Microsoft

Senior Software Engineer - CTJ - Poly

Microsoft$119K — $234K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related field AND 4+ years of technical engineering experience with coding in languages like C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python, or equivalent experience.
  • Active U.S. Government Top Secret Clearance with SCI access based on a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) with Polygraph, or ability to meet security screening requirements.
  • Deep experience with coding and building large-scale production services, focusing on security and compliance.
  • Hands-on experience with DevOps systems, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing.
  • Strong debugging and systems-thinking skills across operating systems, applications, and cloud environments.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

  • Lead design, implementation, testing, and maintenance of cloud-scale security services.
  • Own service areas including architecture, quality, and operational health.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver integrated security solutions.
  • Mentor engineers through guidance and code reviews.
  • Resolve complex live-site issues with root-cause analysis and operational improvements.
  • Apply secure-by-design principles in development.
  • Identify technical risks and deliver pragmatic solutions balancing customer needs and compliance.

Benefits

  • Flexible work arrangements and healthy work-life balance.
  • Access to ongoing training and professional development opportunities.
  • Comprehensive healthcare coverage and wellness programs.
  • Retirement savings plan with company matching contributions.
Full Job Description
Overview

Are you excited by the opportunity to lead the design, delivery, and security of cloud-scale software that protects some of the world's most sensitive and mission-critical environments?

As a Senior Software Engineer in Microsoft's Specialized Cloud team, you will own and drive highly reliable services that underpin internal security platforms and customer-facing cloud offerings. Your work will help safeguard mission-critical environments that require exceptional trust, compliance, resilience, and operational excellence. In this role, you will tackle complex systems, security, and reliability challenges in a fast-paced engineering environment; set technical direction; influence architecture; mentor engineers; and partner across security, operations, program management, and compliance teams to deliver secure, scalable, and resilient cloud services.

Responsibilities
  • Lead the design, implementation, testing, and maintenance of cloud-scale services and platform components used in security-critical and highly regulated environments.
  • Own significant service areas end to end, including architecture, quality, security, reliability, and operational health.
  • Partner with security, operations, program management, compliance, and customer-facing teams to deliver integrated solutions across organizational boundaries.
  • Mentor engineers through design guidance, code reviews, technical coaching, and modeling strong engineering practices.
  • Lead investigations and resolution of complex live-site issues, including root-cause analysis, prevention planning, and operational improvements, and participate in and help mature 24x7 on-call practices, incident response, service health reviews, and safe deployment processes.
  • Apply secure-by-design principles throughout the development lifecycle, including threat modeling, defense-in-depth, least privilege, and vulnerability remediation.
  • Identify technical risks, drive clarity in ambiguous problem spaces, and deliver pragmatic solutions that balance customer needs, compliance requirements, and engineering excellence.


Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 4+ 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:

Security Clearance Requirements: Candidates must be able 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:
  • The successful candidate must have an active U.S. Government Top Secret Clearance with access
    to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) based on a Single Scope Background Investigation
    (SSBI) with Polygraph. Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening
    requirements are required pre-offer and post-hire for this role. Failure to maintain or obtain the
    appropriate U.S. Government clearance and/or customer screening requirements may result in
    employment action up to and including termination.
  • Clearance Verification: This position requires successful verification of the stated security
    clearance to meet federal government customer requirements. You will be asked to provide
    clearance verification information prior to an offer of employment.
  • Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud
    background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.
  • Citizenship & Citizenship Verification: This position requires verification of U.S. citizenship due
    to citizenship-based legal restrictions. Specifically, this position supports United States federal,
    state, and/or local United States government agency customer and is subject to certain
    citizenship-based restrictions where required or permitted by applicable law. To meet this legal
    requirement, citizenship will be verified via a valid passport, or other approved documents, or
    verified US government Clearance

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master'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 Bachelor'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.
  • Deep experience designing, building, and operating large-scale production services, including logging, monitoring, alerting, incident response, reliability, and availability.
  • Proven ability to lead technical design, influence architecture, and deliver complex projects across team or organizational boundaries
  • Hands-on experience with modern DevOps systems, including source control, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, safe deployment practices, and code review tools.
  • Strong debugging and systems-thinking skills, with the ability to diagnose issues across operating systems, applications, distributed services, and cloud environments.
  • Experience with cloud computing fundamentals, virtual machines, networking, identity, service management, and distributed systems.
  • Experience with security disciplines such as event collection, monitoring, detection engineering, vulnerability management, threat modeling, or security operations in cloud environments.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to align stakeholders, explain tradeoffs, and mentor engineers across multidisciplinary teams.


Software Engineering IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 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 $160,200 - $261,000 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

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
Net Income
$51.3 billion
Founded
1975
5 Year Trend
+15.5%
Revenue
$153.2 billion
NASDAQ

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Microsoft

More Aerospace & Defense Jobs

Find similar Senior Software Engineer - CTJ - Poly jobs: