Principal Software Engineer

Azure NetApp Files is a first-party Azure storage service for mission-critical enterprise workloads delivered in partnership with NetApp. This role is a mix of design oversight, quality control, development, security and compliance execution, and cross-team project management. You will help ensure that our internal frameworks and tools are maintained and expanded, that designs, production changes, and operational processes meet Azure reliability, safety, and governance standards, and you will drive prioritized delivery of quality, security, and compliance work across Microsoft and NetApp engineering teams.

As a Service Engineer, you will own and drive cross-functional initiatives that improve Azure NetApp Files’ service quality, security posture, work on internal frameworks, tools and compliance outcomes. You will translate governance requirements into clear execution plans, oversee progress across multiple engineering teams, and ensure designs and changes meet required standards through specification reviews, quality gates, and approval processes. Direct software development, scripting and automation are part of this, especially for frameworks we put together for our partner and are essential to scale.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

• Provide design and specification oversight by reviewing proposals for features, reliability, security, operational readiness, and compliance, identifying gaps and required mitigations rather than owning detailed system design
• Drive quality, security, and compliance execution by converting governance requirements into prioritized plans, milestones, and measurable outcomes
• Define and deliver automation that reduces manual or unsafe operational work, including scripting and workflow improvements that lower risk and improve repeatability
• Act as a cross-team project/program owner by coordinating execution across Microsoft and NetApp engineering teams, managing dependencies, risks, and delivery status
• Enforce operational readiness and safety standards by ensuring changes meet required quality bars (for example, validation readiness, rollback planning, and auditability) before production deployment
• Maintain risk management hygiene, including documenting decisions, tracking issues, and ensuring follow-through to closure

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, 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, Information Technology, 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, Information Technology, 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
• Demonstrated working knowledge of public cloud platform fundamentals, including resource organization, identity and access management, networking concepts, and how large‑scale services are deployed and operated in a cloud environment, as well as the ability to review and reason about cloud service architecture (components, dependencies, failure modes, and tradeoffs) and communicate recommendations clearly
• Experience with:
  • Design or specification reviews focused on reliability, security, and operational readiness
  • Large-scale cloud or distributed systems, including resiliency/availability concepts and recovery patterns
  • Core Azure management and automation tools (Azure portal, Azure CLI (Command-Line Interface), PowerShell, ARM (Azure Resource Manager) concepts) and ability to apply them to build repeatable operational workflows
  • Technical project or program management, coordinating cross‑functional teams to deliver quality, security, or compliance initiatives in complex service environments
• Familiarity with Azure storage and networking architecture

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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.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.