Senior Software Engineer

The Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) for Microsoft is chartered with understanding, shaping, and accelerating technologies and their impact on Microsoft, industry, and society in order to empower every person and every organization to achieve more. Whether it’s providing technical insights company-wide or giving meaning to an “AI First” company, OCTO leads investments in cutting-edge innovation and works across the company with engineering, field, and strategy teams.

As a Senior Software Engineer in OCTO, you will operate at the intersection of technical exploration and strategic impact. You’ll build prototypes and reference implementations that push boundaries—turning ambiguous ideas into real systems. Often, you’ll be the first engineer on a project, helping shape its direction and laying the foundation for what comes next. Your work will directly inform the CTO’s technology strategy and influence company-wide investments.

We’re looking for someone who’s hands-on, resourceful, and curious. You’re comfortable moving fast, diving into new technologies, and figuring things out as you go. You’ll lead early investigations and POCs, and then help drive the final design and development of the product or app.

You’re comfortable with ambiguity and driving things forward quickly with energy for idea to Minimum Viable Product (MVP) creation. You’re already very interested in Artificial Intelligence (AI); plays with it in spare time; stays up to date. You’re resourceful in overcoming tech and org barriers and an effective, trusted collaborator and communicator across diverse teams.

This role is all about blending deep technical skills with a love of experimentation. You’ll work with researchers, product teams, and external partners to explore emerging tech and assess its potential. You’ll be part of a team that values bold ideas and rapid iteration. Whether you’re debugging a prototype, writing a quick technical memo, or sharing insights with senior leadership, your work will help shape Microsoft’s long-term tech vision.

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

• Conduct code reviews to uphold team standards, improve quality, ensure test coverage, and coach engineers in best practices.
• Lead by example in writing secure, performant, maintainable code, leveraging AI-assisted tools, metrics, and debugging practices to drive reliability and prevent recurrence of issues.
• Design and refine system architecture and test strategies, ensuring performance, scalability, resiliency, compliance, and security across product components.
• Apply engineering excellence through automation, zero-touch deployments, secure coding, and adherence to privacy, accessibility, and compliance requirements.
• Partner with stakeholders to plan, execute, and monitor releases, incorporating experimentation, rollback planning, and efficient deployment practices.
• Collaborate with product managers, technical leads, and customers to translate requirements into robust solutions, integrating continuous feedback and advocating for user privacy and security.
• Embody our culture and values.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 4+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
• OR equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated experience in building AI services or products for customers (e.g. responsible AI, safety and security commitments that solve high value problems).
• 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.
• 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 6+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
• OR equivalent experience.
• Foundation in AI technical skills, such as understanding ML/RL, AI models, building AI services or products, as well as AI infrastructure, compute, hardware, and optimization.
• Expertise in cloud services and AI first apps.
• Ability to handle high ambiguity, drive clarity, and identify/prioritize issues and opportunities.
• Believes doing the right thing is more important than proving we are right.
• Shows a high level of emotional intelligence (EQ) and humility by working collaboratively and helping others be successful. Our success is the success of partners and collaborators.
• OR Master'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.

Software Engineering IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 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 $158,400 - $258,000 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until October 31, 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.