Principal Software Engineer - Networking & Storage Systems

Overview Do you want to be at the forefront of innovating the latest hardware designs to propel Microsoft’s cloud growth? Are you seeking a unique career opportunity that combines technical capabilities, cross-team collaboration with business insight and strategy? Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees, we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to achieve our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond. In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day. Join the Strategic Planning and Architecture (SPARC) team within Microsoft’s Azure Hardware Systems and Infrastructure (AHSI) organization, the team behind Microsoft’s expanding Cloud Infrastructure and for powering Microsoft’s “Intelligent Cloud” mission. Microsoft delivers more than 200 online services to more than one billion individuals worldwide, and AHSI is the team behind our expanding cloud infrastructure. We deliver the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft's cloud businesses including Microsoft Azure, CoPilot, Bing, M365, OneDrive, Teams and Xbox Live. We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer - Networking & Storage Systems to participate in pathfinding, technology development, and implementation of scalable networking and storage transport protocols, telemetry, and related innovation for Microsoft’s cloud and AI infrastructure. Additionally, the role involves driving technical strategy, fostering cross-team collaboration, and promoting innovation to support Azure’s continuing growth, while influencing organizational direction and mentoring engineering talent. Responsibilities Architect and lead development of robust networking and storage frameworks for large-scale cloud platforms. Own end-to-end technical strategy, making high-impact architectural decisions. Collaborate with product, hardware, and business teams to define requirements and deliver strategic solutions. Ensure code quality, reliability, and security through rigorous reviews and automation. Drive adoption of best practices in observability, diagnostics, and performance optimization. Represent the team in cross-functional forums, influencing organizational priorities and technical direction. Qualifications Required Qualifications: 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. 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: PhD Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 3+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR equivalent experience. 10+ years of experience in software engineering, with deep expertise in networking and storage systems. Proven track record of technical leadership and architectural ownership in large-scale distributed systems. Proficiency in C, C++, C#, Java, Python, and cloud technologies. Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills. Experience driving strategic initiatives and influencing organizational direction. Software Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 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 $188,000 - $304,200 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay This 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.