Principal Hardware Systems Engineer - Storage

Microsoft • Redmond, WA

5d • $142,800 - $304,200

About The Position

Microsoft Silicon, Cloud Hardware, and Infrastructure Engineering (SCHIE) powers Microsoft’s expanding cloud infrastructure and delivers foundational technologies for Microsoft’s cloud and online businesses, including Azure, M365, Teams, OneDrive, and Xbox Live. The team is focused on deploying new hardware offerings and infrastructure on time, at scale, with high quality and disciplined cost management.

Microsoft is seeking a knowledgeable and experienced Principal Hardware Systems Engineer to collaborate with Cloud Hardware Infrastructure Engineering, Azure Engineering, and Exchange Engineering groups to qualify storage components for Microsoft data centers. The role involves understanding component architectures, software applications, and operating system environments to create qualification test plans at both device and system levels. It may also involve writing test software and debugging. The successful candidate will synthesize complex or conflicting requirements from hardware, software, and business teams, helping support high-performance computing infrastructure used by millions of people.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field and 7+ years of technical engineering experience; or 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.
• 5+ years of experience in hardware system validation, including planning, documentation, development, execution, and debugging.
• Knowledge of system memory architecture and validation.
• Knowledge of storage and system memory architecture and validation.
• Familiarity with networking, power, rack management, and remote-access environments.
• Familiarity with scripting languages such as PowerShell, Python, or Perl, and with developing routines to support debugging and accelerate data collection and data reduction through automation.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a team, across internal organizations, and with industry partners including OEMs and ODMs, while providing technical leadership to drive successful product development.
• 8+ years of experience in hardware validation, including planning, documentation, development, execution, and debugging.
• 5+ years of experience integrating hardware components, including storage, at the server-system level.

Nice To Haves

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to engage leadership audiences.
• Knowledge of server-system and storage architecture.
• Experience integrating and validating hardware components and/or systems.
• Self-motivation and the ability to work collaboratively across internal divisions and industry partners, including OEMs and ODMs, while demonstrating technical leadership in product development.
• Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field and 5+ years of technical engineering experience; or master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field and 8+ years of technical engineering experience; or bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field and 12+ years of technical engineering experience; or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Influence the architecture of scalable qualification frameworks, validation methodologies, automation infrastructure, and deployment-readiness processes for cloud-scale environments.
• Establish qualification coverage, reliability requirements, usage models, telemetry strategy, and health-monitoring frameworks to ensure production readiness at hyperscale.
• Drive resolution of complex storage and memory issues affecting Azure platform availability, performance, and reliability.
• Lead cross-functional investigations involving hardware, firmware, operating systems, drivers, and cloud services to identify root causes and define corrective actions.
• Represent the team with OEMs, ODMs, silicon providers, and storage and memory ecosystem partners, assisting with issue debugging as necessary.
• Promote engineering excellence through data-driven decision-making, technical reviews, risk management, and continuous improvement of qualification processes.
• Guide team members as needed and adapt decisively to changing circumstances and competing demands.

Benefits

• Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation; the posting directs applicants to Microsoft’s careers site for additional benefits and pay information.

What This Job Offers

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