Experimental and computational results on programmable Josephson junction a
rray (JJA) chips based on superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) jun
ctions are presented, Implications of circuit design and fabrication proces
s on the performance are discussed. We introduce a method to decrease the a
ttenuation of the pump microwave. Different designs are compared, suggestin
g that 1 V chips operating at the third constant voltage step with 70 GHz p
ump frequency can be produced with our process.