The Principal Software Engineer role in the Microsoft AI Frameworks team focuses on developing software and engineering tools for AI models to operate efficiently at cloud scale. This hands-on position requires strong software engineering skills and a passion for solving complex systems problems. The engineer will lead initiatives across AI frameworks, performance engineering, and tooling while collaborating with various teams. The role emphasizes improving model onboarding, performance, and reliability in production environments.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or a related technical field and 6+ years of technical engineering experience coding in languages such as C++ or Python.
• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements.

• Define technical vision, architecture, and multi-release strategy for critical AI framework capabilities.
• Lead ambiguous, cross-stack investigations spanning models, frameworks, compilers, runtimes, systems, services, and silicon.
• Establish common measurement, automation, observability, and engineering mechanisms for scalable platform capabilities.
• Drive measurable improvements in model onboarding velocity, runtime performance, reliability, and Azure capacity efficiency.
• Influence architecture and priorities across teams and align stakeholders around clear decisions and execution plans.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership through prototypes, implementation, design and code reviews, and operational readiness.
• Raise the engineering bar by mentoring junior engineers and advancing standards for quality and collaboration.

• 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.