Software Engineer II

Overview

The Windows Cloud division is looking for a Software Engineer II that will help us scale the Windows 365 Cloud PC and Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) platforms. We are the recognized leaders in the Desktop as a Service (DaaS) space. These services continue to see solid enterprise adoption, offering customers a modern, elastic, and secure Windows experience in the cloud. Your work will directly shape how we deliver reliable, scalable, and current Windows environments to businesses worldwide.

In this role, you'll contribute to the design, development, and reliability of engineering systems that power Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop. You'll build tools and systems that reduce operational burden, improve deployment velocity, and enhance service observability. Along the way, you'll deepen your skills in automation, telemetry, live site operations, and scalable service design-gaining hands-on experience with cloud infrastructure at global scale. At Microsoft, we build on a foundation of respect, integrity, and accountability. We foster a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive, grow with a learning mindset, and collaborate to empower others and achieve shared goals.

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

• Write and maintain extensible, diagnosable, and reliable code for services and features, applying coding patterns and best practices. Participate in code reviews to ensure quality, scalability, and alignment with Microsoft standards.
• Debug proactively and reactively using logs, telemetry, and diagnostic tools. Conduct root cause analysis and apply learnings to improve future iterations.
• Design and implement test strategies, including unit and integration tests, to ensure quality and coverage. Integrate automation into test planning and execution.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to refine architecture, identify dependencies, and contribute to design documents and system plans that meet security and compliance expectations.
• Implement and test code changes using Safe Deployment Practices (SDP) to improve service reliability, observability, and security. Use automation and tooling to manage configuration and production deployments.
• Build foundational knowledge of distributed systems and infrastructure-as-code. Engage in incident drills, debriefs, and cross-team knowledge sharing to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Embody the Microsoft culture and values.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 2+ 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 3+ 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 5+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python

• OR equivalent experience.

• 2+ years of experience designing and delivering large-scale, secure, and resilient distributed cloud services.

• Experience collaborating across teams and delivering shared solutions to complex technical problems.

• Experience working with complex systems and contributing to solutions across multiple products and services.

• Experience utilizing software engineering fundamentals, with a focus on writing maintainable code, debugging complex systems, and contributing to secure, scalable service design.

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Software Engineering IC3 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $102,100 - $202,200 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 $133,800 - $219,200 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.