Principal Software Engineer

The Applied Sciences Group (ASG) is looking for a generalist Principal Software Engineer to help us create innovative features across Windows and other Microsoft products. ASG is a unique, nimble, multidisciplinary team that turns cutting-edge ideas into shipping products by composing research, incubation, rapid prototyping, and human-centered development. As part of ASG, you'll directly shape experiences used by billions of people — from Windows (running on over a billion devices) to Microsoft 365 (used by 70% of Fortune 500 enterprises) and beyond.

Some of our favorite work includes:

• Semantic Index, a high-performance vector store for operating systems, integral to Windows Recall and improved Windows Search.
• Voice experiences for Copilot on Windows.
• Microsoft Journal, an AI-powered inking app designed for pen and touch.

You'll be joining a team of highly experienced software developers working on exciting, machine learning-powered features in Windows, Copilot, and standalone products. Our focus evolves often, so you'll need to be comfortable diving into a wide variety of projects across the tech stack. If you’re curious about how things work, passionate about innovation, and driven to ship magical experiences at the intersection of cutting-edge machine learning, software engineering, and user experience — ASG is the place 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. In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.

Responsibilities

• Write correct, efficient, and production-grade code.
• Design and defend high quality user experiences that delight our customers.
• Be comfortable with a fast-paced environment and a high level of ambiguity.
• Proactively seek new knowledge and adapt to new trends and technical solutions.
• Leads by example and mentors others to produce extensible and maintainable code used across the company. 
• Mentor engineers in the team by providing hands-on assistance, best practices, and promoting an inclusive learning environment. 
• 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
• 4+ years experience in a technical leadership position. 
• OR equivalent experience.

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
• Proven track record of delivering large software products. 
• Ability and eagerness to work across and partner with multiple engineering teams to achieve business goals. 
• OR Bachelor'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.

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 October 6th, 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.