Software Engineer 2 - CoreAI

Job ID: 200057363Posted: 2026-09-23Location: United States, Washington, RedmondSalary: USD $102,100 - $202,200 per yearEmployment type: Full-TimeWork site: 3 days / week in-officeRole type: Individual ContributorTravel: Less than 25%Profession: Software EngineeringDiscipline: Software EngineeringCompany: MicrosoftOverviewCoreAI is at the forefront of Microsoft’s mission to redefine how software is built and experienced. The 1ES (One Engineering System) Inventory team builds the systems that help Microsoft understand what engineering assets exist, who owns them, and how they are used across the company. Our services provide foundational inventory and ownership data that powers engineering governance, security, compliance, permissions, and developer experiences across Microsoft.A major focus of the team is Inventory-as-Code, which moves ownership and inventory metadata into source control so that changes are developer-centric, reviewable, auditable, and managed alongside the code itself. Inventory-as-Code has become a foundational dependency for security, permissions, governance, and AI-powered developer experiences across Microsoft.The team is continuing to evolve this platform across Azure DevOps, GitHub Proxima, and other engineering environments, while expanding the Inventory-as-Code model beyond repositories to engineering assets such as pipelines.As a Software Engineer 2 - CoreAI on the Inventory team, you will design, build, and operate services that manage engineering inventory and ownership at Microsoft scale. You will work on systems that integrate with source control, CI/CD platforms, Service Tree, Product Catalog, and other engineering services to provide accurate and trustworthy ownership and classification data.You will help evolve our Inventory-as-Code platform, building workflows that validate inventory, enforce governance policies, reconcile data across systems, and provide developers with clear and actionable experiences when inventory changes are required. The team is also developing approval and audit capabilities around sensitive ownership changes, including PR-based workflows, durable state management, telemetry, and operational recoveryYou will have opportunities to solve challenging engineering problems involving distributed systems, data consistency, large-scale automation, developer tooling, security and governance, and AI-assisted engineering experiences. You will collaborate closely with partner teams across Microsoft and work directly with customers to understand their scenarios and improve the platform.This opportunity will allow you to grow your expertise in cloud-scale services, build developer tools used broadly across Microsoft, and help shape the next generation of engineering inventory and governance systems!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 realize 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. ResponsibilitiesWork with product managers, engineers, and partner teams to understand customer requirements and deliver features that improve engineering inventory, ownership, and governance experiences.Design, develop, test, and operate reliable services and developer tools, contributing to technical designs and identifying dependencies with limited oversight.Build and evolve Inventory-as-Code experiences and automation, including validation, reconciliation, governance, and integrations with engineering systems.Deliver high-quality, maintainable code with appropriate testing, telemetry, monitoring, and documentation, with a focus on reliability, scalability, and operational supportability.Break down larger engineering efforts into well-scoped work items, provide estimates, and independently drive assigned features from design through implementation, rollout, and support.Participate as a Designated Responsible Individual (DRI) in the team's on-call rotation, investigating service degradation and customer issues, restoring service, and contributing to root-cause analysis and preventative improvements.Proactively learn and apply new technologies and engineering practices, including AI-assisted development, to improve developer experiences, service reliability, and engineering efficiency.QualificationsRequired/Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 2+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or PythonOR 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/Additional Qualifications:Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 4+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or PythonMaster's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 2+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or PythonOR equivalent experience.Proven experience designing and building distributed services at scaleSoftware Engineering IC3 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $102,100 - $202,200 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 $133,800 - $219,200 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: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.