Principal Software Engineer

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The Software-Defined Datacenter team integrates software and machine learning with cross-layer optimization—from physical infrastructure and hardware to the software stack—to maximize efficiency across servers, graphics processing units, and power and cooling systems. This team prioritizes significant improvements in operational efficiency and works closely with the Azure Systems Research Group, a peer organization. Initiatives led by this team have resulted in substantial cost savings for Microsoft and have made important contributions to the company’s sustainability objectives.

Examples of ongoing projects include software-controlled datacenter power efficiency for both traditional and artificial intelligence workloads, machine learning platforms for systems, intelligent central processing unit oversubscription, and software-directed server repair processes. Research and development from this group has been featured in prominent publications such as the International Symposium on Computer Architecture and the journal Nature. Current efforts are focused on enabling artificial intelligence training supercomputers, dynamically composable servers, and software-optimized cooling at hyperscale.

This team operates within Azure Core, which serves as the foundational operating system for Microsoft Azure.

In the role of Principal Software Engineer, you will continue to be a hands-on technical leader, contributing production-level code while shaping the long-term architecture of Microsoft’s software-defined datacenter. You will prototype innovative concepts, navigate feedback, and collaborate closely with engineering managers across hardware, firmware, and platform teams to bring solutions into production. This position is ideal for a senior individual contributor who excels in innovation, teamwork, and mentoring emerging engineers.

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.

Required 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#, Rust, or Python
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 4+ years of cloud infrastructure development experience.
• 2+ years of experience deploying/leveraging ML models at scale

Other Qualifications:

• 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:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science
  • OR related technical field AND 10+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript,
  • OR Python
  • OR Master's 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 equivalent experience.
• Experience in analyzing and troubleshooting large-scale distributed systems
  • AND in critical production online service environments;
  • AND developing, debugging, and maintaining code in C#.

Software Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $137,600 - $267,000 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 $180,400 - $294,000 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

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until August 14, 2025.

#azurecorejobs

• Design and Build – Lead the architecture and implementation of scalable cloud services from concept to deployment.
• Code with Purpose – Contribute to production-quality code in programming languages such as C-Sharp, Rust, or Python, emphasizing reliability, maintainability, and thorough testing.
• Apply Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning – Advocate for the thoughtful integration of machine learning and artificial intelligence into systems and workflows.
• Foster Innovation – Explore new ideas, validate them through data, and support their adoption across Azure.
• Strengthen Core Principles – Promote a culture that prioritizes operational excellence, including system reliability, quality, and security.
• Collaborate Across Teams – Facilitate communication and alignment among research, engineering, hardware, and datacenter teams to drive coordinated execution.
• Support and Develop Others – Mentor team members, encourage inclusive engineering practices, and contribute to building a diverse and talented workforce aligned with our mission.