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Prinicpal Software Engineer - VS Code

Microsoft

Microsoft

Software Engineering
USD 139,900-274,800 / year
Posted on Sep 11, 2025

Prinicpal Software Engineer - VS Code

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States

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Date posted
Sep 10, 2025
Job number
1864700
Work site
0 days / week in-office - remote
Travel
0-25 %
Role type
Individual Contributor
Profession
Software Engineering
Discipline
Software Engineering
Employment type
Full-Time

Overview

Visual Studio Code is a lightweight, cross-platform AI code editor used by millions of developers across the globe. For more information, visit https://code.visualstudio.com. The source code is available at https://github.com/microsoft/vscode. The VS Code team develops the VS Code product as well as significant extensions such as the Python, Remote-SSH, Dev Containers, WSL and Copilot Chat.

Visual Studio Code is looking for an experienced Principal Software Engineer. You will primarily focus on the Copilot Inline Completions and Next Edit Suggestion features. You should feel comfortable working on a system where correctness, performance, attention to detail, user feedback, and metrics are central to building a product loved by millions. You will be working with incredibly knowledgeable and motivated peers in a fast-paced and supportive environment.

You will be a successfull in this role if

  • You have a interest for great developer tools and enjoy working with developers
  • You are an avid learner and self-starter, and you like to be challenged
  • You have a proactive attitude and a strong desire to innovate

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.

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, TypeScript, JavaScript, or Python
    • OR equivalent experience.
  • Experience in shipping high-quality code that invokes models used in production and network optimizations.
  • Experience in complex cross team collaboration
  • Experience in performance optimization of LLM calls and understanding of experimentation platforms, metrics, and data pipelines

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: 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, TypeScript, 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, TypeScript, JavaScript, or Python
    • OR equivalent experience.

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

Microsoft posts positions for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

#CoreAI #DevDiv

Responsibilities

GitHub Copilot hosts the world's most used code completion model. Ghost text, or inline completions, have helped and delighted millions of customers. Copilot has demonstrated the usefulness of LLMs in developers' inner loop. The evolution of Inline Completions, Next Edit Suggestions are taking the usefulness of models in the inner loop to more and more use-cases. Your work will include:

  • Increase the impact and usefulness of Copilot on the developer's inner loop
  • Optimize TTFT and improve the quality of model responses
  • Analyze the product and identify opportunities for more inner loop model usage
  • Improve engineering processes and tools related to metrics, scorecards, and developer feedback
  • Interact with our users on GitHub and on social channels
  • Drive community engagement through blog posts and conference and meetup presentations

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.