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Principal Software Engineer

Microsoft

Microsoft

Software Engineering
USD 139,900-274,800 / year
Posted on Sep 4, 2025

Principal Software Engineer

Mountain View, California, United States

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Date posted
Sep 03, 2025
Job number
1864929
Work site
Up to 100% work from home
Travel
0-25 %
Role type
Individual Contributor
Profession
Software Engineering
Discipline
Software Engineering
Employment type
Full-Time

Overview

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Frameworks team at Microsoft develops the AI software used to train and deploy the world’s most advanced AI models. We collaborate with our hardware teams and partners to build the software stacks for Microsoft’s next-generation supercomputers and the Maia AI accelerators. We work closely with ML researchers and developers to optimize and scale out model training and inference. We work with OpenAI on the models hosted on the Azure OpenAI service.

The team operates at the intersection of AI algorithmic innovation, purpose-built AI hardware, systems, and software. We are a cross-discipline team of highly capable and motivated people with a collaborative and inclusive culture and with a shared mission of supporting and driving our AI future.

As a member of this team, you will have the opportunity to work on developing and evaluating core algorithmic and hardware technologies to enable large scale inferencing and training of the most advanced AI models on novel AI hardware.

This is a technical role: it requires hands-on software design and development skills. We’re looking for someone who has a demonstrated history of solving hard technical problems and is motivated to learn new areas and tackle the hardest problems in building efficient AI systems. An entrepreneurial approach and ability to take initiative and move fast are essential.

#AIFX

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.
  • 4+ years’ practical experience related to machine learning, including modeling, application, or system/kernel optimization.

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.
  • B.S. or advanced degree in computer engineering, computer science, or related fields, and 10+ years of software development experience
  • Experience in training or serving Deep Neural Network models. Experience with Language Models and ML system optimization are a plus.
  • A strong technical background and solid foundation in algorithms, software engineering principles, and computer systems.
  • Great cross-team collaboration skills and the desire to collaborate in a team of researchers and developers.
  • Strong communication skills (both written and oral)

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

• Single reqs: Microsoft will accept applications for the role until Month Day, Year.

• Multi reqs: Microsoft will accept applications and processes offers for these roles on an ongoing basis.

#CoreAI

#AIFX

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate broadly with ML researchers, system engineers, and production engineers.
  • Engage with key partners to understand and evaluate performance and quality for state-of-the-art LLMs at different scales.
  • Build software tools to support validation and exploration of LLM optimization technologies.
  • Perform software development in model scripting and/or kernel languages, such as Python, C/C++, CUDA.
  • Identify requirements, scope solutions, estimate work, schedule deliverables.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.
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

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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.