Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Microsoft • $142K — $274K *
Redmond, WA 98052In-Person
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related discipline and 6+ years of technical coding experience in languages like C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python.
  • 10+ years of software engineering experience preferred.
  • Proven track record of delivering large-scale services or products.
  • Experience in leading cross-team initiatives is a plus.
  • Deep expertise in distributed systems, cloud computing, system architecture, performance-related engineering, and security reliability.
  • Proficiency in C#, Java, C++, Python, Go, and Azure technologies.

Responsibilities

  • Lead by example by producing maintainable, high-quality code; optimize and debug code for performance.
  • Utilize debugging tools and log analysis to proactively and reactively address coding issues.
  • Review product code to ensure adherence to quality standards and provide constructive feedback.
  • Drive discussions and proposals for product architecture, including security and compliance considerations.
  • Develop a comprehensive quality testing plan, focusing on both unit and system-level tests.
  • Identify dependencies and create documentation for product design and interaction with other services.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to define user requirements and improve future designs based on continuous feedback loops.

Benefits

  • Emphasis on culture and values alignment within the organization.
Full Job Description
Responsibilities

  • Leads by example within the team by producing extensible and maintainable. Optimizes, debugs, refactors, and reuses code to improve performance and maintainability, effectiveness, and return on investment (ROI). Applies metrics to drive the quality and stability of code, as well as appropriate coding patterns and practices.
  • Applies debugging tools and examines logs, telemetry, and other methods to verify assumptions through writing and developing code proactively before issues occur and reactively as issues occur for products. Conducts retrospective debugging of solutions to identify root causes of problems.
  • Reviews the code of a product to assure it meets the team's and Microsoft's quality standards, is reliable and accurate, and is appropriate for the scale of the product/solution area. Applies feedback to current and future iterations. Participates in code reviews to ensure coding standards are followed. Considers diagnosability, reliability, and maintainability when reviewing code, and understands when code is ready to be shared or delivered. Applies and screens for coding patterns and practices in reviews, and provides feedback on code to drive adherence to practices.
  • Leads discussions for the architecture of products/solutions and creates proposals for architecture by testing design hypotheses and helping to refine code plans. Provides reactions, proposed solutions, and inputs to architects. Partially owns solutions for architecting of solutions, with minimal technical oversight. Develops design documents for designs or User Stories, and determines the technology that will be leveraged and how it will interact. Shares learnings and identified solutions from investigations with the team and owns for some design decisions. Assures system architecture meets security and compliance requirements and expectations.
  • Independently creates a clear and articulated plan for testing and assuring quality of solutions, and defines success for outcomes of tests (e.g., unit tests). Identifies needs for a broad versus selected approach in testing mechanisms and makes informed decisions to implement the most effective tests. Drives efforts to add new tests, remove antiquated tests, and aggregate tests to improve the test suite. Improves recommendations to the team and augments test cases to ensure that solutions have good test coverage. Drives efforts to continually integrate automation features when planning for testing.
  • Drives identification of dependencies and the development of design documents for a product, application, service or platform. Identifies other teams and technologies that will be leveraged, how they will interact, and when one's own system may provide support to others. Determines back-end dependencies associated with product, application, service, or platform functionality for the solution/product area. Understands up and downstream effects of solutions and work provided to ensure appropriate security and performance, drives reliability in the solutions, and optimizes dependency chains and retrieves across teams.
  • Collaborates with appropriate stakeholders (e.g., project manager, technical lead) to align on user requirements for a scenario. Leverages a variety of feedback channels to incorporate insights into future designs or solution fixes. Ensures appropriate continuous feedback loops measuring customer value, usage patterns, and other actionable metrics of value are incorporated.


Other:
  • Embody our Culture and Values


Qualifications

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, or related technical discipline 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.


Additional Job 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

  • 10+ years of software engineering experience
  • Proven track record of delivering large-scale services or products
  • Experience leading complex cross-team initiatives

Deep expertise in:
  • Distributed systems
  • Cloud computing
  • System architecture
  • Performance and scalability
  • Security and reliability engineering

Proficiency in:
  • C#
  • Java
  • C++
  • Python
  • Go
  • Azure technologies
Leadership Skills
  • Strategic thinking
  • Technical influence without direct authority
  • Executive-level communication
  • Strong stakeholder management
  • Organizational problem solving


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.

