Principal Software Engineer

Overview

Are you interested in leading a team to build a world-class deployment system to manage hyperscale environments? Do you want to revolutionize application and infrastructure deployment with simplification? Are you looking to use AI at scale to transform and optimize deployment at scale? Do you want to have direct and immediate impact on a large number of M365 services used by millions of people across the world, hundreds of thousands of commercial organizations, and government agencies? Do you want to be part of a fun and inclusive work environment?

We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer to join our team. On the Substrate Deployment Team, we are responsible for deploying changes to hundreds of thousands of servers across all our datacenters. Our team builds the platform that not only provides a scalable, efficient, and cost-effective deployment solution for high-scale services, but also leverages AI-driven innovation to improve deployment reliability, automation, and operational excellence. We manage infrastructure throughout the application lifecycle to make the experience seamless for our customers.

Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Work with engineers, product managers, and partner teams to deliver experiences with the right overall design and architecture, leveraging AI where it can meaningfully improve deployment efficiency, reliability, and customer outcomes.

• Provide mentorship and coaching to engineers both in, and beyond, your team, including the adoption of modern AI-powered development practices and tools.

• Own and deliver complete features across the development lifecycle, including design, architecture, implementation, testability, debugging, shipping, and servicing.

• Drive innovation through automation and AI-powered solutions to improve deployment intelligence, operational efficiency, and service reliability at hyperscale.

• Ensure your team delivers clean, well-thought-out code with an emphasis on quality, performance, simplicity, durability, scalability, maintainability, and effective use of AI-assisted engineering practices.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 6+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
• OR equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python

• OR Bachelors Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 12+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python

• OR equivalent experience.

• Proficiency in AI-native development - working within Agent Harnesses (GitHub Copilot CLI, Coding Agents), authoring Markdown specs/ADRs and YAML configs as Agent-consumable inputs, orchestrating multi-step Agentic workflows across the SDLC, and reviewing Agent-generated code and PRs with production-grade rigor.

• Fundamentals in data structures, algorithms, object-oriented design, and scalable systems.

• Experience building, testing, debugging, and maintaining production-quality software, following established engineering practices as well as leveraging large language models (LLMs).

• Problem-solving and technical judgment skills, with the ability to design scoped solutions, debug complex issues, and improve service performance.

• Experience with cloud platforms and distributed/service-oriented architecture.

• Experience with reliability, monitoring, and performance optimization practices.

• Experience in driving AI (LLM/ML) based engineering solution.

Software Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $188,000 - $304,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:

https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.