Overview
Security represents the most critical priorities for our customers in a world awash in digital threats, regulatory scrutiny, and estate complexity. Microsoft Security aspires to make the world a safer place for all. We want to reshape security and empower every user, customer, and developer with a security cloud that protects them with end to end, simplified solutions. The Microsoft Security organization accelerates Microsoft’s mission and bold ambitions to ensure that our company and industry is securing digital technology platforms, devices, and clouds in our customers’ heterogeneous environments, as well as ensuring the security of our own internal estate. Our culture is centered on embracing a growth mindset, a theme of inspiring excellence, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best each day. In doing so, we create life-changing innovations that impact billions of lives around the world.
The next wave of security will be driven by AI—but AI is only as effective as the systems behind it. Today, massive amounts of device and security data exist across many systems, often inconsistent, fragmented, and difficult to use at scale. Different systems may reflect different versions of reality, and when signals don’t align, everything built on top—analytics, automation, and AI—loses accuracy.
In Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE), our team is building the foundational backend services and data platforms that bring consistency, reliability, and scalability to how device and security signals are understood across Microsoft Security. This layer underpins everything—from customer-facing experiences to the next generation of AI-driven capabilities.
We are looking for a Software Engineer II and a Senior Software Engineer who enjoy building systems that others rely on—platforms that must be correct, scalable, and durable—and who are excited to work in evolving and sometimes ambiguous problem spaces. These roles focus on transforming fragmented signals (e.g., device state, usage, telemetry, identity) into a clean, consistent, and trustworthy data foundation that downstream systems, customers, and AI can depend on.
This role is based in Redmond, WA and follows a hybrid work model, with employees expected to work on-site three days per week.
Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
Responsibilities
- Design, build, and scale backend services and data pipelines that power device and security intelligence
- Contribute to the development of high-quality, durable data foundations used across Microsoft Security
- Bring together fragmented device and security signals from multiple systems into a consistent, reliable view
- Define and implement data models, pipelines, and system contracts across large-scale distributed systems
- Contribute to architectural decisions and tradeoffs that balance correctness, scalability, latency, and complexity
- Own or contribute to key platform components, supporting design, delivery, and operational excellence
- Build platform capabilities that power analytics, reporting, automation, and AI-driven insights
- Improve system quality and reliability through monitoring, alerting, automation, and strong engineering practices
- Collaborate with engineers and partner teams across MDE and Microsoft Security to deliver integrated solutions
- Work through ambiguous problem spaces, helping translate them into clear and practical technical designs
- Participate in design and code reviews, contributing to a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement
- Embody our culture and values
Qualifications
**Required Qualifications: **
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 2+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, 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:
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 4+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
- OR equivalent experience.
5+ years of experience building and shipping backend services or data platforms
Experience designing and owning distributed systems at scale
Proven fundamentals in system design, data modeling, and service architecture
Experience working with Azure or large-scale cloud environments
Ability to drive clarity and execution in ambiguous problem spaces
Interest in security, platform engineering, or AI-driven systems
#MSFTSecurity
Software Engineering IC3 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $102,100.00 - $202,200.00 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 $133,800.00 - $219,200.00 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 IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800.00 - $234,700.00 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 $160,200.00 - $261,000.00 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
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.**