Quantum Hardware Design Engineer

Location: Yorktown Heights

Introduction

IBM Research is seeking talented engineers to join the quantum hardware design/simulation team at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, NY. The team focuses on delivering quantum processor and processor-adjacent designs to meet a variety of internal needs, and develops and drives the methodology to make these designs successful. Design scopes span from exploratory research to production-roadmap quantum processor unit development.

Working in Research means joining a team that accelerates discovery at the intersection of high-performance computing, AI, quantum, and cloud. You'll collaborate with leading scientists, engineers, and visionaries to push boundaries and turn ideas into reality. With a culture built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, IBM Research offers the opportunity to grow your career while contributing to breakthroughs that transform industries and change the world.

Your role and responsibilities

The successful candidate will join the core quantum hardware design team, contributing directly to designs in IBM's proprietary superconducting technology. Designs range from quantum processing units (QPUs), consisting of networks of qubits and passive microwave components, to testsite designs in support of innovation breakthroughs for QPU technologies. Applicants with prior experience in e.g. CMOS RFIC or PCB high-speed design/layout but not in superconducting electronics are very welcome.

The role includes deep involvement at all levels of design tapeouts using both custom and automated design tools, and focuses on block-level layout and chip-level layout and integration. Applicants are expected to have experience with relevant hardware development tools such as Cadence Virtuoso, Synopsys Custom Compiler, Keysight ADS, Ansys Electronics Desktop, etc.. Familiarity with IC fabrication tools, quantum device design and/or quantum computing engineering is preferred but not required.

Because the role includes collaboration between several diverse and dynamic teams of technical and operations personnel, good communication skills, initiative, and a strong sense of responsibility are key.

Responsibilities include:

* Participation in design releases for QPUs and related testsites in a proprietary superconducting technology

* Detailed mask layout and chip finishing for quantum hardware releases

* Layout model development for quantum hardware components

* Basic connectivity/schematic capture for quantum hardware circuitry

Required education

Bachelor's Degree

Required technical and professional expertise

* RF/microwave/IC design tooling (e.g, Cadence Virtuoso/Innovus, Synopsys Custom Compiler/Fusion Compiler/IC Compiler II/Design Computer, Keysight Path Wave ADS) or PCB design (Cadence Allegro, Siemens Xpedition, Altium Designer etc.)

* Tapeout experience in deep submicron CMOS, III-V, or superconducting technologies, or PCB design experience for RF/high-speed applications

* Basics of microwave/RF layout or high-speed digital layout

Preferred technical and professional experience

* Electromagnetic simulation, especially with full-wave tools

* Microwave engineering concepts

* Quantum computing hardware

* Experience with CMOS EDA tool development

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM Research is the organic growth engine of IBM and an innovation engine for our customers and partners. As part of this mission, IBM Research anticipates and examines 'What's Next in Computing' to ultimately create and integrate the technologies the world relies upon to solve big challenges and unlock new opportunities. We create and pioneer new markets for IBM, our partners and customers as exemplified in our ongoing quest to reach practical and large-scale quantum computing.

Across IBM Research, we realize the power and potential to accelerate discovery with our partners and clients by combining the power of high performance computing, AI, and Quantum, all integrated through the hybrid cloud.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in…