The Principal Software Engineering Manager will lead a team focused on control plane automations for capacity buildout within the M365 Copilot Inference team. This hands-on technical leadership role involves overseeing how capacity is requested, planned, deployed, and operated. The manager will work closely with peer managers and adjacent areas to enhance the control plane's evolution. The position is based in Redmond, WA, requiring in-office work at least three days a week.

• 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.
• 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.
• 4+ years people management experience.

• Lead and grow a team of software engineers building control plane services and automations across the capacity buildout area.
• Drive technical design and execution for capacity automation, prioritizing the highest-impact work for Copilot capacity.
• Replace manual, ticket-driven capacity workflows with automated, data-driven systems.
• Own live-site, reliability, and operational excellence for the services your team builds.
• Partner with peer engineering managers on adjacent capacity areas and with partner teams across M365 Core, AI Core, Azure, and Microsoft Research.
• Coach and grow senior and mid-level engineers while raising the engineering bar.
• Help shape how the capacity automation area is sliced and scoped over time.

• Employees at Microsoft are often offered comprehensive, “world-class” benefits—including health and mental-wellness programs, competitive pay with bonuses and stock awards, and retirement/savings options. Time-off and flexibility are common, with generous vacation and holidays, parental and caregiver leave, and flexible work schedules, alongside learning support, employee resource groups, product discounts, and matching-gifts/volunteering programs. Specific benefits can vary by region.