics, Engineering, or related field
  • OR Master's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment
  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field AND 5+ years experience in industry or in a research and development environment
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 1+ year of experience integrating hardware inside dilution refrigerators across temperature stages, including millikelvin (mK) through 300 kelvin (K), thermal modeling or anchoring, and harnessing for radio frequency (RF) or direct current (DC) lines.
• 1+ year of experience using finite element analysis (FEA) or thermal simulation tools such as ANSYS Mechanical or COMSOL to guide design choices or validate the integrity of designs.
• 1+ year of hands-on cryogenic, vacuum, or ultra-high vacuum (UHV) hardware experience, including materials, coatings, finishes for cryogenic service, vacuum seals, thermal interfaces, wiring fixtures, or low-outgassing practices.
• 1+ year of experience partnering with suppliers or manufacturing teams to support precision machining, sheet metal, special processes, cleaning, vacuum bakeouts, cryogenic-compatible finishes, or first-article builds.
• 1+ years of experience operating within regulated or high-security lab environments and collaborating across distributed teams or sites.
• Experience contributing to inclusive, cross-disciplinary engineering teams by communicating decisions clearly, inviting diverse perspectives, and helping create an environment where team members can contribute effectively and succeed.
• 1+ Years Documenting, dispositioning and providing corrective action for hardware non-conformances.
• CAD skills (Creo preferred): proven record creating complete 3D models from scratch and releasing production-grade drawings.
• Mastery of GD&T (ASME Y14.5) and tolerance analysis for precision assemblies; ability to close loops between stack-ups, manufacturability, and assembly sequencing.
• PDM/PLM proficiency for configuration control and BOM accuracy (Windchill, OnePDM or similar).
• Design review leadership and clear documentation practices (review packages, checklists, risks, decisions, and release artifacts) per standardized, rigorous processes.
• Non-Conformance tracking, dispositioning, and execution of corrective actions.
• 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.

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