Principal Software Engineer-ASG

Overview

The Applied Sciences Group (ASG) is Microsoft's interdisciplinary research and engineering organization that delivers AI-powered experiences and models across Windows, Microsoft 365, and Copilot, while incubating novel devices, agent platforms, and on-device AI capabilities. We combine full-stack AI, sensing technologies, and hardware/software co-design to reinvent human-computer interaction and enable secure, compliant, high-performance on-device AI at scale.

This role focuses on building security-critical biometric identity systems that ground digital interactions in real human presence. The work spans high-assurance identity verification, defense against spoofing and impersonation, and secure operation across cloud- and device-based AI experiences at a global scale.

As AI systems become more autonomous, biometric identity is essential for establishing trust and security across platforms. You will architect for these foundational identity and security services, making long-term technical decisions for Microsoft's evolving AI platforms.

We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to drive the technical vision for this platform-hands-on, comfortable with ambiguity, and effective at setting direction across teams. You will shape architectural decisions, mentor senior engineers, and raise the technical bar.

We operate as a small, full stack, high autonomy team that values clear ownership, fast shipping cadence, and strong engineering velocity.

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

• Architect and deliver highly scalable, cross-platform biometric identity and AI systems spanning cloud, web, client, and embedded devices.

• Design hybrid cloud and device-based intelligence that balances latency, privacy, cost, and security across Azure, Microsoft Entra, and first party Microsoft platforms.

• Create evaluation frameworks and telemetry to measure system impact and drive continuous optimization.

• Drive the cross-organizational technical roadmap, partnering with research, hardware, and product teams to integrate the latest AI capabilities.

• Prototype and implement intent-driven reasoning layers, agentic workflows, and secure execution environments.

• Raise the engineering bar across the organization through architecture reviews, mentorship, and championing secure, adaptable, and modular system design.

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:

• 8+ years of hands-on coding expereince in one or more general-purpose languages (e.g., C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, Python), delivering production systems.
• Strong system design and architectural skills, with experience setting technical direction across teams.
• Proven experience designing and delivering cloud- and device-based systems, making informed tradeoffs across latency, privacy, cost, reliability, and context.
• Experience building AI-powered systems, including model integration, inference optimization, and evaluating production performance.
• Deep expertise in cloud services, distributed systems, and high-scale architectures, including operating security-critical systems in production.
• Experience delivering across multiple client platforms (Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, web), with the ability to reason about platform tradeoffs.
• Ability to lead complex, ambiguous initiatives from concept to production with minimal guidance.
• Track record of security-conscious engineering, mentoring senior engineers, influencing architecture, and raising technical standards.
• Strong engineering fundamentals and a continuous-learning mindset, with the ability to adapt to emerging AI tools and paradigms

#W+DJOBS

#BiometricIdentity

#OnDeviceAI

#AgenticAI

#DistributedSystems

#AIInfrastructure

#ModelOptimization

#CrossPlatform

#FullStack

#SecurityEngineering

#PrincipalEngineer

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:
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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.