Microsoft

Principal SWE Lead

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

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related field with 6+ years of technical engineering experience in languages like C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python.
  • Master's Degree in Computer Science or related field with 8+ years of experience, or a Bachelor's Degree with 12+ years of experience.
  • Hands-on experience with applied AI systems, including generative AI and large language models.
  • 10+ years of professional software design and development experience, particularly in complex production systems.
  • Strong proficiency in modern programming languages, especially Python, with the ability to contribute to production code.

Responsibilities

  • Architect and build production-grade AI systems, including agentic AI solutions and orchestration workflows.
  • Define architecture and engineering strategy for secure, reliable AI solutions at enterprise scale.
  • Develop critical components and conduct design and code reviews to resolve complex technical issues.
  • Integrate AI solutions with Microsoft support systems and ensure proper data handling and access controls.
  • Establish robust evaluation capabilities for testing AI systems and their integrations.
  • Validate quality and readiness of AI solutions at each deployment milestone in collaboration with experts.
  • Drive operational excellence by creating monitoring and incident response mechanisms for AI systems.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health and wellness programs.
  • Generous paid time off and holidays.
  • Retirement savings plan with company match.
  • Professional development and training opportunities.
  • Flexible work arrangements and remote work options.
Full Job Description
Responsibilities
  • Architect and build production-grade AI systems. Design, implement, and operate agentic AI solutions, diagnostic experiences, orchestration workflows, and supporting platforms using governed ProCode and citizen-development technologies where appropriate.
  • Set technical direction. Define architecture, engineering strategy, design principles, and reusable patterns for AI solutions that must operate securely and reliably at enterprise scale.
  • Lead through code and engineering rigor. Develop critical components, conduct design and code reviews, establish testing standards, and resolve the most complex technical and architectural issues.
  • Integrate with the support ecosystem. Connect AI solutions to Microsoft support systems, APIs, knowledge sources, telemetry, and enterprise data while ensuring appropriate access controls and data handling.
  • Advance agent orchestration and diagnostics. Solve difficult problems in planning, context and state management, tool use, multi-agent coordination, retrieval, grounding, observability, and failure recovery.
  • Build robust evaluation capabilities. Establish technical, unit, integration, regression, and end-to-end testing for prompts, models, tools, orchestration flows, and system integrations.
  • Validate quality and readiness. Evaluate groundedness, accuracy, task completion, robustness, latency, cost, safety, and failure modes at each deployment milestone in partnership with TPMs and support-domain experts.
  • Deliver enterprise-ready solutions. Deploy and operate services in Microsoft cloud environments in accordance with security, privacy, compliance, Responsible AI, reliability, and scalability requirements.
  • Define measurable outcomes. Establish success metrics and telemetry that demonstrate customer value, support effectiveness, engineering health, operational readiness, and suitability for scale.
  • Drive operational excellence. Create monitoring, incident response, debugging, and continuous-improvement mechanisms for AI systems in production.
  • Influence across organizations. Partner with senior leaders and cross-functional teams to align priorities, manage technical tradeoffs, and deliver strategic initiatives spanning multiple organizations.
  • Grow engineering capability. Mentor engineers, raise the technical bar, promote thoughtful experimentation, and build a culture of inclusive collaboration, knowledge sharing, and high-quality execution.
  • Document for long-term success. Maintain clear architecture, design decisions, limitations, evaluation evidence, deployment guidance, and operational runbooks.


Qualifications
Required/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
Other Qualifications
  • Microsoft is unable to sponsor a work visa for this role due to the nature of the role's job duties.
  • 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.
Additional or 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.
  • Hands-on experience building applied AI systems, including generative AI, large language models, or autonomous agents.
  • 10+ years of professional software design and development experience, including architecture and delivery of complex production systems.
  • Experience designing, building, deploying, and operating highly available, secure, and scalable cloud services
  • Strong proficiency in one or more modern programming languages, with the ability to contribute directly to production code; experience with Python is highly relevant.
  • Experience with distributed systems, APIs, data platforms, observability, testing, and production operations.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to explain complex technical decisions to engineering, product, business, and executive audiences.
  • Experience with Azure AI Foundry, Copilot Studio, Power Platform, Azure services, or comparable enterprise AI and cloud platforms.
  • Deep expertise in one or more of the following: agent platforms, multi-agent orchestration, retrieval-augmented generation, knowledge systems, AI evaluation, prompt engineering, model selection, or ML infrastructure.
  • Exerience developing evaluation frameworks and quality gates for generative AI, including groundedness, safety, robustness, and task-success measurement.
  • Experience integrating AI solutions with enterprise systems, security boundaries, identity, data governance, and compliance controls.
  • Experience building AI-powered diagnostics, customer support, service operations, or workflow automation solutions.


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.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest at Microsoft Careers by subscribing to our job alert emails. Get tailored content that aligns with your career preferences and discover the exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at Microsoft.

SEARCH MICROSOFT JOBS

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

Similar Jobs

Ad banner background

Get Ready For Your
Next Interview

More Jobs at Microsoft

More Information Technology Jobs

Find similar Principal SWE Lead jobs:

NationwideRedmond, WA