Principal Software Engineer - C++

Overview

Build Software Used by Millions

Work on modern desktop applications that power remote computing experiences for millions of users worldwide. Your work will directly influence how people access Windows desktops and applications from anywhere.

Shape the Architecture of a Modern Client Platform

Define and evolve the architecture of a large-scale client platform built with C#, C++, TypeScript, WinUI, and WebView2 , delivering highly performant and intuitive experiences across Windows devices.

Drive the Future of Cloud-Connected Desktop Experiences

Help redefine the boundary between local and cloud computing by building applications that seamlessly connect users to remote environments with reliability, performance, and security at global scale.

Lead the Next Wave of AI-Assisted Engineering

Influence how modern engineering teams leverage AI-powered development tools to accelerate innovation, improve code quality, and adopt secure and responsible AI-assisted workflows across the development lifecycle.

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.

Responsibilities

As a Principal Engineer - Windows Cloud you will:

• Lead the architecture, design, and development of large-scale client applications that power secure and high-performance remote desktop experiences for millions of users.

• Define the long-term technical direction for the client platform, guiding the use of modern technologies such as C#, C++, TypeScript, WinUI, and WebView2 to build scalable and maintainable applications.

• Drive innovation in client experiences that seamlessly bridge local and remote computing environments, delivering intuitive and responsive user interactions.

• Partner with Product Management, Design, and platform teams to translate customer scenarios into robust engineering solutions that scale across enterprise and consumer environments.

• Lead complex cross-team initiatives spanning Windows OS integration, networking, identity, and cloud services to deliver cohesive end-to-end solutions.

• Establish engineering best practices around performance, reliability, accessibility, and security for client-side systems operating at global scale.

• Champion AI-assisted software development , enabling engineers to effectively use modern AI tools for coding, debugging, testing, and design while ensuring adherence to secure engineering and responsible AI practices.

• Guide the team in adopting emerging AI-powered developer workflows , improving productivity while maintaining high standards for code quality, security, and maintainability.

• Own critical areas of client architecture and ensure reliability through telemetry-driven development, live site monitoring, and rapid incident response.

• Mentor engineers and technical leaders across the organization, fostering a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and continuous learning.

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 qualification:

• 9+ years of experience designing, building, and shipping large-scale software products, client platforms, or cloud-connected services with strong customer impact.

• 8+ years of object-oriented development experience with deep proficiency in one or more languages such as C++, C#, or Java , including experience building performant and reliable production systems.

• Proven expertise designing and developing high-performance client applications or distributed systems that operate reliably at scale and integrate with cloud services.

• Strong software architecture and systems design skills , with the ability to break down complex problems, evaluate trade-offs, and drive technically sound solutions across multiple components and teams.

• Experience building or contributing to remote computing, desktop virtualization, or VDI platforms , including areas such as remote display protocols, connectivity resilience, client performance optimization, or session reliability.

• Demonstrated ability to lead technical direction across multiple engineers or teams , influencing architecture, engineering standards, and long-term technical investments.

• Passion for mentoring and growing engineers , raising the technical bar through design reviews, code reviews, and knowledge sharing.

• Ability to create clarity in ambiguous technical spaces , defining direction and driving progress when requirements or solutions are not fully defined.

• Self-motivated and results-oriented, with the ability to quickly ramp up on complex systems , navigate large codebases, and drive impactful solutions across multiple product areas.

• Expertise in Windows platform development , including technologies such as COM, WinRT, Windows Services (NT Services), and core Windows OS APIs , with experience integrating applications closely with operating system capabilities.

• Experience building hybrid desktop applications that combine native and web technologies (e.g., WinUI, WebView2, or similar frameworks ) to deliver rich, responsive user interfaces.

• Familiarity with telemetry-driven development , experimentation frameworks, and data-informed engineering practices to continuously improve product quality and user experience.

• Experience working with large-scale enterprise products that serve millions of users, with emphasis on reliability, security, and performance.

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Software Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $139,900 - $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. (