Microsoft

Software Engineering Manager

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

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 6+ years of coding experience in languages such as C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
  • Master's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 8+ years of coding experience, or equivalent experience
  • 4+ years of people management experience
  • 2+ years of experience building distributed, near real-time, high-load systems
  • Familiarity with modern software design patterns like microservices and containers

Responsibilities

  • Establish deep technical expertise in architecture and operations while driving high engineering standards
  • Build and lead a high-performing, inclusive engineering organization to enhance collaboration and accountability
  • Translate business priorities into clear technical strategies and execution plans
  • Collaborate closely with customers and stakeholders to shape product strategy and engineering execution
  • Maintain service reliability, scalability, and performance across distributed systems
  • Ensure high-quality execution against commitments through effective planning and prioritization

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health coverage
  • Retirement savings options
  • Opportunities for career growth and development
  • Inclusive work environment
  • Employee discounts and perks
Full Job Description
Overview

Join the team powering the foundational messaging platform behind Microsoft Teams, Microsoft 365, and Copilot experiences used by hundreds of millions of users worldwide. The M365 Core Messaging organization builds and operates the large-scale distributed systems that enable real-time communication, collaboration, AI orchestration, and enterprise productivity at global scale.

As an engineering leader, you will help define and execute the next generation of messaging and AI infrastructure that powers Microsoft Copilot experiences across the M365 ecosystem. This role sits at the center of Microsoft's AI transformation, requiring deep technical expertise, strong organizational leadership, and the ability to drive large-scale platform investments critical to the future of enterprise productivity.

You will lead highly strategic initiatives across messaging infrastructure, distributed systems scalability, AI-driven platform evolution, operational excellence, and foundational service architecture. The role requires close partnership across engineering, product, infrastructure, and research organizations to build resilient, performant, and intelligent platforms capable of supporting rapidly growing Copilot and Teams workloads.

Responsibilities

  • Technical Excellence & Engineering Leadership - Establish deep expertise across the architecture, platform, and operational landscape, serving as a technical leader and force multiplier for the organization. Drive high engineering standards through architecture guidance, hands-on technical engagement, code reviews, and adoption of AI-forward development practices that improve engineering quality, velocity, and efficiency.
  • Organizational Leadership & Talent Development - Build and lead a high-performing, inclusive engineering organization by coaching and developing engineers across levels. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and operational ownership while providing clear feedback, mentorship, and career guidance.
  • Strategic Direction & Execution Alignment - Translate business priorities and organizational objectives into clear technical strategy and execution plans. Leverage customer insights, operational data, and market awareness to inform investment areas, prioritize initiatives, and guide long-term platform and product direction.
  • Customer & Product Partnership - Partner closely with customers, product management, and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure customer needs, usage signals, and feedback directly influence product strategy, prioritization, and engineering execution.
  • Operational Excellence & Live Site Leadership - Maintain a high bar for service reliability, scalability, security, and performance across large-scale distributed systems. Drive excellence in incident management, deployment quality, root cause analysis (RCA), and systemic reliability improvements while strengthening operational rigor and live site readiness.
  • Execution Discipline & Delivery Ownership - Ensure predictable, high-quality execution against organizational commitments through strong prioritization, risk management, planning, and accountability. Balance short-term deliverables with long-term strategic and technical investments.


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 thereafter.


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 people management experience.
  • 2+ years of experience building distributed, near real-time, high-load systems.
  • Familiarity with modern software design patterns (microservices, containers, caching, queuing).
  • Experience with incident management and resolution.

#m365core #copilot #teams

Software Engineering M5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800.00 - $274,800.00 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 $188,000.00 - $304,200.00 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.

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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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