New

Principal Software Engineer

Microsoft
$139,900.00 - $274,800.00 / yr
United States, Washington, Redmond
Feb 21, 2026
Overview TheM365 AIForward team is dedicated to raising developer productivity and reducing toil by creating services and solutions ranging from modernizing legacy services to transformative adoption of new technologies. We conceptualize and build new, disruptive capabilities by studying existing developer and system management debt. We combine our ideas, industry research and insights from the open-source community. We frame a vision for a solution that brings engineering and AI together for the transformative services. We are looking for an experienced Principal Software Engineer that is passionate about AI, new technology, writing code, and moving ideas from musings to live services. We need a curious and excited technologist who is comfortable working on a team that has market changing ideas and wants to help deliver them. 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. Responsibilities Architect and lead the design of complex, scalable systems and frameworks that power enterprise-grade solutions across multiple platforms. Drive technical strategy and set long-term vision for frontend and backend integration, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and future scalability. Mentor and guide senior engineers and cross-functional teams, fostering technical excellence and a culture of innovation. Develop and maintain web applications, integrating frontend with backend services, APIs, and databases to deliver end-to-end solutions. Focus on product quality, accessibility, performance, and robust design principles to deliver intuitive and engaging interfaces. Collaborate with product managers, designers, and stakeholders to define project scope, estimate efforts, and align development with business goals. Contribute to a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the team. 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#, 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. 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. 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#, 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#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR equivalent experience. Proficiency with Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI. Proven expertise in designing and delivering large-scale, distributed systems. Advanced proficiency in languages such as React, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python. Demonstrated ability to lead technical strategy, mentor teams, and influence cross-org decisions. Software Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $139,900 - $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. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.