Principal Software Engineer

Microsoft • Redmond, WA

22h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Microsoft Content team powers AI-driven experiences for more than 1B users across Copilot, Bing, Edge, Windows, and Xbox. We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to define and lead the technical direction for the next generation of intelligent, large-scale content platforms. In this role you will be responsible for shaping multi-year technical strategy, driving architectural coherence across organizations, and building systems that serve as foundational platforms for multiple product surfaces. You will lead the design and evolution of distributed backend systems, cloud-native infrastructure, and data platforms that operate at global scale with strict requirements for availability, latency, security, and cost efficiency. These systems form the backbone for intelligent user experiences and must be designed for long-term extensibility and operational excellence. Building on this foundation, you will guide the integration of LLM-powered capabilities into production systems—defining patterns for retrieval, orchestration, evaluation, and responsible AI. You will ensure these capabilities are not isolated features, but deeply embedded, reliable, and scalable parts of the platform. This role requires exceptional technical judgment, the ability to operate in highly ambiguous spaces, and a track record of influencing across teams and organizations. You will work closely with engineering leaders, product leaders, and applied scientists to align technical investments with long-term business outcomes. 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.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science 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 equivalent experience.

Nice To Haves

• Master's Degree in Computer Science 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 Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 15+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR equivalent experience.
• Proven track record of architecting and delivering large-scale distributed systems or platforms used by millions of users.
• Deep expertise in backend systems, cloud-native architecture, and service-oriented or microservices-based design.
• Experience owning and evolving production systems with high availability, low latency, and solid operational rigor.
• Solid fundamentals in system design, distributed systems, data modeling, and performance optimization.
• Demonstrated ability to drive technical strategy and influence across multiple teams or organizations.
• Experience leading complex, ambiguous, and high-impact technical initiatives end-to-end.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive long-term technical strategy for large-scale distributed systems and platforms spanning multiple teams and organizations.
• Establish architectural principles, patterns, and standards that ensure consistency, scalability, and maintainability across services.
• Lead the design of system-of-systems architectures, integrating services, data, and AI capabilities into cohesive platforms.
• Make high-impact technical decisions that balance innovation, risk, cost, and long-term sustainability.
• Architect and evolve backend services, APIs, data infrastructure, and platform capabilities that operate at global scale.
• Ensure systems meet stringent requirements for availability, latency, throughput, security, privacy, and cost efficiency.
• Drive operational excellence through observability, resiliency design, incident management, and continuous improvement.
• Identify and eliminate systemic inefficiencies across services, infrastructure, and development workflows.
• Define how LLMs and intelligent systems are integrated into core platform architecture (not as isolated features).
• Establish patterns for retrieval, grounding, orchestration, memory, and tool use in production systems.
• Lead the design of evaluation frameworks for quality, safety, latency, reliability, and business impact.
• Ensure responsible AI practices, including safety, privacy, and governance, are embedded into system design.
• Influence technical direction across teams, organizations, and partner groups without direct authority.
• Drive alignment between engineering, product, and applied science on platform strategy and execution.
• Lead complex, multi-team initiatives from concept through delivery, ensuring clarity, momentum, and results.
• Represent technical strategy and progress to senior leadership.
• Raise the engineering bar across the organization through design reviews, technical mentorship, and standards setting.
• Act as a role model for deep technical rigor, high-quality execution, and end-to-end ownership.
• Mentor senior engineers and emerging leaders, helping grow the next generation of technical talent.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

What This Job Offers

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