The Job

Principal Software Engineer

Technology, Data & Digital · Software & Web Development · Software Engineering

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In short

The Windows Cloud Experiences team is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to define the technical strategy and architecture for the Windows App, a unified client for Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, and remote PCs. This role involves deep native Windows client and platform engineering, architectural leadership across multiple teams, and mentoring other technical leaders.

Responsibilities

  • Define and drive the long-term architecture and technical strategy for major areas of Windows App and its native Windows platform, using modern C++ and C# where appropriate and integrating deeply with Win32, WinRT, COM, Windows services, and operating-system APIs.
  • Lead the design and delivery of high-impact, cross-cutting scenarios spanning connection setup, session lifecycle, authentication, OS integration, reliability, performance, and security.
  • Architect secure, scalable, and maintainable systems that span processes, threads, services, client applications, SDK boundaries, and cloud-backed experiences.
  • Lead investigations of the most complex engineering issues using debuggers, dumps, traces, logs, and telemetry, including problems involving concurrency, memory, networking, latency, compatibility, and operating-system integration.
  • Drive multi-team execution from customer and business outcomes through architecture, design, implementation, validation, deployment, experimentation, monitoring, and live-site response; identify risks and make clear technical tradeoffs.
  • Build alignment across Windows, Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, identity, security, design, and product teams, influencing partner roadmaps, interfaces, and end-to-end engineering decisions.
  • Establish and evolve engineering standards for performance, reliability, accessibility, security, testability, operational excellence, and long-term maintainability across the client platform.
  • Develop technical leaders, mentor senior engineers, lead architecture and design reviews, and create clarity in ambiguous or cross-organization problem spaces.

Requirements

  • 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.
  • Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements.
  • Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Desired Qualifications

  • Deep expertise in Windows systems technologies such as Win32, WinRT, COM, RPC, Windows services, inter-process communication, and core Windows APIs.
  • Expertise in remote desktop, virtualization, or virtual desktop infrastructure technologies such as RDP, Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Citrix, VMware Horizon, HDX, or ICA.
  • Experience setting architecture for networking, authentication, and identity in Windows clients, including Microsoft Entra ID, MSAL, or Web Account Manager.
  • Experience leading the design and debugging of multi-process, multi-threaded, performance-critical native systems, including memory, concurrency, latency, compatibility, and reliability concerns.
  • Experience influencing the architecture of Windows App SDK, WinUI, XAML, WebView2, MSIX, or related Windows client technologies.
  • Experience building and operating secure, accessible client software at enterprise scale, using telemetry and live-site insights to guide architectural investments.
  • Experience with device, input, display, audio/video, or peripheral integration for remote or virtualized scenarios.
  • Experience using AI-assisted engineering tools responsibly to improve development, testing, debugging, or engineering productivity.

Benefits

  • Typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 per year.
  • Base pay range for this role in San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area is USD $188,000 - $304,200 per year.
  • Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.
#Windows App#Windows 365#Azure Virtual Desktop#Remote PCs#Client Engineering#Platform Engineering#Native Windows#C++#C##Win32#WinRT#COM#Microsoft Entra ID#Authentication#Performance#Reliability#Security#Architecture#Technical Leadership#Mentoring
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Company

Microsoft

Job Posted

4 weeks ago

Employment Type

Full Time

WorkMode

Hybrid

Experience Level

Senior

Qualification

Bachelor

Applicants

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