Staff Engineer Jobs at Microsoft with Visa Sponsorship
Microsoft hires Staff Engineers to lead large-scale technical systems, set architecture direction, and mentor engineering teams across its cloud, AI, and enterprise product lines. The company has a well-established immigration process and regularly sponsors work visas for Staff Engineer roles across multiple visa categories.
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As Microsoft continues to push the boundaries of AI, we are on the lookout for passionate individuals to work with us on the most interesting and challenging AI questions of our time. Our vision is bold and broad — to build systems that have true artificial intelligence across agents, applications, services, and infrastructure. It’s also inclusive: we aim to make AI accessible to all — consumers, businesses, developers — so that everyone can realize its benefits.
Microsoft AI (MAI) is seeking experienced Backend Engineering Manager to help build Copilot memory and personalization — AI that remembers, evolves, and grows with each user. You’ll work in a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment to develop systems that deepen memory with every interaction, personalize experiences to reflect each user’s unique style and goals, and make interactions feel more like working with a trusted partner than using a tool.
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.
By applying to this U.S. Mountain View, CA position, you are required to be local to the San Francisco area and in office 3 days a week.
Starting January 26, 2026, MAI employees are expected to work from a designated Microsoft office at least four days a week if they live within 50 miles (U.S.) or 25 miles (non-U.S., country-specific) of that location. This expectation is subject to local law and may vary by jurisdiction.
Responsibilities
- Build and lead a team of backend and machine learning engineers, including driving project planning, prioritization of work, and designing features.
- Guides teams and leads identification of dependencies and the development of design documents for a product, application, service, or platform.
- Make hands-on contributions to the codebase and infrastructure.
- Guide architecture and design efforts by leading discussions, creating proposals and design documents, and ensuring solutions meet business, security, and compliance requirements.
- Ship AI powered experiences that will shape how millions of people will interact with AI in the future.
- Drive implementation of features and systems, breaking down long-term goals into clear milestones, aligning with release plans, and ensuring cross-team coordination.
- Embody our culture and values
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in computer science, or related technical discipline 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.
3+ years of people manager experience.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in computer science OR related technical field AND 10+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR master's degree in computer science or related technical field 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.
- Proven experience building large-scale distributed systems and optimizing workloads for efficiency and scalability.
- Passion for learning new technologies and staying up to date with industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in AI.
- Experience building large-scale ranking algorithms and recommender systems.
Compensation
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:
Software Engineering M6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $163,000 - $296,400 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 $220,800 - $331,200 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
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.
Overview
As Microsoft continues to push the boundaries of AI, we are on the lookout for passionate individuals to work with us on the most interesting and challenging AI questions of our time. Our vision is bold and broad — to build systems that have true artificial intelligence across agents, applications, services, and infrastructure. It’s also inclusive: we aim to make AI accessible to all — consumers, businesses, developers — so that everyone can realize its benefits.
Microsoft AI (MAI) is seeking experienced Backend Engineering Manager to help build Copilot memory and personalization — AI that remembers, evolves, and grows with each user. You’ll work in a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment to develop systems that deepen memory with every interaction, personalize experiences to reflect each user’s unique style and goals, and make interactions feel more like working with a trusted partner than using a tool.
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.
By applying to this U.S. Mountain View, CA position, you are required to be local to the San Francisco area and in office 3 days a week.
Starting January 26, 2026, MAI employees are expected to work from a designated Microsoft office at least four days a week if they live within 50 miles (U.S.) or 25 miles (non-U.S., country-specific) of that location. This expectation is subject to local law and may vary by jurisdiction.
Responsibilities
- Build and lead a team of backend and machine learning engineers, including driving project planning, prioritization of work, and designing features.
- Guides teams and leads identification of dependencies and the development of design documents for a product, application, service, or platform.
- Make hands-on contributions to the codebase and infrastructure.
- Guide architecture and design efforts by leading discussions, creating proposals and design documents, and ensuring solutions meet business, security, and compliance requirements.
- Ship AI powered experiences that will shape how millions of people will interact with AI in the future.
- Drive implementation of features and systems, breaking down long-term goals into clear milestones, aligning with release plans, and ensuring cross-team coordination.
