Microsoft

Senior Software Engineer

Microsoft$114K — $203K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related field plus 4+ years of technical engineering experience.
  • Strong proficiency in coding with C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python.
  • Experience in developing production software in C or C++.
  • Familiarity with Windows system APIs and core technologies.

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement native Windows components using modern C++.
  • Build functionalities for remote desktop and virtualization scenarios.
  • Optimize performance-critical code paths for reliability and stability.
  • Independently resolve complex systems-level issues across different OS boundaries.
  • Diagnose and fix issues using telemetry and diagnostic tools.
  • Lead technical design decisions and code reviews.
  • Mentor other engineers and enhance overall team quality.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work on innovative Windows technologies.
  • Supportive and agile engineering environment with frequent releases.
  • Technical mentorship and learning opportunities.
  • Engagement in cross-team collaborations on diverse projects.
Full Job Description
Overview

Join the Windows Cloud Experiences team to build core Windows client technologies that power secure, high-performance remote desktop experiences at global scale. As part of the Windows + Devices organization, you will design and ship foundational Windows client components that integrate with the operating system, devices, and hardware while connecting to cloud-powered services.

This role is suited for engineers with experience building native C++ software close to the operating system, particularly in performance-sensitive and reliability-critical environments. You will independently solve complex systems-level problems, make technical design decisions, and own features and technical areas throughout the engineering lifecycle.

Responsibilities

Build Core Windows Client and Device Experiences
  • Design and implement native Windows components in modern C++, with deep integration into Win32, COM, Windows services, and system APIs.
  • Build capabilities involving device redirection, input, display, audio/video, USB, and HID integration for remote desktop and virtualization scenarios.
  • Develop and maintain cross-process, cross-thread, performance-critical code paths where correctness, latency, reliability, and stability are important.
  • Make technical design decisions and evaluate tradeoffs across Windows client components, devices, and cloud-connected experiences.
Systems-Level Engineering at Scale
  • Independently investigate and resolve complex systems-level issues spanning kernel and user-mode boundaries, operating system integration, drivers, services, and client applications.
  • Optimize memory usage, threading models, IPC, and I/O within complex, long-running Windows client processes.
  • Diagnose performance, reliability, memory, and concurrency issues using telemetry, traces, dumps, debuggers, and other diagnostic tools.
  • Partner with Windows platform, security, device, and other engineering teams to design robust and secure implementations.
  • Navigate technically ambiguous problems, identify appropriate engineering tradeoffs, and drive solutions across component and team boundaries.
End-to-End Technical Ownership
  • Own features and technical areas across the full engineering lifecycle, including architecture, design, implementation, testing, deployment, telemetry, and live-site debugging.
  • Lead and contribute to design and code reviews, influencing technical decisions and improving engineering practices for testability, performance, reliability, and long-term maintainability.
  • Drive iterative improvements to Windows client technologies in an agile engineering environment with frequent releases.
  • Investigate complex customer and production issues, determine root causes, and implement engineering improvements that reduce recurrence.
  • Provide technical guidance and mentorship to other engineers, share systems-level expertise, and contribute to raising engineering quality across the team.
Technologies

You may work across technologies including:
  • C++ for native Windows and systems-level development.
  • C#, .NET, and WinUI.
  • Win32, WinRT, COM, RPC, Windows services, and system APIs.
  • Windows input, graphics, audio/video, networking, and device stacks.
  • Windows diagnostics and debugging technologies, including ETW, traces, dumps, and debuggers.


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.
  • Experience developing production software in C or C++.
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 screening:
  • 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

  • Experience developing native Windows applications or system components.
  • Experience with Win32, COM, Windows services, or Windows system APIs.
  • Experience debugging performance, memory, threading, or concurrency issues in native code.
  • Experience with device integration, USB, HID, audio/video, or driver-adjacent development.
  • Familiarity with remote desktop or virtualization technologies such as RDP or ICA.
  • Experience using ETW, traces, dumps, or debuggers for Windows diagnostics.


Software Engineering IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across Canada is CAD $114,400 - CAD $203,900 per year.

Find additional pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/canada-pay-information.html

Software Engineering IC4 - L'échelle salariale de base typique pour ce rôle dans l'ensemble du Canada est de 114,400 $ CAD à 203,900 $ CAD par année.

Pour plus d'information au sujet de la rémunération, veuillez cliquer ici:
https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/canada-pay-information.html

Ce poste sera ouvert pendant au moins cinq jours et les candidatures seront acceptées de façon continue jusqu'à ce que le poste soit pourvu.

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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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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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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