[Hiring] Principal Software Engineer @Microsoft

Role Description

The health and reliability of one of the world’s largest cloud networks starts with data. Our team builds the high-scale data platforms and engineering systems that transform network telemetry and operational signals into trusted, actionable intelligence for Microsoft Azure.

As a Principal Software Engineer , you will provide technical leadership for the architecture and evolution of large-scale distributed data platforms that ingest, process, enrich, store, and publish network telemetry and operational data. You will:

• Define engineering strategy and architectural direction for systems where scale, availability, data quality, performance, and operational reliability are critical.
• Tackle ambiguous, cross-cutting technical challenges.
• Establish engineering patterns and platform abstractions.
• Influence investments across organizational boundaries while partnering with teams throughout Azure Networking.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Shape the architecture of cloud-scale data platforms.
• Drive technical strategy across complex distributed systems.
• Influence how network data enables the next generation of automated and intelligent operations in Azure.
• Mentor engineers and technical leaders.
• Raise engineering standards.
• Help the organization make durable architectural decisions that enable sustained growth and innovation.

Qualifications

• Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 6+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR equivalent experience.
• Other Requirements:
• 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.
• Preferred Qualifications:
• Master'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 Bachelor'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 equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of experience with requirement analysis, feature design or test plan writing.
• 2+ years of experience with one of the following areas: Ethernet, VLANs, IP Routing, TCP/IP, BGP, QoS, L2-L3 protocols, Platform validation, QOS, network management.
• 1+ year(s) experience with Linux-based network operating systems, including system-level debugging, performance analysis, and production troubleshooting.
• Switch architecture and ASIC knowledge.
• Familiarity with test automation tools and scripting languages.
• 1+ year(s) experience with agile methodology.
• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification is a plus.

Requirements

• Provide technical leadership and define the architectural direction for highly scalable, reliable distributed data platforms that ingest, process, enrich, store, and publish network telemetry and operational data.
• Lead the design and evolution of cloud-scale streaming and batch data systems, solving highly complex and ambiguous engineering problems across scalability, availability, performance, resiliency, data quality, and operational efficiency.
• Drive long-term technical strategy across multiple teams, identifying opportunities for product-level impact and establishing reusable architectures, engineering patterns, and platform capabilities that enable consistent solutions at scale.
• Partner across Microsoft Azure Networking and the broader Microsoft Azure organization to lead architectural and design reviews, align technical investments, manage cross-system dependencies, and deliver cohesive solutions across organizational boundaries.
• Own critical capabilities end to end, from architecture and design through implementation, production readiness, operation, and continuous improvement, ensuring systems meet high standards for security, reliability, maintainability, and engineering quality.
• Serve as a technical authority for engineering excellence, proactively identifying systemic technical risks and driving improvements in design, code quality, testing, observability, performance, reliability, and operational practices.
• Mentor and influence engineers and technical leaders, developing engineering capability across teams while fostering sound technical decision-making, collaboration, accountability, and a culture of continuous learning.

Benefits

• The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 per year.
• There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $188,000 - $304,200 per year.
• Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.