Principal Hardware Security & Platform Engineer

Job ID: 200046664Posted: 2026-08-10Location: United States, Washington, RedmondSalary: USD $142,800 - $274,800 per yearEmployment type: Full-TimeWork site: 3 days / week in-officeRole type: Individual ContributorTravel: Less than 25%Profession: Hardware EngineeringDiscipline: Hardware EngineeringCompany: MicrosoftOverviewDo 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 Systems 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, Bing, MSN, Office 365, OneDrive, Skype, Teams and Xbox Live.Seeking a Principal Hardware Security & Platform Engineer to drive the architecture, definition, and deployment of next-generation trusted infrastructure and hardware security platforms for hyperscale cloud environments. This role focuses on platform architecture, chip and system definition, hardware/firmware/software integration, and technical leadership across complex cross-functional programs. The engineer will partner with security architects and implementation teams to translate security requirements into scalable, deployable platform solutions.ResponsibilitiesDefine architecture and technical roadmaps for next-generation trusted infrastructure, hardware root of trust, and cloud-scale cryptographic services platforms.Own Chip Requirements Documents (CRDs), platform requirements, feature specifications, and system-level architecture definition.Drive hardware, firmware, and software interface definition, subsystem partitioning, and integration strategies.Lead architecture reviews, design tradeoff analysis, and technology evaluations to guide platform investment and implementation decisions.Partner with security architects to ensure security requirements are effectively incorporated into platform and system designs.Drive cross-functional alignment across silicon, hardware, firmware, software, validation, and datacenter engineering teams.Develop and champion validation strategies, deployment plans, and operational readiness for new platform capabilities.Create and drive engineering tooling, automation, diagnostics, telemetry, and observability solutions that improve development velocity and product quality.Identify architectural risks, integration challenges, and technical dependencies, and drive resolution across organizations.Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across multiple concurrent initiatives.QualificationsRequired Qualifications:Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 7+ years technical engineering experience OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience OR 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:Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field required; Master's degree preferred.12+ years of experience in hardware, firmware, platform, systems, or cloud infrastructure engineering.Proven experience defining system architectures, Chip Requirements Documents (CRDs), platform specifications, and cross-functional technical roadmaps.Strong understanding of platform security technologies, including hardware roots of trust, secure boot, attestation, cryptographic services, key management, and trusted computing architectures.Experience driving complex programs from architecture definition through implementation, integration, validation, and deployment.Strong software development and scripting skills in Python, C/C++, Go, PowerShell, or similar languages.Experience building engineering tools, automation frameworks, diagnostics, telemetry, and validation infrastructure.Excellent technical communication skills with the ability to influence technical direction across teams and organizations.Hardware 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: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.