Principal Software Engineer

Microsoft's Azure Data engineering team is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to drive the architecture, design, and implementation of vector indexing and retrieval features in Cosmos DB. This role is part of the databases team that builds and maintains Microsoft's operational Database systems.

The position focuses on building the data platform for the age of AI, working specifically on Azure Cosmos DB - Microsoft's globally distributed, multi-model NoSQL database service. We are investing heavily in next-generation indexing and retrieval infrastructure to power AI-native workloads such as vector similarity search, hybrid search, and semantic retrieval.

As a Principal Engineer, you'll be at the forefront of integrating AI capabilities into database systems, collaborating with product, applied AI, and infrastructure teams to build high-performance, highly available vector search capabilities natively into Cosmos DB. This role offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology that combines distributed systems, databases, and AI/ML systems.

The position is based in Bangalore, India, with a hybrid work arrangement (up to 50% work from home). You'll be part of Microsoft's larger Azure Data portfolio, which includes products like Microsoft Fabric, Azure SQL DB, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Power BI.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced engineer who wants to shape the future of AI-enabled database systems while working with some of the most sophisticated distributed systems at scale. The role offers competitive benefits, including industry-leading healthcare, educational resources, and generous time away policies.

The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise in distributed systems and databases, combined with the ability to mentor senior engineers and drive cross-team collaboration. If you're passionate about building next-generation database capabilities and want to work at the intersection of databases and AI, this role offers the perfect opportunity to make a significant impact.