Quantum Qubit Design Engineer

Intel; Hillsboro (OR); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Intel Corporation's Quantum Computing Group seeks a Quantum Design Engineer to advance silicon-based quantum processors. You will contribute across the qubit process from concept to tapeout, coordinating with lithography, TCAD, PDK, and control teams to ensure manufacturability and system integration.

You will help define standard cells, automation, and routing approaches for large-scale quantum processors, collaborating with software, control, and packaging groups to push the technology toward

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and presentation skills for diverse audiences.
• High motivation and enthusiasm for self-directed, hands-on work.
• Creativity and flexibility to thrive under changing priorities and evolving program needs.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving capabilities.
• Collaborative mindset with ability to work effectively across diverse teams.
• Adaptability to work in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
• Leadership potential to drive independent R+D initiatives.
• Passion for pushing the boundaries of quantum technology development.

Responsibilities

• Work alongside lithography, process integration, measurement, and PDK engineers to establish qubit processes and design rules.
• Architect qubit and readout element standard cell design and automation.
• Engage with TCAD and PDK engineers and design tool vendors to create qubit and read-out universal process files and qubit level models and extraction capability.
• Partnering with quantum software and control engineers to analyze tradeoffs on quantum error correction schemes vs qubit topology.
• Design automation to enable front end design automation and routing generation for enabling routing of large scale quantum processors
• Creation of Automated Place and Route flows to enable qubit routing, including AI and machine-based learning routing optimization for large I/O counts
• Working with PDK engineers and design tool vendors to create new customized EDA tool capability to enable routing of large-scale quantum processors
• Drive signal integrity analysis to define routing strategies for large scale qubit processors and work to define and release customized PDKs
• Perform signal integrity analysis and optimization for qubit processors to ensure optimal performance for signal integrity and crosstalk
• Working with PDK engineers and design tool vendors to create new signal extraction capability for large scale quantum processors
• Work in a collaborative team to execute design of qubit processors from PDK implementation through Tapeout and Fab NPI
• Perform industry standard design validations such as DRC, LVS, and Extraction prior to tapein signoff
• Work closely with Control, Packaging and System teams to co-design Interposer interfaces and routing strategies for bridging the Qubit processor to ASIC control
• Designing and taping out electrical characterization test structures to characterize qubit and interconnect performance and yield
• Working with PDK engineers and design tool vendors to create new customized EDA tool capability to enable thermal analysis of large scale quantum processors
• Implement PDK collateral into customized design environments and create and maintain customized design workflows for qubit processors
• Working with external customers to understand their needs and provide solutions based on Intel's quantum PDK
• Ensure successful implementation of Intel quantum PDK design collateral and EDA tool capabilities for External Customers
• Ensuring external customer designs are successfully taped out with silcon run to end-of-line on schedule

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Leadership potential

Collaborative mindset

Job description

Intel Corporation is the world's largest semiconductor company and a global leader in computing innovation. Our Quantum Computing Group represents Intel's bold venture into the next frontier of computing technology, leveraging our decades of semiconductor manufacturing expertise to develop silicon-based quantum processors. We're pioneering spin qubit technology in silicon quantum dots, combining cutting-edge quantum physics with Intel's unmatched manufacturing capabilities to create the world's first commercially viable quantum computers. Our collaborative approach spans the entire quantum compute stack while harnessing the power of Intel's 18A process and design infrastructure.

We are seeking an exceptional Quantum Design Engineer to join our pioneering quantum computing team. In this position, you will be joining a team of incredibly talented engineers focused on the challenging task of scaling our quantum computing chips to millions of qubits. Here you will be involved in all aspects of the qubit chip process from initial conception through Process-Design-Kit definition, design execution and tapeout, along with ensuring silicon runs smoothly in fab and final system integration. You'll work closely not only with our qubit, control, system integration, and software/algorithms teams, but also with teams in Foundry lithography, process and design. You'll be working at the intersection of cutting-edge semiconductor technology and quantum physics, creating solutions that push the boundaries of what's possible in computing. Ready to help build the future of quantum computing?

Join Intel's Quantum Computing Group and be part of a team that's

Key Responsibilities

• Work alongside lithography, process integration, measurement, and PDK engineers to establish qubit processes and design rules
• Architect qubit and readout element standard cell design and automation
• Engage with TCAD and PDK engineers and design tool vendors to create qubit and read-out universal process files and qubit level models and extraction capability
• Partnering with quantum software and control engineers to analyze tradeoffs on quantum error correction schemes vs qubit topology
• Design automation to enable front end design automation and routing generation for enabling routing of large scale quantum processors
• Creation of Automated Place and Route flows to enable qubit routing, including AI and machine-based learning routing optimization for large I/O counts
• Working with PDK engineers and design tool vendors to create new customized EDA tool capability to enable routing of large-scale quantum processors
• Drive signal integrity analysis to define routing strategies for large scale qubit processors and work to define and release customized PDKs
• Perform signal integrity analysis and optimization for qubit processors to ensure optimal performance for signal integrity and crosstalk
• Working with PDK engineers and design tool vendors to create new signal extraction capability for large scale quantum processors
• Work in a collaborative team to execute design of qubit processors from PDK implementation through Tapeout and Fab NPI
• Perform industry standard design validations such as DRC, LVS, and Extraction prior to tapein signoff
• Work closely with Control, Packaging and System teams to co-design Interposer interfaces and routing strategies for bridging the Qubit processor to ASIC control
• Designing and taping out electrical characterization test structures to characterize qubit and interconnect performance and yield
• Working with PDK engineers and design tool vendors to create new customized EDA tool capability to enable thermal analysis of large scale quantum processors
• Implement PDK collateral into customized design environments and create and maintain customized design workflows for qubit processors
• Working with external customers to understand their needs and provide solutions based on Intel's quantum PDK
• Ensure successful implementation of Intel quantum PDK design collateral and EDA tool capabilities for External Customers
• Ensuring external customer designs are successfully taped out with silcon run to end-of-line on schedule

As a successful candidate, you must possess

• Excellent communication and presentation skills for technical and non-technical audiences
• Keen experimental insight with the ability to design and focus on practical implementations
• High motivation and enthusiasm for self-directed, hands-on work
• Creativity and flexibility to thrive under changing priorities and evolving program needs
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving capabilities
• Collaborative mindset with ability to work effectively across diverse teams
• Adaptability to work in a fast-paced, innovative environment
• Leadership potential to drive independent R+D initiatives
• Passion for pushing the boundaries of quantum technology development