Principal Software Engineer - C++

** Overview*
* ** Build Software Used by Millions*
* Work on modern desktop applications that power remote computing experiences for millions of users worldwide. Your work will directly influence how people access Windows desktops and applications from anywhere.

** Shape the Architecture of a Modern Client Platform*
* Define and evolve the architecture of a large-scale client platform built with  
** C#, C++, Type Script, WinUI, and WebView2** , delivering highly performant and intuitive experiences across Windows devices.

** Drive the Future of Cloud-Connected Desktop Experiences*
* Help redefine the boundary between local and cloud computing by building applications that seamlessly connect users to remote environments with reliability, performance, and security at global scale.

** Lead the Next Wave of AI-Assisted Engineering*
* Influence how modern engineering teams leverage  
** AI-powered development tools
** to accelerate innovation, improve code quality, and adopt secure and responsible AI-assisted workflows across the development lifecycle.

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*
* As a Principal Engineer - Windows Cloud you will:

+ Lead the architecture, design, and development of large-scale client applications that power secure and high-performance remote desktop experiences for millions of users.

+ Define the long-term technical direction for the client platform, guiding the use of modern technologies such as  
** C#, C++, Type Script, WinUI, and Web View2
** to build scalable and maintainable applications.

+ Drive innovation in client experiences that seamlessly bridge local and remote computing environments, delivering intuitive and responsive user interactions.

+ Partner with Product Management, Design, and platform teams to translate customer scenarios into robust engineering solutions that scale across enterprise and consumer environments.

+ Lead complex cross-team initiatives spanning  
** Windows OS integration, networking, identity, and cloud services
** to deliver cohesive end-to-end solutions.

+ Establish engineering best practices around  
** performance, reliability, accessibility, and security
** for client-side systems operating at global scale.

+ Champion  
** AI-assisted software development** , enabling engineers to effectively use modern AI tools for coding, debugging, testing, and design while ensuring adherence to secure engineering and responsible AI practices.

+ Guide the team in adopting emerging  
** AI-powered developer workflows** , improving productivity while maintaining high standards for code quality, security, and maintainability.

+ Own critical areas of client architecture and ensure reliability through telemetry-driven development, live site monitoring, and rapid incident response.

+ Mentor engineers and technical leaders across the organization, fostering a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and continuous learning.

** 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.

** 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 qualification:*
* +  
** 9+ years of experience
** designing, building, and shipping large-scale software products, client platforms, or cloud-connected services with strong customer impact.

+  
** 8+ years of object-oriented development experience
** with deep proficiency in one or more languages such as  
** C++, C#, or Java** , including experience building performant and reliable production systems.

+ Proven expertise designing and developing  
** high-performance client applications or distributed systems
** that operate reliably at scale and integrate with cloud services.

+ Strong  
** software architecture and systems design skills** , with the ability to break down complex problems, evaluate trade-offs, and drive technically sound solutions across multiple components and teams.

+ Experience building or contributing to  
** remote computing, desktop virtualization, or VDI platforms** , including areas such as remote display protocols, connectivity resilience, client performance optimization, or session reliability.

+ Demonstrated ability…