Principal Software Engineering Manager-CoreAI

Microsoft•Redmond, WA

1d•$165,600 - $331,200

About The Position

CoreAI is at the forefront of Microsoft’s mission to redefine how software is built and experienced. We are responsible for building the foundational platforms, services, programming models, and developer experiences that power the next generation of applications using Generative AI. Our work enables developers and enterprises to harness the full potential of AI to create intelligent, adaptive, and transformative software. The Microsoft Foundry Experiences team within CoreAI builds SDKs, UI, and agentic experiences that span core AI capabilities including model inferencing, knowledge and memory systems, AI services, model customization, and multi-agent solutions. As a Principal Software Engineering Manager on this team, you will lead and grow a team of engineers responsible for delivering cohesive, scalable, and intuitive experiences that enable developers and enterprises to effectively build, deploy, and operate AI applications. You will set technical direction, coach engineers, and ensure the team deeply understands customer and developer needs in complex scenarios, translating them into durable platform capabilities and delightful experiences. 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. In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.

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.
Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role.
Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

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.
6+ years of experience as a people manager.
5+ years of technical leadership in defining and building developer experiences and scalable systems, preferably in the Generative AI, Machine Learning domain.
10+ years of experience shipping software products, product development expertise, taking special pride in shipping delightful experiences that solve clear customer needs.
5+ years of experience in JavaScript, React, Python, .NET, C#, or similar programming languages or platforms.
Experience leading cross-functional engineering efforts across distributed teams.
Experience delivering customer-facing software products or platform capabilities in production environments.
Demonstrated proficiency around leveraging AI to build AI systems and a passion to make this technology accessible to everyone.
Proven record of identifying challenges, making clear judgment calls on tradeoffs, and making systemic changes for lasting impact, while bringing value to customer quickly.
Clarity in communication and ability to influence without authority when stakes are high.

Responsibilities

Lead, grow, and coach a diverse and inclusive team of engineers to thrive in the fast-changing world of AI.
Set technical and product direction for the team, aligning engineering investments with customer needs and business priorities.
Create clarity and accountability by establishing goals, decision-making mechanisms, and execution rhythms that help the team deliver with predictability and impact.
Build a culture of ownership, inclusion, and continuous growth by setting high standards, building sustainable systems, and reinforcing learning through regular feedback and reflection.
Model and coach the team in AI-first engineering practices grounded in software engineering fundamentals, driving up both speed of execution and product quality.
Champion a customer-obsessed culture by guiding the team to turn customer and developer feedback into innovative platform improvements that address real-world needs.
Establish clear ownership and operating mechanisms that ensure live site health, effective incident response, and continuous improvement.