Role at a glance
- Salary
- $142.8K – $274.8K/yr
- Location
- Redmond, Washington, United States
- Work arrangement
- On-site
- Employment
- Full-time
- Experience
- 6+ years technical engineering experience with coding
- Education
- Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field
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Role Summary
The Principal Software Engineer will shape the end-to-end technical direction of Windows App, a gateway to Cloud PCs, virtual desktops, applications, and remote Windows experiences. The role coordinates work across Windows, Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, Identity, Security, Management, Graphics/Media, and Networking teams to deliver a cohesive, reliable customer experience.
What You'll Do
- Define priority Windows App scenarios with customers, product managers, designers, support teams, and partner stakeholders, translating...
- Identify and align dependencies across Windows App and partner teams, producing end-to-end designs covering architecture, interfaces,...
- Establish engineering excellence standards across approximately 80 developers and multiple teams, including code reviews, test...
- Drive coordinated execution by connecting architecture and dependencies to project plans, release criteria, milestones, and work items...
- Serve as the engineering Directly Responsible Individual for critical Windows App initiatives and product health, driving reliability,...
- Advance engineering systems and practices for automated testing, performance measurement, regression detection, diagnostics, monitoring,...
Generated from the employer's posting. Verify important details before applying.
View full postingQualifications
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field; 6+ years technical engineering experience with coding in C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python; or equivalent experience.
Required
- Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field
- 6+ years technical engineering experience with coding
- C
- C++
- C#
- Java
- JavaScript
- Python
Preferred
- Leading the engineering architecture, design and delivery of complex client applications or services across multiple engineering teams
- Engineering excellence practices for code quality, automated testing, performance, security, reliability, diagnostics, and release readiness
- Designing and developing desktop and/or mobile application architectures
- Creating clarity from ambiguity and driving decisions across organizational boundaries
- Communicating technical and product trade-offs effectively
- Driving customer-centric outcomes
Original job description
Content provided by the employer
Original job description
Content provided by the employer
We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer who will shape how this product comes together as a whole. Windows App depends on technologies and teams across Windows, Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, Identity, Security, Management, Graphics/Media, and Networking. This engineer will establish a coherent technical vision, make architectural and product trade-offs clear, align teams around shared decisions, and drive the work across organizational boundaries until the complete experience reaches customers.
This is a role for a product-minded engineering leader who combines technical depth with judgment, clarity, and relentless ownership. Their impact will not be measured by the volume of code they write, but by the quality of the decisions they enable, the engineering standard they establish, and their ability to turn broad ambition into a cohesive product worthy of Windows.
At Microsoft, our mission—to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more—guides how we partner with customers to deliver trusted, impactful solutions. With a growth mindset culture, we innovate responsibly and measure success by shared progress—people, teams, and customers. Join us to do meaningful work that changes the world and helps shape what’s next for everyone.
Responsibilities
- Partners with customers, product managers, designers, support teams, and Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop stakeholders to define priority Windows App scenarios and translate customer needs into clear engineering requirements and measurable experience outcomes.
- Leads the identification and alignment of dependencies across Windows App and partner teams, producing end-to-end designs that clarify architecture, interfaces, ownership, sequencing, quality requirements, and technical trade-offs.
- Establishes engineering excellence standards across approximately 80 developers and multiple teams, mentoring engineers and technical leaders to produce secure, extensible, maintainable code supported by effective reviews, test automation, and disciplined technical-debt management.
- Applies deep client-engineering and product expertise to drive coordinated execution, partnering with engineering and program leaders to connect architecture and dependencies to project plans, release criteria, milestones, and work items across teams.
- Serves as the engineering Directly Responsible Individual (DRI) for critical Windows App initiatives and product health, driving issues from investigation through resolution and ensuring teams can detect, diagnose, mitigate, and prevent reliability, performance, and customer-experience regressions.
- Advances Windows App’s engineering systems and practices, adopting modern tools and techniques for automated testing, performance measurement, regression detection, diagnostics, monitoring, observability, and release quality while driving consistent adoption across teams.
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
- Experience leading the engineering architecture, design and delivery of complex client applications or services across multiple engineering teams, including establishing engineering excellence practices for code quality, automated testing, performance, security, reliability, diagnostics, and release readiness.
- Experience designing and developing desktop and/or mobile application architectures.
- Demonstrated ability to create clarity from ambiguity and drive decisions across organizational boundaries, communicating technical and product trade-offs effectively with engineers, product leaders, and partner teams while influencing without direct authority.
- Passion for delivering exceptional end-user experiences, with demonstrated examples of driving customer-centric outcomes.
#W+DJOBS
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.
About the company
Microsoft
Large Enterprise
Microsoft is a global technology leader that empowers individuals and organizations to achieve more through innovative software, services, and devices. Founded in 1975, the company is best known for its flagship products like the Windows operating system and Microsoft Office suite. In addition to personal computing, Microsoft is a leader in cloud computing with its Azure platform, providing a range of solutions for businesses to enhance productivity and efficiency. With a strong commitment to sustainability and accessibility, Microsoft continues to drive technological advancements that shape the future of work and learning.
Microsoft is a global technology leader that empowers individuals and organizations to achieve more through innovative software, services, and devices. Founded in 1975, the company is best known for its flagship products like the Windows operating system and Microsoft Office suite. In addition to personal computing, Microsoft is a leader in cloud computing with its Azure platform, providing a range of solutions for businesses to enhance productivity and efficiency. With a strong commitment to sustainability and accessibility, Microsoft continues to drive technological advancements that shape the future of work and learning.