Single photon detection is a key resource for sensing at the quantum limit and the enabling technology for measurement-based quantum computing. Photon detection at optical frequencies relies on irreversible photo-assisted ionization of various materials (semiconductors, superconductors). However, microwave photons have energies 5 orders of magnitude lower than optical photons, and are therefore ineffective at triggering measurable phenomena at macroscopic scales. Here, we propose the exploration of a new type of interaction between a single two level system (qubit) and a microwave resonator. These two quantum systems do not interact coherently, instead, they share a common dissipative mechanism to a cold bath: the qubit irreversibly switches to its excited state if and only if a photon enters the resonator. We will exploit this highly correlated dissipation mechanism to detect itinerant photons impinging on the resonator. This scheme does not require any prior knowledge of the photon waveform nor its arrival time, and dominant decoherence mechanisms do not trigger spurious detection events (dark counts). Here, we propose the development of a practical photon detector based on dissipation engineering with performances approaching state-of-the-art optical photon detector both in terms of efficiency and dark counts. We will explore three directions in order to bridge the gap between optical and microwave technologies: First, we will develop cutting edge design for microwave circuitry and bring in-house circuit nanofabrication at their best level. Second, we will explore a key feature of the dissipative scheme, namely the ability to continuously monitor the detector state (click/no click) while operating. Associated with real-time feedback, it will allow for precise timing of photon arrivals and optimal detection efficiency enabled by the fast initialization of the detector in its measurement ready state. Finally, we will explore ideas introduced by quantum error correcting codes, we propose to incorporate quantum error mitigation against dark counts within the dissipative scheme itself. This would enable a dramatic reduction of false detection events, indeed this key figure of merit for photon detectors captures the overall noise and sensitivity performances of the device. This proposal establishes engineered non-linear dissipation as a key-enabling resource for a new class of low-noise microwave detectors, paving the way to cutting edge applications such as ultra-sensitive electron spin resonance, axion search in the microwave domain or modular quantum computing architectures.