Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Microsoft$142K — $274K *
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related field with 6+ years of relevant experience in multiple programming languages including C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python.
  • Technical leadership experience with complex platforms, distributed systems, or validation products.
  • Expert in operating and productizing lab automation and self-service validation capabilities at scale.
  • Knowledge of defining architecture for device orchestration, telemetry, and security.
  • Hands-on experience using generative AI models for software engineering and developer productivity enhancements.
  • Ability to influence technical stakeholders and drive alignment across teams.

Responsibilities

  • Define and communicate the long-term technical vision and roadmap for lab automation and test collateral.
  • Lead platform adoption and create reference patterns across diverse OEM hardware and configurations.
  • Conduct architecture and design reviews for various technical domains like station control and security.
  • Solve high-severity technical problems through deep debugging and system analysis.
  • Establish standards for reliability, observability, and operational excellence across engineering practices.
  • Collaborate with data teams to define schemas and reporting metrics.
  • Set the strategy for AI-driven development processes such as test authoring and anomaly detection.
  • Mentor engineers, fostering growth and increasing the quality of engineering outputs.

Benefits

  • Health and wellness programs including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Generous paid time off and holidays.
  • Retirement and savings plan options including 401(k) with company match.
  • Career development and training opportunities.
  • Employee discounts and perks related to technology and lifestyle.
Full Job Description
Responsibilities
• Define and communicate the multi-year technical vision, architecture, and engineering roadmap for Lab automation, productized test collateral, and OEM self-assessment.
• Lead adoption and extension of the platform, creating reference patterns that work across diverse OEM hardware, silicon, firmware, drivers, and Windows configurations.
• Drive architecture and design reviews for station control, distributed orchestration, packaging, versioning, security, telemetry, result services, and partner integration.
• Resolve systemic and high-severity technical problems through deep Windows debugging, kernel and system internals analysis, driver diagnostics, and cross-layer root-cause investigation.
• Establish engineering standards for reliability, security, privacy, observability, supportability, test determinism, and operational excellence.
• Partner with data engineering, data science, and analytics leaders to define trustworthy schemas, signals, quality bars, and decision-ready reporting.
• Set the strategy and guardrails for AI-assisted test authoring, anomaly detection, failure classification, log analysis, bug filing, and developer workflows.
• Influence and align WSSI, WSD, WECE, Surface, Windows engineering, Selfhost, Fundamentals, AppCompat, and OEM partners on requirements, interfaces, and success measures.
• Mentor senior and early-in-career engineers, create technical growth opportunities, and raise the bar for design quality, code quality, debugging depth, and end-to-end ownership.
• Use architecture, technical judgment, and measurable outcomes to guide quarterly planning, investment tradeoffs, and prioritization across multiple workstreams.

Qualifications

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, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python.
    • OR equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Demonstrated technical leadership of a complex platform, distributed system, developer infrastructure, or validation product used by multiple teams or external partners.
• Experience productizing and operating packaged test collateral, lab automation, or self-service validation capabilities at scale.
• Experience defining architecture and operational standards for device orchestration, telemetry, logging, tracing, result aggregation, security, and reliability.
• Recent hands-on use of generative AI models and agents for software engineering, test authoring, diagnosis, process acceleration, and developer productivity, with sound judgment about appropriate guardrails.
• Proven ability to influence senior technical stakeholders, resolve ambiguity, communicate complex decisions clearly, and drive alignment across organizations.
• Track record of mentoring engineers, strengthening engineering culture, and delivering customer-focused outcomes through others as well as through direct technical contribution.

#W+DJOBS

#WINDOWS

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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Learn more about Microsoft
Size
181,000 employees
Market Cap
$1,762.4 billion
Industry
Net Income
$51.3 billion
Founded
1975
5 Year Trend
+15.5%
Revenue
$153.2 billion
NASDAQ

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