Principal Data Platform Engineer
Job Description
Core AI is at the forefront of Microsoft's mission to redefine how software is built and experienced. The EngThrive Insights team is responsible for understanding the developer experience, with a mission to make Microsoft the best place to work as an engineer.
As a Principal Data Platform Engineer, you will serve as one of the leads for the data platform that underpins EngThrive insights. You'll be responsible for designing and maintaining data pipelines, curating high-quality datasets, performing in-depth data analysis, developing dashboards, and building the data and AI infrastructure that supports these capabilities.
This role requires versatility across multiple domains, including software engineering and data analytics, as well as a strong passion for understanding the tools and processes that shape the engineering workflow. You'll be working at the intersection of data engineering and AI, helping to build the foundational platforms and services that power the next generation of applications using Generative AI.
The position offers a competitive base salary range of $139,900 - $274,800 per year (higher in SF Bay Area and NYC), along with comprehensive benefits including healthcare, educational resources, investment options, and parental leave. You'll have the opportunity to work in a hybrid environment with up to 50% work from home flexibility.
Success in this role means not just technical excellence, but also the ability to mentor others, drive engineering alignment across teams, and champion customer-centric development. You'll be instrumental in shaping the product vision and architecting scalable solutions that balance long-term maintainability with short-term delivery needs.
Microsoft's culture emphasizes growth mindset, innovation, and collaboration. We're looking for someone who can thrive in this environment while helping to build the next generation of developer tools and experiences. Join us in empowering developers and enterprises to harness the full potential of AI.
Responsibilities For Principal Data Platform Engineer
- Shape the Product Vision: Define and influence the product roadmap by aligning technical strategy with business goals
- Architect for Scale and Sustainability: Design and evolve durable, scalable system architectures
- Direct Impact: Lead by example and mentor others to produce extensible and maintainable code
- Foster Engineering Alignment: Build consensus across engineering teams and partner organizations
- Build Foundational Capabilities: Lead development of core platform components
- Mentor and Grow Talent: Support the growth of engineers through mentorship
- Champion Customer-Centric Development: Engage with customers and product teams to capture feedback
- Operational Excellence: Drive excellence in managing large-scale data systems
Requirements For Principal Data Platform Engineer
- Master's Degree in Computer Science, Math, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field AND 4+ years experience OR Bachelor's Degree with 6+ years experience
- 4+ years of experience working with complex data sets, data pipelines and solving challenging data problems at scale
- 4+ years of experience and expertise working with data products such as Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, or similar
- Must pass Microsoft Cloud Background Check
- Experience with data visualization technologies such as PowerBI, Tableau, Grafana or similar
Benefits For Principal Data Platform Engineer
- Industry leading healthcare
- Educational resources
- Savings and investments
- Maternity and paternity leave
- Generous time away
- Giving programs
- Discounts on products and services
