Principal Software Engineer – Xbox Graphics
Description For Principal Software Engineer – Xbox Graphics
Microsoft's Xbox Graphics team is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to drive innovation in graphics, emulation, and compression systems. This role sits at the cutting edge of gaming technology, working to make high-performance graphics development more accessible and efficient while enhancing rendering capabilities for Xbox's gaming community.
The position offers an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of hardware and software, collaborating directly with hardware engineers and game developers to shape the future of graphics technology. As a principal engineer, you'll be responsible for leading technical architecture decisions, mentoring team members, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, performant graphics solutions.
The role requires deep expertise in low-level programming, graphics systems, and GPU architecture, with a focus on driver development, tools, and firmware. You'll be working within Microsoft's Core OS division, which powers crucial platforms including Azure, Windows, and Xbox, serving billions of customers worldwide.
The compensation is highly competitive, with a base salary range of $137,600 - $267,000 USD annually, with higher ranges for specific locations like the San Francisco Bay area and New York City. The position offers comprehensive benefits including industry-leading healthcare, educational resources, parental leave, and investment opportunities.
This is an ideal role for a seasoned software engineer who is passionate about graphics technology and wants to make a significant impact on the gaming industry. You'll be joining a diverse team committed to Microsoft's mission of empowering every person and organization on the planet to achieve more, while working in an inclusive culture that values growth mindset, innovation, and collaboration.
The position offers up to 100% work from home flexibility with minimal travel requirements (0-25%), making it an attractive opportunity for those seeking work-life balance while working on cutting-edge technology. If you're excited about defining the future of GPU architecture and making leading contributions to graphics technology, this role offers the perfect platform to advance your career while making a meaningful impact in the gaming industry.
Responsibilities For Principal Software Engineer – Xbox Graphics
- Provides technical leadership of design, architecture, and key technical decisions
- Guides efforts to ensure system architecture meets security and compliance requirements
- Develops best practices for debugging tools, logs, telemetry, and automated testing
- Leads by example producing extensible, maintainable, and testable code
- Creates clear testing plans and drives quality assurance efforts
- Leads data analysis efforts for system health and bug detection
- Builds and maintains partnerships across the Microsoft ecosystem
Requirements For Principal Software Engineer – Xbox Graphics
- Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 6+ years technical engineering experience
- Experience with C, C++, C#, HLSL or GLSL
- 6+ years of experience working at low levels of software stack
- Experience in device driver development, emulation systems, graphics, firmware, hardware optimization
- Must pass Microsoft Cloud background check
- Deep knowledge and hands on experience with graphics and GPU hardware
- In-depth experience in operating system development
- Proficient communication skills and ability to deal with ambiguity
Benefits For Principal Software Engineer – Xbox Graphics
- Industry leading healthcare
- Educational resources
- Discounts on products and services
- Savings and investments
- Maternity and paternity leave
- Generous time away
- Giving programs
- Opportunities to network and connect
