Principal Software Engineer

The Azure Compute Hardware Platform Innovation team at Microsoft is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to define and validate hardware and virtualization technologies for Azure's computational capabilities. This role offers an exciting opportunity to work at hyper-scale, focusing on systems design and virtualization technology in a diverse and inclusive environment.

As a Principal Software Engineer, you'll be instrumental in shaping the architecture of core Azure infrastructure, working with both internal and external partners to deliver innovative solutions and improve efficiency. The position involves direct contribution to hardware platforms and virtualization systems that impact millions of users globally.

Key responsibilities include collaborating with stakeholders on system architecture, optimizing physical platform infrastructure, characterizing hardware performance, and building automation for testing and deployment. You'll drive the identification of dependencies and development of design documents for Azure platforms and VMs.

The ideal candidate brings 6+ years of experience in computer architecture, operating systems, and large-scale distributed systems, with strong coding skills in languages like C, C++, C#, Java, or Python. Experience in hardware virtualization technologies and working with vendors in a cloud environment is highly valued.

Microsoft offers a comprehensive benefits package including industry-leading healthcare, educational resources, savings and investments, parental leave, and generous time away. The base pay range for this role across the U.S. is $137,600 - $267,000 per year, with higher ranges for specific locations like the San Francisco Bay area and New York City ($180,400 - $294,000).

This role presents an exceptional opportunity to impact cloud computing at a global scale while working with cutting-edge technology in a collaborative, growth-oriented environment. Join Microsoft's mission to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more.