The Principal Software Engineer – AI Frameworks role at Microsoft involves leading technical initiatives for AI frameworks and the serving stack for advanced models like OpenAI GPT. The position requires a hands-on technical leader who can navigate complex systems challenges and drive improvements in model performance and reliability. The engineer will work closely with various teams to optimize software and hardware platforms, ensuring efficient deployment and operation of AI models. This role emphasizes collaboration, mentorship, and the establishment of high engineering standards.

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or a related technical field and 8+ years of technical engineering experience coding in languages such as C++ 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 12+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including C++ or Python, or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a technical lead for complex cross-team initiatives.
• Robust/extensive experience designing and shipping complex, high-performance or distributed software systems.

• Own the technical vision, architecture, roadmap, and multi-release execution strategy for critical AI framework capabilities.
• Lead technical alignment across teams by shaping architecture and priorities and resolving competing requirements.
• Build technical leadership capacity across the organization by mentoring engineers and establishing high standards for quality.
• Steer ambiguous, cross-stack investigations and investments spanning models, frameworks, and systems.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership by setting the engineering approach and directly contributing through prototypes and critical-path implementation.
• Spearhead common measurement, automation, observability, and engineering mechanisms to create scalable platform capabilities.
• Drive measurable improvements in model onboarding velocity, runtime performance, reliability, and hardware utilization.

• 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.