Principal Software Architect

Azure is a global cloud platform that enables individuals and organizations worldwide to achieve more. In addition to public cloud offerings, Azure hosts large-scale Microsoft-internal services such as Microsoft Teams, Office, Bing, and Structured Query Language (SQL). Effective management of platform capacity in Azure Compute is critical to Azure's success, and we are investing heavily in building systems and solutions that ensure optimal deployment and use of compute capacity for deployment, repair, and maintenance scenarios.

We are seeking a Principal Software Architect to help deliver highly scalable capacity management services and a world-class platform capacity experience. This role involves working on foundational layers of the Azure Control Plane technology stack, including the Azure Compute Allocator, the workload migration system Holmes, and central capacity services such as Compute Capacity Central (CCC) and the Azure Compute Management and Automation System (CMAS). You will collaborate with engineers and data scientists across these teams to design reliable data pipelines, capacity management levers, and reservation capabilities that improve customer experience and platform efficiency. Responsibilities include driving improvements in availability, scalability, and operability while influencing strategic decisions across Azure.

If you are passionate about large-scale distributed systems and reliable data engineering solutions, this role offers opportunities to work on services with significant growth potential and impact on Microsoft's core business. You will join a collaborative team that values learning, innovation, and teamwork, with opportunities for mentorship and career growth while contributing to high-impact areas that shape Azure's future.

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:

• Design distributed cloud software services and solutions that are engineered for scale, availability, high performance, and high reliability.
• Own and (in collaboration with partner teams) deliver complete end-to-end capabilities including design, architecture, implementation, testability, debugging, and shipping.
• Lead the refinement of products through data analytics and make informed decisions in engineering products through data integration.
• Collaborate with partner teams across the world to drive key platform capacity management capabilities and enhance customer capacity experience scenarios.
• Deliver high quality of service to Azure customers through live-site excellence.
• Advocate for best practices in software and data engineering.

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.
• 4+ years of experience working in large scale distributed systems or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of experience in designing, operation and maintaining production systems.

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

• 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 Python
  • OR 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++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 1+ year(s) experience with operating cloud-scale applications and live services

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: ;br>
Microsoft will accept applications for the role until November 17, 2025.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form .

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.

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