Principal Software Engineer - Networking & Storage Systems

Microsoft • Mountain View, CA

1d

About The Position

Join the Strategic Planning and Architecture (SPARC) team within Microsoft’s Azure Hardware Systems and Infrastructure (AHSI) organization. This team is responsible for Microsoft's expanding cloud infrastructure and powering the company's “Intelligent Cloud” mission. Microsoft delivers over 200 online services to more than a billion users globally, and AHSI provides the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft's cloud businesses, including Microsoft Azure, CoPilot, Bing, M365, OneDrive, Teams, and Xbox Live. We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer specializing in Networking & Storage Systems to contribute to the innovation, development, and implementation of scalable networking and storage transport protocols, telemetry, and related advancements for Microsoft’s cloud and AI infrastructure. This role also involves guiding technical strategy, fostering collaboration across teams, and promoting innovation to support Azure's continuous growth, while also influencing the organization's direction and mentoring engineering talent.

Requirements

• 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.
• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements.
• Must pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Nice To Haves

• PhD Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 3+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of experience in software engineering, with deep expertise in networking and storage systems.
• Proven track record of technical leadership and architectural ownership in large-scale distributed systems.
• Proficiency in C, C++, C#, Java, Python, and cloud technologies.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience driving strategic initiatives and influencing organizational direction.

Responsibilities

• Architect and lead development of robust networking and storage frameworks for large-scale cloud platforms.
• Own end-to-end technical strategy, making high-impact architectural decisions.
• Collaborate with product, hardware, and business teams to define requirements and deliver strategic solutions.
• Ensure code quality, reliability, and security through rigorous reviews and automation.
• Drive adoption of best practices in observability, diagnostics, and performance optimization.
• Represent the team in cross-functional forums, influencing organizational priorities and technical direction.

Benefits

• Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.

What This Job Offers

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