About Microsoft

Microsoft is an American multinational corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells a range of software products and services. Microsoft’s devices and consumer (D&C) licensing segment licenses the Windows operating system and related software, Microsoft Office for consumers, and the Windows Phone operating system. The company’s computing and gaming hardware segment provides Xbox gaming and entertainment consoles and accessories, second-party and third-party video games, and Xbox Live subscriptions; surface devices and accessories; and Microsoft PC accessories. Its phone hardware segment offers Lumia smartphones and other non-Lumia phones. Its D&C segment provides Windows Store, Xbox Live transactions, and Windows phone store; search advertising; display advertising; Office 365 Home and Office 365 Personal; first-party video games; and other consumer products and services as well as operating retail stores. Microsoft’s commercial licensing segments license server products, including Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Studio, System Center, and related Client Access Licenses (CALs); Windows Embedded; Windows operating system; Microsoft Office for business, including Office, Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, and related CALs; Microsoft Dynamics business solutions; and Skype. Its commercial segment offers enterprise services, including premier support services and Microsoft consulting services; commercial cloud comprising Office 365 Commercial, other Microsoft Office online offerings, Dynamics CRM Online, and Microsoft Azure; and other commercial products and online services. The company markets and distributes its products through original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and resellers, as well as online.

Microsoft Careers

Join Microsoft today and be part of a company that values innovation, leadership, and diversity in its workforce. As a global leader in technology and digital transformation, Microsoft offers unparalleled job opportunities that propel your career to new heights.

Explore Career Opportunities at Microsoft

Whether you're a seasoned professional looking for your next challenge or a recent graduate eager to start your career, Microsoft has a position that suits your skills and ambitions. We are committed to fostering a culture of growth and learning, where every team member is supported in expanding their horizons.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with a Microsoft internship. Our internships provide invaluable workplace experience and networking opportunities in a supportive and dynamic environment. You'll work on real projects, learn from industry leaders, and gain the skills necessary for a successful career in technology.

Employment Benefits

Choosing a career at Microsoft means more than just a job. Our employees enjoy a range of benefits designed to empower them both professionally and personally. These include comprehensive health benefits, flexible working conditions, and opportunities for career advancement through professional development and diversity training.

Inclusive Culture and Diversity

At Microsoft, we believe that innovation comes from diversity of thought and inclusion. We are committed to a workplace where everyone feels valued and inspired. Our leadership is dedicated to fostering an environment where diverse perspectives lead to breakthrough innovations and a competitive edge.

Grow with Us

Career growth at Microsoft is about more than climbing the corporate ladder; it's about continuous learning, expanding your skills, and improving your capabilities. With access to various leadership and training programs, you can evolve as a professional and make a significant impact within the company and on the global stage.

Hiring Process

Our hiring process is designed to identify true potential. Starting with a review of your resume, followed by interviews that assess your problem-solving abilities and cultural fit, we ensure that all candidates have a fair chance to demonstrate their strengths and potential to contribute to our team.

Networking and Professional Development

Microsoft is a place where you can build a professional network that spans the globe. Our employees benefit from connections with top-tier professionals and industry leaders, which opens doors to innovative projects and collaborative opportunities that are second to none.

Join Our Team

If you're ready to take on exciting challenges and make a difference in the world of technology, explore the job opportunities at Microsoft. Search for open positions that match your skills and interests, and prepare to embark on a rewarding career path filled with innovation and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

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At Microsoft, your future is limitless. Join us in our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Your journey with Microsoft starts here.
Learn more about Microsoft
Size
181,000 employees
Market Cap
$1,762.4 billion
Industry
Enterprise Technology
Net Income
$51.3 billion
Founded
1975
5 Year Trend
+15.5%
Revenue
$153.2 billion
NASDAQ
MSFT
* Ladders Estimates

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