Overview
We are expanding our team with a **Principal Software Engineering Manager **to support the delivery and reliability of Microsoft solutions for commercial and enterprise customers.
In this role, you will guide a team of software engineers working on complex technical challenges across Windows client, Windows Update, and Windows reliability. The role focuses on shaping technical direction, maintaining operational quality, and supporting consistent, high-quality customer experiences.
This position combines people leadership, technical engagement, and business impact. You will support engineers through regular connections, feedback, and career development discussions, while fostering a team environment centered on accountability, learning, and continuous improvement. You will also help coordinate team response to live-site issues, incidents, and customer escalations.
Work in close partnership with product managers and engineering teams across Windows to improve product quality, reliability, and supportability at scale.
The team uses diagnostic tools, telemetry, and customer insights to identify opportunities to improve system performance, reliability, and user experience. The including partnering with engineers who build Windows to investigate issues and support long-term improvements.
Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. We work with a growth mindset, collaborate across teams, and focus on delivering meaningful outcomes for our customers. Our culture is grounded in respect, integrity, and accountability, creating an environment where everyone can contribute and grow.
Responsibilities
This role focuses on leading teams that design, build, and operate scalable software solutions that improve the reliability, performance, and customer experience of Windows. As a **Principal Software Engineering Manager, **focuses on people leadership, technical direction, and delivery outcomes across teams.
In this role, you are expected to:
- Lead, coach, and support a team of Software Engineers by providing clear expectations, regular feedback, and career guidance through one-on-one connections, mentoring, and performance discussions.
- Set and align technical direction and execution plans by partnering with Product Managers and cross-functional stakeholders to translate customer needs and business priorities into engineering plans.
- Support operational excellence and delivery consistency by reinforcing engineering fundamentals, planning practices, and coordinated response to incidents and live-site issues.
- Use customer feedback, telemetry, and product usage data to identify areas for improvement, prioritize investments, and guide teams toward long-term enhancements in Windows reliability, performance, and supportability.
- Establish and reinforce engineering practices for design reviews, code reviews, testing, and continuous integration to support secure, maintainable, and scalable solutions.
- Provide technical guidance and escalation support by working with engineers on complex diagnostics using debugging tools, performance analysis, and code-level investigation, and representing the team in cross-organization discussions.
- Foster a customer-focused and inclusive team environment where engineers understand customer impact, collaborate across teams, and take shared ownership of outcomes that matter to enterprise and commercial customers.
Qualifications
Required/Minimum 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++, C# or Python.
- 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.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master'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#, or Python
- OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 12+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C# or Python
- OR equivalent experience.
4+ years people management experience.
8+ years of experience in software engineering, systems engineering, or Windows client and server environments.
3+ years of experience supporting or mentoring engineers through coaching, feedback, career development, or technical guidance.
Experience in customer-facing engineering roles with focus on service reliability, customer impact, and escalation management.
Experience troubleshooting technical issues, including analyzing logs and performance data using diagnostic tools.
Familiarity with Windows authentication and security concepts, including Kerberos, Local Security Authority Subsystem Service, and cloud-based authentication.
Experience working with Microsoft Entra ID and hybrid identity environments that connect on-premises and cloud systems.
Experience communicating technical concepts clearly to support collaboration and decision-making across teams.
Experience working across Microsoft platforms, including Windows, Microsoft 365, identity, and device-related technologies.
Experience reviewing code and contributing to troubleshooting and design discussions in languages such as C, C++, or C#.
Familiarity with scripting or automation to support operational efficiency and repeatable processes.
Familiarity with device and identity management tools, including Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Entra.
Familiarity with networking and distributed systems, including diagnosing issues across infrastructure and cloud services.
Experience contributing to team outcomes through collaboration and alignment on customer-focused goals.
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Software Engineering M5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800.00 - $274,800.00 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 $188,000.00 - $304,200.00 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
Software Engineering M5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 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 $188,000 - $304,200 per year.
Certain roles may be el.igible for benefits and other compensation Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
Software Engineering M5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 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 $188,000 - $304,200 per year.
Certain roles may be el.igible for benefits and other compensation Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
Software Engineering M5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 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 $188,000 - $304,200 per year.
Certain roles may be el.igible for benefits and other compensation Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about **requesting accommodations.**