Principal Software Engineer

Overview

The Azure Kubernetes Service team is creating a world-class container management and orchestration services for the cloud and beyond. We are the team working on container solutions for Azure on both Linux and Windows.

Our charter is to define the next generation of cloud-native infrastructure on Azure. We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer who is excited about containers, and container orchestration with Kubernetes, and also has an interest in building DevOps tools that make it easier for people to build, deploy and scale their software on the Azure cloud.

As artificial intelligence transforms how applications are built and operated, AKS is also pioneering the next generation of AI-native infrastructure. Our mission includes enabling developers and enterprises to efficiently run, manage, and scale AI and machine learning workloads across cloud and edge environments. From GPU and accelerator orchestration, AI model deployment and inference, intelligent platform operations, and agent-based application architectures, we are building the foundational platform that powers the future of AI on Azure.

The team is seeking a Principal Software Engineer who is interested in distributed systems, Kubernetes, cloud infrastructure, and AI platform innovation. You will work at the intersection of cloud-native technologies and AI, helping shape the experiences that allow customers to deploy, secure, monitor, and optimize both traditional containerized applications and next-generation AI workloads at global scale.

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

• Advance the capabilities of Kubernetes and auxiliary components on Azure
• Improve quality of service for Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service
• Accelerate development velocity for all engineers
• Balance pragmatism with vision; deliver continuous improvements to the team's process and codebase
• Build automation to prevent and/or remediate service problems from becoming production incidents
• Leverage and integrate AI tools into workflow

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.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:
• Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

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.

• At least 8 years of experience in commercial software development

• Experience in building, shipping and operating reliable, distributed solutions

• Experience with containers and Kubernetes

• Experience in the following: Golang, Linux,GitHub Copilot or other AI agent in design and implementation workflow

• Ability to engage in site-reliability engineering practices

#azurecorejobs

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.