Principal Software Engineer - CoreAI (Foundry Observability)

Job ID: 200052287Posted: 2026-08-31Location: United States, Washington, RedmondSalary: USD $165,600 - $296,400 per yearEmployment type: Full-TimeWork site: 3 days / week in-officeRole type: Individual ContributorTravel: Less than 25%Profession: Software EngineeringDiscipline: Software EngineeringCompany: MicrosoftOverviewCore AI is at the forefront of Microsoft’s mission to redefine how software is built and experienced. We are responsible for building the foundational platforms, services, programming models, and developer experiences that power the next generation of applications using Generative AI. Our work enables developers and enterprises to harness the full potential of AI to create intelligent, adaptive, and transformative software.The Observability group is focused on developing solutions to monitor, evaluate, and optimize AI agent performance. We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join the team and help build the core services that power Observability in Foundry.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. 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.ResponsibilitiesLead the design, development, and delivery of large-scale AI services and platforms with a focus on scalability, reliability, security, and performance.Drive end-to-end ownership of services, from architecture and implementation through deployment, monitoring, and operational excellence.Partner with product, engineering, and cross-functional teams to align technical strategy with business goals and customer needs.Engage with customers to gather feedback and resolve complex issues.Provide technical leadership across complex initiatives, driving architecture decisions, dependency management, and execution.Champion engineering excellence through best practices in system design, testing, security, privacy, compliance, and code quality.Drive innovation in observability, automation, deployment safety, and operational efficiency through reusable platforms and frameworks.Understand Microsoft businesses and collaborate with stakeholders towards cohesive, end-to-end experiences for Microsoft customers.Mentor engineers, lead code reviews and design discussions, and foster a culture of continuous learning and high-quality engineering. QualificationsRequired Qualifications:Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field and 8+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or PythonOR equivalent experienceOther 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:Master's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field and 12+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C++, C#, Go, Java, Python, or equivalent experience8+ years technical engineering experience designing and delivering highly available, large-scale cloud services and distributed systems4+ years of technical engineering experience with machine learning or Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems#coreai#foundrySoftware Engineering IC6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $165,600 - $296,400 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 $220,800 - $331,200 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.