The company, which seems like a bit of a masochist after all the billions it has lost over the years flogging and repeatedly replacing Xboxes, has posted an opening at its Mountain View research facility, looking for motherboard designers for its console development team.
The job description sounds something like Electrical Engineer with some experience with PC hardware and system busses as well as manufacturing.
The engineering requirements are pretty much what you'd expect from a PC-like gaming console - knowledge of SATA, PCIe, USB, interconnect chips, DACs, system clocks, thermal management and other things.
It seems to us like the person who takes on the task will be in a prime position to lead Xbox development as the rules dictate that the motherboard design is fundamental for the functionality and ultimately the shape of the finished product. Coincidentally, Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer did point out just a few days ago that the company is developing new designs for its next games console, so this sudden "motherboard designer" opening seems appropriate.
This does not, however, seem like an opening for Xbox 3.0 development, but rather further development into the current generation device with the aim of chopping the BOM in half (or something like that). The Entertainment Devices Division is back in the black despite declining revenues.
If you want to take part in Microsoft's epic crusade against the infidel Playstations you can apply here for the job. If you are actually successful in applying, do drop us a line, maybe you can let us know what you're up to.