Principal Software Development Engineer

Microsoft's Windows Platform and Developer (WinPD) team is seeking a Principal Software Development Engineer to help make Windows the ultimate developer platform. This is a high-impact role combining strategic architecture leadership with hands-on development.

As a Principal SDE, you'll shape the future of Windows developer experiences by designing and implementing core platform capabilities, SDKs, and developer tools. You'll work at the intersection of operating systems, cloud services, and developer productivity, creating elegant solutions that help developers build better applications faster.

The role requires deep technical expertise in systems programming (C++/C#), extensive experience with operating system development, and a proven track record of delivering developer-focused products and frameworks. You'll collaborate with engineering leaders across Microsoft while maintaining a hands-on approach to coding and technical problem-solving.

The position offers competitive compensation ($163,000 - $296,400 base salary range), comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to work remotely. You'll be part of a supportive team culture that values collaboration, creativity, and technical excellence.

Key focus areas include:

• Architecting next-generation Windows developer platforms and tools
• Building scalable systems spanning client, cloud and containers
• Improving developer workflows and productivity
• Mentoring engineers and driving technical excellence
• Translating developer feedback into elegant platform solutions

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior technologist who is passionate about developer experiences, thrives on complex technical challenges, and wants to shape how millions of developers build on Windows.

The role offers significant technical scope while maintaining a strong hands-on component - you'll not only design solutions but also implement them. If you're energized by both high-level architecture and low-level systems programming, and want to make Windows the best platform for developers, we want to talk to you.