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Principal Software Engineer

Microsoft


Job Location:

Mountain View, CA - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 142800 - 274800
Posted: 6 October 2026 (12 hours ago)
Application Deadline: 3 January 2027
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Department:

Software Engineering

Job Summary

Overview

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

The teamoperatesat the intersection of AI algorithmic innovation purpose-built AI hardware systems and software. We are a cross-disciplineteam of highly capable and motivated people with a collaborative and inclusive cultureand with a shared mission of supporting and driving our AI future.

As a member of this team you will have the opportunity to work ondeveloping and evaluating core algorithmic and hardware technologies toenable large scale inferencingand trainingofthe most advancedAImodels on novel AI hardware.

This is a technical role: it requires hands-on software design and development skills. Were 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.



Responsibilities
  • Collaborate broadlywithMLresearcherssystem engineers and production engineers.
  • Engage with key partners to understand and evaluateperformanceandqualityforstate-of-the-artLLMsat different scales.
  • Build software tools to support validation and exploration ofLLMoptimizationtechnologies.
  • Perform software development inmodel scripting and/or kernel languages such asPythonC/C CUDA.
  • Identifyrequirements scope solutions estimate work schedule deliverables.


Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelors 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. 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:

  • Masters 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 Bachelors 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 PythonOR equivalent experience.
  • Experience in training or serving Deep Neural Network models.
  • Experience with Language Models and ML system optimization.

#AIInfra



Software Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142800 - $274800 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 $188000 - $304200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
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.


Required Experience:

IC