Principal Software Engineer

Join Microsoft's Leading-Edge Architecture Pathfinding (LEAP) team within the Strategic Planning and Architecture (SPARC) organization in Azure Hardware Systems & Infrastructure (AHSI). This Principal Software Engineer role focuses on architecture pathfinding and evaluation of system interconnects for high-performance accelerated computing systems.

The position is part of AHSI, the team responsible for Microsoft's expanding cloud infrastructure, delivering hardware systems for Azure, Bing, Office 365, and other major services. You'll work on defining and evaluating novel systems architecture innovations through hardware/software co-design, focusing on compute, memory, storage, network, and system interconnects.

As a Principal Software Engineer, you'll be responsible for developing performance analysis methodologies, collaborating with domain experts, and influencing hardware architecture direction. The role requires deep expertise in AI models, parallel computing, and system architecture modeling, with a focus on enabling performant, flexible provisioning of memory and compute infrastructure.

Key responsibilities include developing tools for evaluating memory-centric interconnect technologies, conducting workload characterization, and engineering TCO-optimized solutions for Azure AI usage. You'll work closely with architects, hardware engineers, and software leads to shape the future of Microsoft's cloud infrastructure.

The position offers competitive compensation ($137,600 - $267,000 base salary range), comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology that powers Microsoft's cloud services. You'll be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence, working in a remote-friendly environment with up to 100% work from home flexibility.

Success in this role requires strong technical skills, excellent communication abilities, and experience leading complex projects. You'll need to demonstrate expertise in hardware/software co-design, particularly with GPGPU/accelerator systems, and have a proven track record of influencing architecture direction.

Join Microsoft's mission to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more, while working with a team that embraces growth mindset, innovation, and collaboration. This role offers the chance to shape the future of cloud computing infrastructure while working with industry-leading technologies and experts.