Senior Software Engineer, Data Platforms and Services - Minecraft

Microsoft Microsoft · Big Tech · Redmond, WA +1 · Data Engineering

Senior Software Engineer to design, build, and operate scalable data platforms and services that power Minecraft player insights, personalization, and analytics. This role involves end-to-end development of cloud-based data services and APIs on Azure using Terraform and CI/CD, focusing on production reliability, performance, cost efficiency, and security compliance. The role also involves building and maintaining C++ telemetry libraries and working with C# or Python for tooling.

What you'd actually do

  1. Build and operate scalable data services and APIs powering personalization, analytics, and player insights across Mojang.
  2. Own end-to-end cloud infrastructure (Azure + Terraform + CI/CD) for reliable, repeatable deployments across environments.
  3. Ensure production reliability (ICM/DRI ownership, monitoring, incident response) for critical data systems and services.
  4. Drive performance, cost efficiency, and security compliance across data pipelines, services, and infrastructure.
  5. Build and maintain shared C++ telemetry libraries used across gameplay systems and services.

Skills

Required

  • Master's Degree in Computer Science, Math, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years experience in business analytics, data science, software development, data modeling, or data engineering OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Math, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field AND 4+ years experience in business analytics, data science, software development, data modeling, or data engineering
  • equivalent experience

Nice to have

  • Professional experience developing production systems in C++.
  • Experience working within large or legacy C++ codebases.
  • Familiarity with modern C++ standards (C++14/17/20) and best practices.
  • Understanding of memory management, performance optimization, and multithreaded runtime systems.
  • Experience integrating instrumentation into mature production systems with high reliability requirements.
  • Experience with telemetry, logging, or event‑based instrumentation systems.
  • Experience using C# or Python to build platform‑side tooling, ingestion services, or validation workflows.
  • Familiarity with data ingestion or analytics platforms (e.g., Azure‑based data systems, Spark, Databricks).
  • Experience designing or working with event schemas and versioned data contracts.
  • Experience modernizing legacy systems toward maintainable platform integrations.
  • Familiarity with serialization frameworks (e.g., JSON, Protobuf, FlatBuffers).
  • Passion for Minecraft and interest in player‑focused, data‑informed product development.
  • Games-industry knowledge.
  • Verbal and written communication skills; ability to translate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

What the JD emphasized

  • scalable data services and APIs
  • end-to-end cloud infrastructure
  • production reliability
  • performance, cost efficiency, and security compliance
  • C++ telemetry libraries