The Principal Software Engineer will be part of the Microsoft Substrate Data Plane team, which is responsible for foundational services that support Microsoft 365 experiences at a global scale. This role focuses on leading the architecture, development, and operation of large-scale distributed systems that enhance AI-powered experiences and data processing workloads. The engineer will work closely with product teams and platform engineers to deliver intelligent solutions while fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. The position emphasizes collaboration, technical leadership, and the application of modern software development practices.

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 6+ years of technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR equivalent experience.
• Master's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 8+ years of 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 of technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR equivalent experience.
• Experience with modern AI-driven software development practices, tools, and feedback loops.

• Design, build, and operate large-scale, highly available cloud services that power Microsoft 365 experiences for billions of requests and millions of users worldwide.
• Drive architecture, development, and delivery of distributed systems focused on scalability, reliability, performance, security, and operational excellence.
• Develop platform capabilities that enable AI-powered experiences, including agent orchestration, tool execution, data access, grounding, and workflow automation.
• Partner with product teams, service owners, and platform engineers to deliver intelligent, end-to-end experiences across Microsoft 365.
• Leverage telemetry, automation, and AI-assisted diagnostics to improve service health, accelerate incident mitigation, and enhance engineering productivity.
• Lead complex technical initiatives across teams, influence long-term platform strategy, and drive engineering best practices.
• Mentor engineers and foster a culture of innovation, ownership, and continuous improvement.

• 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.