- Embody our culture and values
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in computer science, or related technical discipline 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.
3+ years of people manager experience.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in computer science OR related technical field AND 10+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR master's degree in computer science or related technical field 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.
- Proven experience building large-scale distributed systems and optimizing workloads for efficiency and scalability.
- Passion for learning new technologies and staying up to date with industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in AI.
- Experience building large-scale ranking algorithms and recommender systems.
Compensation
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:
Software Engineering M6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $163,000 - $296,400 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 $220,800 - $331,200 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
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.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Staff Engineer Jobs at Microsoft Jobs
Align your portfolio to Azure or AI systems
Microsoft's Staff Engineer openings cluster heavily around Azure infrastructure, AI platforms, and developer tooling. Frame your technical experience around distributed systems, large-scale reliability, or ML infrastructure so your resume maps directly to what their hiring teams are evaluating.
Clarify your visa category before interviewing
Microsoft sponsors H-1B, E-3, and H-1B1 visas for Staff Engineers, but the category affects your timeline and filing window. Know which visa applies to your nationality before your recruiter screen so you can ask targeted questions about their next filing cycle.
Target teams with active PERM backlogs early
If your long-term goal is a Green Card, ask recruiting which Microsoft teams have active PERM pipelines for Staff Engineers. Starting PERM early matters given DOL processing times, and some teams prioritize it faster depending on business need.
Use Migrate Mate to find open Staff Engineer roles
Microsoft posts Staff Engineer roles across multiple business units simultaneously, which makes tracking relevant openings time-consuming. Use Migrate Mate to filter Microsoft's open positions by role type and visa sponsorship category, so you're applying to the right openings at the right time.
Prepare a systems design narrative for the loop
Microsoft's Staff Engineer interview loop assesses technical scope and cross-team influence, not just coding. Prepare two or three concrete examples of architectural decisions you led that affected multiple engineering teams or services at scale.
Confirm your I-94 status before accepting an offer
If you're transferring from another employer, USCIS portability rules let you start at Microsoft once an H-1B transfer petition is filed, not approved. Verify your current I-94 expiration and authorized stay period before your start date to avoid a status gap.
Staff Engineer at Microsoft jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Staff Engineer at Microsoft JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does Microsoft sponsor H-1B visas for Staff Engineers?
Yes, Microsoft sponsors H-1B visas for Staff Engineer roles. If you're already in the U.S. on H-1B status with another employer, Microsoft can file an H-1B transfer petition, and USCIS portability rules allow you to begin work once the transfer is filed, not after approval. New cap-subject H-1B sponsorship is tied to the annual lottery, which opens in March.
How do I apply for Staff Engineer jobs at Microsoft?
Applications go through Microsoft's careers portal, where Staff Engineer roles are posted by team and product area. The process typically involves a recruiter screen, a technical phone interview, and a full loop covering systems design, coding, and behavioral rounds. Migrate Mate aggregates Microsoft's open Staff Engineer positions filtered by visa sponsorship type, which makes identifying the right openings faster.
Which visa types does Microsoft sponsor for Staff Engineers?
Microsoft sponsors H-1B, E-3, and H-1B1 visas for Staff Engineers, as well as EB-2 and EB-3 immigrant visa categories for permanent residence. Australian citizens can use the E-3, which has no lottery and renews in two-year increments. Chilean and Singaporean nationals may qualify for the H-1B1. The right category depends on your nationality, current status, and how quickly you need to start.
What qualifications does Microsoft expect for Staff Engineer roles?
Staff Engineer positions at Microsoft typically require significant experience leading technical design across multiple teams or large-scale distributed systems. You're expected to influence architecture beyond your immediate team, drive technical strategy, and mentor senior engineers. Roles in Azure and AI product lines often require deep knowledge of cloud infrastructure, reliability engineering, or machine learning systems at scale.
How do I time my application around H-1B sponsorship at Microsoft?
If you need cap-subject H-1B sponsorship, you'd need to have an offer finalized before March for that year's lottery registration. A successful selection allows an October 1 start. If you're already in H-1B status, cap-exempt transfer removes the lottery dependency entirely. For E-3 or H-1B1 applicants, there's no lottery constraint, which gives you more flexibility on start date.
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