Principal Software Engineer

Full job description
Microsoft is at the forefront of a new era in productivity, and Microsoft 365 Copilot is pushing the boundaries of AI. By combining large language models, Microsoft Graph, and the web, Copilot is transforming how work gets done, empowering individuals and enterprises to achieve more with intelligent, contextual assistance. We are a small, nimble team committed to advancing next-generation agentic experiences that scale impact and innovation across M365 Copilot.

We are looking for Principal Software Engineer who is passionate about bridging cutting-edge AI research with practical engineering solutions. In this role, you will be responsible for designing and developing core systems that enable Copilot agents to operate intelligently and efficiently in real-world enterprise scenarios. You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including researchers, product managers, and engineers to rapidly prototype new ideas, integrate them into production systems, and deliver meaningful value to users.

This opportunity is particularly well-suited for engineers who have experience building foundational developer platforms and cross-platform systems. You’ve likely worked on universal runtime environments, complex SDKs, or infrastructure that powers intelligent, scalable applications. Your ability to understand system-level challenges and architect solutions that work seamlessly across various platforms will be critical to success. Experiences involving Retrieval-Augmented Generation and LLM is a plus.

If you're excited about pushing the boundaries of what intelligent agents can do, and you thrive at the intersection of AI, platform engineering, and product innovation, then this is the right role for you.

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

You will develop deep expertise in a broad area of research and gain proficiency in applicable research techniques. You’ll also serve as a team resource on changes in industry trends, products, and other advances, applying this knowledge to shape product needs.
You will review business and product requirement, incorporate research, and provide strategic direction for problem solving. You’ll also ensure scientific rigor, support the development of methods, and apply your expertise to support business impact.
Collaborate with stakeholders to gather and understand user requirements and expectations. Seek and incorporate continuous feedback from users and stakeholders to iteratively improve designs and solutions.
You will document work and experimentation results and share findings to promote innovation. You’ll provide guidance when capturing processes and contribute to ethics and privacy policies related to research processes and data collection.
Facilitate design meetings, creates design documents, and ensures alignment with project goals. Design system architecture that meets security, compliance, and scalability requirements.
Lead implementation and deployment of solutions, ensuring they meet quality standards. Translate project vision into actionable milestones and guide the team in project estimation and planning. Mentor and guide team members to produce extensible and maintainable code through code reviews and pair programming.
You will identify and inspire peers and new research talent to join Microsoft, build relationships, and advocate for research initiatives. You’ll share research findings through industry outreach, collaborate with the academic community, and help develop the recruiting pipeline.
Embody our culture and values
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.
3+ years experience developing and deploying AI/ML products or systems at multiple points in the product cycle from ideation to shipping.
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:
Master'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 Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 10+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
OR equivalent experience.
3+ years experience developing and deploying GenAI products or systems at multiple points in the product cycle from ideation to shipping.

Software Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across Canada is CAD $142,400 - CAD $257,500 per year.

Find additional pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/canada-pay-information.html

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until July 2, 2025.

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Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, 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, *** (including pregnancy), ****** orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.