Principal Software Engineer Manager

Job description

Join the **Windows Cloud Experiences (WCX)** team and help shape the future of how people work and connect on Windows.

As part of the Windows + Devices organization, we’re building the next generation of cloud-powered Windows clients that let millions seamlessly access their Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) environments from anywhere.

As the **Principal Engineering Manager** for the Windows Client, you’ll lead a world-class team delivering one of Microsoft’s most business-critical applications — a product that powers hybrid work, drives billions in revenue, and defines the experience customers trust to get work done.

Every connection launched and every pixel rendered contributes directly to productivity, customer satisfaction, and the growth of Windows 365 and AVD.

We’re looking for an engineering leader who’s passionate about building delightful, end-user-facing desktop experiences.

You combine empathy for user needs with deep technical expertise in C++, C#, WinUI, WebView2, and TypeScript, guiding teams to craft software that feels fast, reliable, and beautifully simple.

You’ll shape technical strategy, champion craftsmanship, and cultivate a culture of inclusion, innovation, and continuous improvement.

As a Principal Software Engineering Manager, you will:

+ Empower the world’s workforce: Lead development of the Windows Client that powers secure, high-performance remote access to Windows Cloud PCs and remote desktops — enabling productivity from anywhere.
+ Deliver delightful user experiences: Build desktop applications that make remote work feel local, combining design empathy, engineering precision, and modern technologies such as C++, C#, WinUI, WebView2, and TypeScript.
+ Drive innovation at scale: Architect and optimize for performance, accessibility, and reliability as the client scales to millions of active users across the globe.
+ Champion craftsmanship and quality: Lead a culture of engineering excellence - ensuring every release is robust, secure, and aligned with our standards of performance and polish.
+ Inspire and grow your team: Empower engineers to innovate boldly and execute on a high-impact roadmap that defines the next generation of cloud-connected Windows experiences.

Learn: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-app/overview
Video: https://youtu.be/j0XU59VbKOc

At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

We foster a culture built on respect, integrity, and accountability, where collaboration and inclusion enable everyone to thrive and make a difference.

**Responsibilities**

+ Lead the engineering direction and delivery of the Windows App on Windows OS - a cornerstone of Microsoft’s vision for secure, seamless hybrid work and cloud-connected Windows experiences.
+ Inspire, grow, and empower a world-class team of customer obsessed engineers, fostering technical excellence, inclusion, and a culture of innovation, learning, and accountability.
+ Drive architectural and technical strategy across a complex ecosystem of Windows, Azure, and Microsoft 365 technologies - ensuring best-in-class reliability, performance, and security.
+ Champion engineering excellence and operational quality by advancing modern CI/CD practices, test automation, telemetry-driven improvements, and live-site reliability at scale.
+ Collaborate across organizational boundaries to build cohesive experiences with partner teams across Windows, Security, and Cloud - influencing roadmaps and aligning on shared goals.
+ Use data and customer insights to shape decisions, ensuring product experiences are intuitive, resilient, and grounded in real-world customer and enterprise needs.
+ Accelerate innovation and productivity by embracing AI-assisted engineering, experimentation frameworks, and continuous improvement mindsets to deliver impact faster and smarter.

**Qualifications**

**Required 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#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
+ OR equivalent experience.
+ 6+ years of experience in software engineering, with a proven track record of shipping complex, high-quality products or platforms at scale.
+ 2+ years of people management experience, leading and growing high-performing engineering teams through coaching, empowerment, driving clarity in complex spaces, technical mentorship, and representing the team across product, design, and business discussions.
+ Technical expertise in C++ and/or C#, system design, and modern client development patterns - with a deep understanding of performance, reliability, and security fundamentals.
+ Experience driving architecture and design decisions for large, distributed systems or client platforms that integrate across cloud services and native OS components.

**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 discipline AND 8+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
+ OR equivalent experience.
+ 8+ years of experience in software engineering, with a proven track record of shipping complex, high-quality products or platforms at scale.
+ Passion for user experience, accessibility, and design craftsmanship, with an instinct for translating customer needs into intuitive, elegant product experiences.
+ Experience in Windows OS development, including system integration, security models, and performance optimization for client applications.
+ Proven experience designing and scaling end-user desktop applications for millions of users — delivering reliability and responsiveness that blur the line between local and remote computing.
+ Expertise in telemetry and experimentation to inform product decisions and continuously improve usability and quality.
+ Demonstrated success leading cross-team initiatives across OS, cloud, networking, and security domains.
+ Hands-on familiarity with modern development tooling and AI-assisted coding to boost engineering velocity and quality.
+ Experience recruiting, mentoring, and growing world-class engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, empathy, and technical excellence.
+ Knowledge of Azure services, identity and authentication (AAD/MSAL), or remote connectivity technologies is a plus.

Software Engineering M5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $139,900 - $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 eligible for benefits and other compensation.

Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until October 27, 2025.

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Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer.

Consistent with applicable law, 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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html) .

Required Skill Profession

Other General