Principal CAD Software Engineer

Microsoft • Raleigh, NC

1d • $142,800 - $304,200

About The Position

Microsoft Silicon, Cloud Hardware, and Infrastructure Engineering (SCHIE) develops infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft’s online businesses and Azure platform. The Microsoft Silicon Engineering and Solutions Team seeks a technical leader for its central software team, which develops converged solutions, software tools, DevOps workflows, and automation supporting silicon design areas including RTL and VIP design, design verification, validation, DFT, emulation, physical-design handoff, and IP integration.

The role leads development of a common CAD software tool stack for internal SoC and IP designs, and provides technical strategy and execution for CAD DevOps workflows, including CI/CD, cloud-based EDA environments, and automation frameworks. The engineer collaborates with CAD hardware and compute infrastructure teams and stakeholders across Microsoft Silicon to gather requirements, develop scalable software and documentation, and build and integrate CAD flows and automation for organization-wide use.

The position also uses AI-assisted tools to explore approaches, draft code and tests, investigate defects, and improve documentation, while reviewing AI-generated work for correctness, security, maintainability, and alignment with project requirements. Candidates must meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements, including a Microsoft Cloud Background Check, and must satisfy applicable export-control eligibility verification requirements.

Requirements

• Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field and 3+ years of technical engineering experience; or a master's degree in one of these fields and 6+ years of technical engineering experience; or a bachelor's degree in one of these fields and 8+ years of technical engineering experience; or equivalent experience.
• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements, including passing the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire or transfer and every two years thereafter.
• Ability to satisfy applicable export-control eligibility requirements; citizenship or other qualifying status will be verified with appropriate documentation.
• Preferred degree-and-experience combinations: doctorate in a relevant field and 5+ years of technical engineering experience; master's degree and 8+ years; bachelor's degree and 12+ years; or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of experience working on or leading projects from beginning to end.
• 7+ years of software development experience.
• Knowledge of common programming paradigms, including object-oriented and functional programming.
• Proficiency in industry-standard programming and scripting languages such as Python, Tcl, Perl, and C/C++; Python is preferred.
• Knowledge of software development practices and software design patterns.
• Well-rounded understanding of silicon design tools, flows, and methodologies.
• Expertise in Azure environments, Azure security, and DevOps concepts.
• Experience with continuous integration systems and practices.
• Understanding of computer architecture and CPU/SoC design principles.
• Experience with design and verification execution, flows, and supporting infrastructure.
• Practical experience using AI coding assistants or language models in a development workflow.
• Ability to write clear instructions for AI tools, assess their limitations, and independently verify their results.

Nice To Haves

• 2+ years of experience working on or leading projects from beginning to end.
• 7+ years of software development experience.
• Knowledge of common programming paradigms, including object-oriented and functional programming.
• Proven leadership skills and a track record of influencing stakeholders.
• Proficiency in industry-standard programming and scripting languages such as Python, Tcl, Perl, and C/C++; Python is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to independently own, maintain, and drive complex software projects.
• Knowledge of software development practices and software design patterns.
• Experience owning and driving the end-to-end software development lifecycle for multiple complex projects.
• Well-rounded understanding of silicon design tools, flows, and methodologies.
• Expertise in Azure environments, Azure security, and DevOps concepts.
• Experience with continuous integration systems and practices.
• Understanding of computer architecture and CPU/SoC design principles.
• Experience with design and verification execution, flows, and supporting infrastructure.
• Practical experience using AI coding assistants or language models in a development workflow.
• Ability to write clear instructions for AI tools, assess their limitations, and independently verify their results.

Responsibilities

• Lead a central CAD Software team developing a common tool stack for internal SoC and IP designs.
• Lead technical strategy and execution for CAD DevOps workflows, including CI/CD, cloud-based EDA environments, and automation frameworks.
• Lead the team in following industry-standard software practices.
• Collaborate closely with CAD Hardware and Compute Infrastructure teams.
• Design software solutions and documentation that scale to a large user base.
• Work with stakeholders across Microsoft Silicon groups to gather software requirements.
• Develop, enhance, and integrate CAD flows and automation for organization-wide use.
• Use AI-assisted tools to explore approaches, draft code and tests, investigate defects, and improve documentation.
• Review and validate AI-generated work for correctness, security, maintainability, and alignment with project requirements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal