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Principal Software Engineer

Microsoft· Software Engineering
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United States, Multiple Locations$142.8k - $274.8kFull-timePosted 4w ago

About the role

Principal Software Engineer to evolve Microsoft’s high-performance, security-critical virtualization platform with emphasis on the hypervisor and VMM, shaping foundational technology across the virtualization platform used by Hyper-V, Azure, Windows, Linux, and containers; provides architectural leadership, technical mentorship, and cross-team influence.

Responsibilities

  • Define architecture and deliver foundational capabilities as a key technical leader within Microsoft’s Virtualization Core Platform team.
  • Design, implement, and deliver innovative features across Microsoft’s virtualization platform, with a focus on the hypervisor and VMM.
  • Design and evolve OpenVMM capabilities spanning Linux, Windows, and macOS environments.
  • Improve Microsoft’s virtualization platform to reduce cost, increase performance, strengthen security, and improve reliability.
  • Collaborate with a dynamic team of engineers and mentor engineers across the team through design guidance, code reviews, and technical problem-solving.
  • Continuously learn, share technical knowledge, and promote sound engineering practices across the team.
  • Set a high bar for engineering quality and drive continuous improvements in reliability, maintainability, testing, and operational readiness.
  • Collaborate across organizational boundaries to shape the team’s charter, align technical priorities, and drive a clear long-term vision.
  • Provide technical leadership across Windows Core and Azure, influencing architecture, design decisions, and platform strategy.
  • Diagnose and resolve complex low-level hardware and software interactions at the core of Microsoft’s virtualization platform.
  • Enable Microsoft’s hypervisor, VMM, and related virtualization components on new silicon in close collaboration with a range of hardware partners.

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++, or Rust including substantial work on systems or platform software OR equivalent experience.

Skills

Required:C/C++/RustSystems/Platform Software
Nice to have:Kernel/Hypervisor/VMMArchitectural & Design Leadership
Last updated Sep 24, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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