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Principal Software Development Engineer

Microsoft

Microsoft

Software Engineering
USD 139,900-274,800 / year
Posted on Jul 18, 2025

Principal Software Development Engineer

Redmond, Washington, United States

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Date posted
Jul 17, 2025
Job number
1847510
Work site
Up to 50% work from home
Travel
0-25 %
Role type
Individual Contributor
Profession
Software Engineering
Discipline
Software Engineering
Employment type
Full-Time

Overview

Microsoft Silicon, Cloud Hardware, and Infrastructure Engineering (SCHIE) is the team behind Microsoft’s expanding Cloud Infrastructure and responsible for powering Microsoft’s “Intelligent Cloud” mission. SCHIE delivers the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft's over 200 online businesses including Bing, MSN, Office 365, Xbox Live, Teams, OneDrive, and the Microsoft Azure platform globally with our server and data center infrastructure, security and compliance, operations, globalization, and manageability solutions. Our focus is on smart growth, high efficiency, and delivering a trusted experience to customers and partners worldwide and we are looking for passionate engineers to help achieve that mission.

As Microsoft's cloud business continues to grow the ability to deploy new offerings and hardware infrastructure on time, in high volume with high quality and lowest cost is of paramount importance. To achieve this goal, the System Software Engineering team is instrumental in defining and delivering operational measures of success for hardware manufacturing, improving the planning process, quality, delivery, scale and sustainability related to Microsoft cloud hardware. We are looking for engineers with a dedicated passion for customer focused solutions, insight and industry knowledge to envision and implement future technical solutions that will manage and optimize the Cloud infrastructure. We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer to join the team.

Why Join AHSI at Microsoft?

At AHSI, you’ll work on cutting-edge technologies that underpin Microsoft’s global cloud infrastructure. You’ll be part of a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative team where your contributions directly impact the performance and reliability of Azure’s hardware systems.

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.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's 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.
  • Proficient in C and/or C++ with deep knowledge of OS internals, concurrency, and performance tuning.
  • Proficient in debugging and problem-solving skills across hardware and software boundaries.
  • Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and mentoring engineers in the team.

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:

  • 8+ years of experience in system software development with a proven track record of delivering complex system-level software.
  • Experience working with SoC platforms, PCIe, or other hardware interfaces.
  • Exposure to secure coding practices and system-level security concepts.
  • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and automated testing frameworks.
  • Contributions to open-source or internal platform libraries and tools.
  • Proficient communication and leadership skills.
  • Experience influencing architecture and long-term technical strategy.
  • Track record of driving engineering excellence and innovation.
  • Hands-on experience in Embedded Linux
Software Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $139,900 - $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: US corporate pay information | Microsoft Careers
Microsoft will accept applications for the role until July 27th, 2025.

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.

#SCHIE #azurehwjobs

Responsibilities

The Azure Hardware System Infrastructure (AHSI) team is looking for a highly motivated and experienced Principal Software Development Engineer to join our mission of building robust, high-performance system software. This role is for engineers with 6+ years of experience in system software development and a passion for solving complex problems at the intersection of hardware and software.

Responsibilities

  • Design, implement, and maintain system-level software components, including device drivers and multithreaded services for Windows and/or Linux platforms.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams including hardware, firmware, and platform teams to define and deliver integrated solutions.
  • Drive code quality through rigorous testing, code reviews, and continuous integration practices.
  • Investigate and resolve complex system-level issues, including performance bottlenecks, concurrency bugs, and hardware-software integration challenges.
  • Embody our culture and values.


Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.
Industry leading healthcare
Educational resources
Discounts on products and services
Savings and investments
Maternity and paternity leave
Generous time away
Giving programs
Opportunities to network and connect

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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.