Microsoft

Principal Software Engineers

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 coding experience in languages like C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python; OR equivalent experience.
  • Master's Degree with 8+ years of coding experience; or Bachelor's Degree with 12+ years of experience; or equivalent experience.
  • 4+ years of experience in designing, building, and shipping production backend services or data pipelines.
  • 4+ years of expertise in software supply chain security and open-source ecosystems.
  • 4+ years of experience with program analysis techniques for code behavior assessment.

Responsibilities

  • Design, build, and enhance security systems for software supply chains and open-source ecosystems.
  • Analyze dependencies, vulnerabilities, and malware to ensure software component safety.
  • Apply program analysis techniques to understand and assess code behavior.
  • Develop and maintain scalable cloud-based pipelines for large-scale scanning and detection.
  • Contribute to supply chain integrity practices including SBOM and artifact signing.
  • Collaborate on threat detection and security research around malware and vulnerabilities.
  • Integrate security capabilities with developer tools and CI/CD systems.
  • Continuously evaluate and enhance detection methods and security processes.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
  • Retirement savings plan with company match.
  • Generous paid time off and holidays.
  • Access to ongoing professional development and training.
  • Employee discounts and perks.
Full Job Description
Responsibilities

  • Design, build, and improve systems that enhance security across software supply chains and open-source ecosystems (e.g., npm, PyPI, NuGet, Maven, Cargo).
  • Analyze dependencies, vulnerabilities, and potential malware to help ensure the integrity and safety of software components.
  • Apply program analysis techniques (static, dynamic, sandboxing/detonation, deobfuscation, behavioral analysis) to better understand and assess code behavior.
  • Develop and operate scalable cloud-based pipelines (Azure preferred) for large-scale scanning, detection, and data processing.
  • Contribute to and uphold supply chain integrity practices, including SBOM, SLSA, provenance, and artifact signing (e.g., Sigstore).
  • Collaborate on threat detection and security research, including malware and vulnerability analysis, within security-sensitive systems.
  • Integrate security capabilities with developer tools and platforms such as GitHub, Visual Studio, and CI/CD systems.
  • Partner cross-functionally with engineering, security, and product teams to improve secure development practices.
  • Continuously evaluate and improve detection methods, tooling, and processes to adapt to evolving security threats.


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


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


Preferred Qualifications
  • 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 Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 12+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
    • OR equivalent experience.
  • 4+ years of experience designing, building, and shipping production backend services, platforms, or data pipelines.
  • 4+ years of experience with software supply chain security and open-source ecosystems (e.g., npm, PyPI, NuGet, Maven, Cargo), including dependency, vulnerability, or malware analysis.
  • 4+ years of experience with program analysis techniques (e.g., static/dynamic analysis, sandboxing, deobfuscation, behavioral analysis) to understand code behavior.
  • 4+ years of experience building or operating large-scale cloud-based scanning, detection, or data-processing pipelines (Azure preferred).
  • 4+ years of experience with supply chain security standards (e.g., SBOM, SLSA, provenance, artifact signing) and integrating with CI/CD systems.


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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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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