Principal Software Engineer

Overview Core AI is at the forefront of Microsoft’s mission to redefine how software is built and experienced. We are responsible for building the foundational platforms, services, programming models, and developer experiences that power the next generation of applications using Generative AI. Our work enables developers and enterprises to harness the full potential of AI to create intelligent, adaptive, and transformative software. The Agentic Core Services Team is responsible for building the cloud-native, distributed platform that powers the development, execution, and management of agentic applications at scale. Our mission is to provide the foundational infrastructure and runtime systems that enable developers to build intelligent, autonomous, and enterprise-grade AI agents with confidence and agility. In this role, you will help define the future of software and application development. You will shape how developers interact with our platform—from programming models and user experiences to the design of a managed, distributed runtime that orchestrates agent-based AI applications at scale with enterprise-grade guarantees. You’ll work at the cutting edge of AI research, collaborating with some of the brightest minds in generative AI, and integrating the latest breakthroughs in multi-modal capabilities (text, audio, video) into real-world agentic applications. Responsibilities • Lead architecture discussions and decision-making for complex products, ensuring design quality, scalability, and compliance. • Mentor engineers in creating and executing comprehensive test strategies to maintain high solution quality and security. • Identify and manage dependencies across teams, driving collaboration and conflict resolution to meet shared goals. • Drive security best practices embedding "security as code," including proactive vulnerabilities prevention and incident response processes. • Lead automation efforts for production deployment aiming at zero-touch deployments and error-free runtime. • Collaborate with partner teams to ensure integration, scalability, performance, and live-site readiness before product launch. • Mentor and lead coding quality improvements, debugging efforts, and adoption of AI tools to enhance software engineering excellence. Qualifications Required Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related technical field, along with 10+ years of experience designing, developing, and operating large-scale, production-grade software systems and services. • Strong hands-on software development experience using an object-oriented programming language. • Experience with cloud services and distributed systems is preferred. • Demonstrated experience leading engineering initiatives and driving execution across teams of 5–7 engineers. Preferred Qualifications: • Demonstrated expertise in solving complex technical challenges in one or more domains such as distributed systems, AI/ML infrastructure, developer platforms, or cloud services. • Experience engaging with customers during integration or deployment phases, with a focus on delivering value and incorporating feedback into product evolution. 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. #CoreAIIndiaHiring 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.