As a Senior Software Development Engineer in Microsoft’s Quantum Systems organization, you will develop core embedded software that powers custom quantum readout instruments, focusing on building reliable and high-performance C++ systems interfacing with FPGA and SoC-based hardware. Your daily tasks include designing, testing, and maintaining critical userspace services, optimizing data pipelines for near-real-time performance, and driving hardware-software integration through MMIO and driver APIs. You will also build networked multi-client services and ensure system reliability through structured logging and telemetry. This role requires expertise in C++17 or later, Linux development, concurrency, memory-mapped I/O, TCP/IP protocols, and embedded Linux on ARM platforms. Familiarity with quantum computing and AI-assisted tools is a plus, as you will collaborate closely with experimentalists and hardware engineers to turn research systems into robust instrument platforms.
Skills
C++
Linux
FPGA
SoC
DMA
Memory-Mapped I/O
TCP/IP
Binary Protocols
CMake
gdb
Embedded Linux
ARM
Yocto
PetaLinux
ADC/DAC
Telemetry
Health Checks
Watchdogs
Python
CI/CD
What you'll do
Own embedded instrument software components by designing, developing, testing, and maintaining critical C++ services.
Deliver high-performance data paths by building near-real-time data pipelines from FPGA/SoC hardware to client software.
Drive hardware-software integration by implementing interfaces using MMIO, interrupts, and driver APIs with hardware engineers.
Build networked multi-client services that support versioned binary protocols and service discovery across environments.
Engineer for reliability by designing structured logging, telemetry, health monitoring, and crash diagnostics for long-running instruments.
What we're looking for
5+ years of C++17 or later development experience with modern design and memory management.
Proficient in building multi-threaded systems, synchronization, performance optimization, and correctness.
Experience interfacing software with hardware using memory-mapped I/O, DMA, and similar mechanisms.
Expertise in developing networked services using TCP/IP and binary protocols.
Familiarity with embedded Linux on ARM platforms, Yocto, or PetaLinux.
Knowledge of scientific instrumentation, including ADC/DAC, data acquisition, and timing systems.
Experience designing observable and reliable systems with telemetry, health checks, watchdogs, and post-mortem analysis.
Market check
Salary context
This
$119,800–$234,700
range sits above
70%
of similar postings on FindRole.
Peer median band
$119,800–$229,000
Median floor and ceiling across peers.
Typical midpoint (25–75%)
$145,000–$196,750
Middle half of comparable postings.
Based on 240 comparable postings.*
* 240 is the maximum number of comparable postings sampled.
Employer
About Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is a global technology leader producing software, hardware, and cloud services including Windows, Office 365, Azure cloud platform, Xbox gaming, and Surface devices. Industry: Software & Cloud Computing
Microsoft currently has
451 open roles
on FindRole.
Listed pay typically runs
$119,800–$234,700
across 417 roles with salary data.