Lead Microwave Engineer

Lead Microwave Engineer // Join the Qubic Team 

Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (in person) 

Employment: Permanent, full time 

Salary: $150,000 to $180,000 CAD annually, based on experience 

Start date: As soon as possible 

The Role: 

Qubic is building technology that brings the power of superconducting quantum electronics and microwave quantum optics beyond the laboratory and into real-world sensing and communication applications. Our work depends on microwave systems that are not only innovative in theory, but carefully designed, measured, integrated, documented, and engineered to perform as part of a complete platform. 

As our Lead Microwave Engineer, you will help turn ambitious technical ideas into working hardware. You will set direction for microwave device architecture in R&D and production, stay close to the company’s design workflow and laboratory characterization, and bring engineers and scientists together around clear decisions. This is a role for someone who enjoys solving difficult problems, sharing what they know, and building the technical foundation that helps an entire team move forward. 

The Impact You’ll Make: 

As Lead Microwave Engineer you will be shaping how Qubic designs, validates, and scales its microwave technology. The connection from device characterization to data-model comparison and design improvements is particularly central to the company’s innovation culture, and this loop is what you will manage. Here is what you will own and influence: 

• Set the technical direction for microwave circuits, antennas, transitions and interconnects, device packaging, and hardware assemblies across Qubic’s superconducting circuits and sensing platforms. 
• Lead and advise on electromagnetic and circuit-level modelling of circuits, antennas, and other hardware using tools such as Ansys HFSS, AWR Microwave Office, ADS, CST, or comparable platforms. Manage translation of system needs into practical specifications, design rules, layouts, and interface definitions. 
• Work closely with physics, nanofabrication, electronics, software, mechanical, and product colleagues, so microwave designs reflect the real capabilities and constraints of superconducting and microfabricated devices. 
• Move designs from analysis and early prototypes toward repeatable, production-ready hardware. Consider materials, tolerances, thermal behavior, manufacturability, and integration from the beginning, and communicate these priorities within and between teams. 
• Track design and modeling development work on the microwave engineering team and assist team members with prioritization and decision-making between many paths of exploration and inquiry. 
• Develop analytic electromagnetic modeling and measurement data analysis workflows in collaboration with physicists and engineers using Python or comparable languages. 
• Develop and execute continuous-wave and pulsed microwave characterization using vector network analyzers, signal generators, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and related electronic test equipment. Build calibration and hardware validation approaches that others can use confidently. 
• Lead simulation-to-measurement correlation, and design iteration for the superconducting microwave circuits that are Qubic’s initial commercial product.  Participate in prototype troubleshooting and root-cause analysis in collaboration with team members in microwave design, fabrication, and cryogenic measurement.  
• Lead the microwave hardware design of, and participate in prototype bring-up, troubleshooting, hardware ruggedization and miniaturization, and design iteration for, Qubic’s RF sensing systems and full sensing platforms. 
• Facilitate design reviews, make thoughtful trade-offs, identify technical risk early, and create clarity when the path forward is not obvious. Provide direction without losing the curiosity and openness that good research requires. Support the growth of engineers, scientists, and technical team members through practical guidance, respectful challenges, knowledge sharing, and constructive feedback. 
• Strengthen Qubic’s practices for documentation, version control, peer review, test records, design decisions, and knowledge transfer, so important technical learning stays with the organization. 
• Build productive relationships with software and component suppliers, equipment vendors, fabrication partners, and manufacturers. Resolve technical issues and help partners understand Qubic’s quality and performance expectations. 
• Explain priorities, design decisions, risks, results, and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. 

What You Bring to the Table: 

• A master’s degree or PhD in electrical engineering, applied physics, microwave engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience. 
• Seven or more years of microwave or radio-frequency engineering experience, including substantial hands-on responsibility for design, simulation, integration, characterization, and technical decision-making. 
• A record of leading complex team-based hardware development, design reviews, architecture decisions, problem-solving, and mentorship. Formal people-management experience is welcome but is not required. 
• Advanced experience with three-dimensional electromagnetic simulation and microwave circuit simulation using HFSS, AWR Microwave Office, ADS, CST, or comparable tools. 
• Strong practical knowledge of microwave measurement and calibration, including impedance matching, signal integrity, noise, grounding, shielding, and phase-coherent techniques. 
• Experience creating and reviewing layouts and design packages for microwave circuits, printed circuit boards, antennas, mechanical packaging, interconnects, or related assemblies. 
• Proficiency with Python or another modern language for technical task automation and data analysis. 
• Ability to organize complex work, make sound engineering decisions with incomplete information, prioritize risk, and adapt thoughtfully in a fast-moving research and development environment. 
• A clear, respectful communication style and a strong record of producing concise, usable technical documentation. You can disagree constructively, listen carefully, and help a multidisciplinary team reach better decisions. 

A Few Extras That Would Be Great: 

• Experience with superconducting circuits, cryogenic microwave systems, quantum sensing, quantum optics, or quantum information science. 
• Experience with low-noise amplifiers, antennas, phase-coherent and/or pulsed radar, radar hardware and techniques, communications protocols and systems, or advanced signal processing. 
• Familiarity with nano- or micro-fabrication processes and with interfaces between fabricated devices, packaging, and control electronics. 
• Experience supporting prototype transfer into repeatable production, including design for manufacturability, supplier engagement, build documentation, and verification planning. 
• Experience helping build a technical function, engineering process, laboratory capability, or growing team in a start-up or scaling organization. 

The Perks & Environment: 

We care deeply about our work; as an essential part of this, we value the human side of how this work gets done. We are a small, focused team that values curiosity, thoughtful debate, accountability, empathy, and the different perspectives each person brings. 

• This is an in-person role based in Waterloo. The work involves laboratory equipment, prototypes, and close technical collaboration. Role-based scheduling flexibility may be supported where operationally possible. 
• You will receive three weeks of paid vacation per year, prorated during the first partial year. 
• Professional membership or education support may be considered case by case when it is relevant to the role, aligned with Qubic’s needs, within budget, and approved in advance. 
• You will have direct influence over technical architecture, engineering practices, and the future direction of Qubic’s microwave technology. 
• The base salary is $150,000 to $180,000 CAD annually, based on the experience and capabilities you bring to the role. 

Accessibility Matters: 

We want Qubic to be a place where everyone can do their best work. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to a respectful, equitable, and barrier-free hiring process. If you need accommodation during the application or interview process, please let us know. We will work with you to provide appropriate support in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and applicable human rights requirements. 

Please submit your resume and cover letter even if your background doesn’t match 100% of the job requirements listed. We are looking to build a creative and effective team; if you don’t hit every single bullet point but think your profile will equip you to carry out this job well, we’d love to hear from you!  

Public Posting Information: 

This posting is for an existing vacancy. Qubic will not use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants for this position. 

Ready to Make an Impact? 

Please send your resume and a brief cover letter explaining how your experience connects with this opportunity to careers@qubictech.co