Principal Engineering Manager

The Microsoft Windows & Devices (W+D) team is on a journey to deliver iconic experiences across hardware, software, and services that people love and use every day. A core part of the W+D strategy is delivering devices with excellent Fundamentals and delightful AI experiences that blend the power of the Edge with the scale of the cloud.  

We are seeking a self-driven Principal Software Engineering Manager to help shape the next wave of AI innovations on Windows devices. As we pursue key advances in the areas of AI, silicon and software, we remain laser-focused on establishing Fundamentals as a delighter for the Copilot+ PC brand.  If you love the pursuit of excellence and are inspired by the challenge of driving innovations that impact how the world lives, works and plays, then we invite you to an exciting opportunity to innovate, influence, transform, inspire and grow within the W+D Silicon and Fundamentals Team. 

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 Software Engineering Manager driving Windows AI Fundamentals, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the technical direction, building and nurturing a strong engineering team, and enabling impactful cross-team collaborations. You will manage the team’s investment priorities, recruit and develop top, diverse talent, and mentor engineers to strengthen both their technical depth and leadership skills. 

You will partner closely with peers across global Fundamentals teams and other stakeholders to define strategy, refine business and technical vision, and establish effective rhythms of planning and execution. In this role, you will foster an inclusive engineering culture that values excellence, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. 

Key responsibilities include: 

• Build, lead, and scale a high-performing team focused on Windows system fundamentals. 
• Define and drive technical strategies to advance performance, power efficiency, and reliability across a wide range of hardware platforms. 
• Partner with internal teams and external collaborators to deliver seamless integration of AI workloads and system features. 
• Establish and manage effective engineering rhythms for planning, execution, and milestone delivery. 
• Mentor and grow engineering talent, cultivating the next generation of technical leaders. 
• Champion a culture of innovation, inclusion, and engineering excellence. 
• Uphold high-quality engineering practices, including robust design reviews, code quality, and performance validation. 

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, or related technical discipline AND 15+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
• 5+ years of experience in system or embedded software development .
• Understanding of the Windows operating system and OS architectures.
• Solid problem solving and debugging skills for modern-day multiprocessor systems (able to write/debug code, use debuggers and diagnostics tools).
• Leverage performance profiling and log analysis to understand system behavior.
• Track record of effective hiring, developing next-level leadership, and retaining engineering talent.
• Solid communication skills, including ability to clearly express technical concepts in verbal and written forms.
• Ability to collaborate with teams across different time zones.
• Deliver clear written communication of technical designs and solutions.
• Experience with AI models and tools.
• OR equivalent experience.

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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.

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. 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.