Software Engineer II

Microsoft • Redmond, WA

15h

About The Position

Microsoft is a company where passionate innovators come to collaborate, envision what can be and take their careers further. This is a world of more possibilities, more innovation, more openness, and the sky is the limit thinking in a cloud-enabled world. Microsoft’s Azure Data engineering team is leading the transformation of analytics in the world of data with products like databases, data integration, big data analytics, messaging & real-time analytics, and business intelligence. The products our portfolio include Microsoft Fabric, Azure SQL DB, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure PostgreSQL, Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Service Bus, Azure Event Grid, and Power BI. Our mission is to build the data platform for the age of AI, powering a new class of data-first applications and driving a data culture. Within Azure Data, the databases team builds and maintains Microsoft's operational Database systems. We store and manage data in a structured way to enable multitude of applications across various industries. We are on a journey to enable developer friendly, mission-critical, AI enabled operational Databases across relational, non-relational and OSS offerings. Are you passionate about advancing database systems to support the next generation of AI-powered applications? Do you thrive on building core infrastructure like vector indexing, semantic search, and graph-aware query engines inside a trusted open-source database? Join us as we extend PostgreSQL to natively support AI workloads, combining deep systems engineering with meaningful developer impact. The Azure PostgreSQL team is building advanced, cloud-native capabilities that extend PostgreSQL into a trusted platform for AI workloads. This includes native support for vector search, semantic indexing, graph queries, and in-database model integration. We are looking for a Software Engineer II to design and build foundational systems that enable intelligent applications to run directly inside PostgreSQL with performance, reliability, and scale. This is a high-impact individual contributor role where you will collaborate with experienced engineers, contribute to core infrastructure, and help shape the developer experience for AI-powered applications built on PostgreSQL. About the Team We are a fast-moving, collaborative team focused on extending PostgreSQL to support AI workloads natively. Our work includes vector indexing, semantic query processing, graph data models, and model-aware execution capabilities, all built directly on top of the PostgreSQL engine. We operate at the intersection of distributed systems, database internals, and AI infrastructure, with an emphasis on technical rigor and real-world impact. Our culture values curiosity, deep systems thinking, and inclusive collaboration. We believe the best ideas emerge from engineering craftsmanship, open experimentation, and a shared commitment to excellence. We do not just value differences or different perspectives. We seek them out and invite them in so we can tap into the collective power of everyone in the company. As a result, our customers are better served. 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 2+ 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. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings: 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

• Proficiency in one or more systems programming languages such as C, C++, or Rust
• Experience working with PostgreSQL or similar engines at the extension, indexing, or query execution level
• Demonstrated ability to design and deliver reliable, performant systems in a collaborative environment
• Experience implementing vector indexes, ANN search algorithms, or semantic retrieval systems
• Interest or experience in graph data models or graph-aware query execution
• Familiarity with embedding workflows, model integration, or retrieval-augmented generation patterns
• Prior contributions to open-source databases, search engines, or AI infrastructure projects
• Problem-solving and communication skills with a collaborative, growth-oriented mindset
• Commitment to learning, innovation, and inclusive engineering culture

Responsibilities

• Design and implement AI-native capabilities in PostgreSQL including vector indexing, semantic search operators, and graph query features
• Build high-performance extensions and core engine integrations in C, C++, or Rust
• Collaborate with senior engineers, product teams, and AI researchers to deliver scalable and intuitive capabilities
• Contribute to end-to-end development, including performance tuning, operability, and service integration
• Participate in code reviews, technical design discussions, and the evolution of engineering standards
• Help shape developer experience through APIs, control plane integration, and extensibility
• Stay informed on research and industry trends in AI indexing, graph systems, and database-AI convergence
• Embody our culture and values

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees