Principal Software Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia

Windows Security protects Windows from the hardware up. We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer Manager to lead the engineering organization responsible for some of the foundational technologies that establish trust across Windows devices and cloud services.

Modern platform security depends on establishing trust across the full stack, from silicon and firmware through the operating system and into cloud services. Hardware Security builds the technologies that establish and protect that trust, including Microsoft Pluton, hardware-rooted platform security capabilities, and cloud-based device attestation services.

In this role, you will lead a broad engineering organization that develops security firmware and software shipping on Windows devices, advances Microsoft Pluton as an integrated security foundation for the Windows ecosystem, and builds and operates cloud services that allow devices and services to establish and prove their security state. The team partners across Windows, Azure, Microsoft Security, silicon and device partners, and industry standards organizations to advance platform security for billions of Windows customers.

This is a highly technical leadership role at the intersection of silicon, operating systems, security, and cloud services. We are looking for a leader who can set technical direction in complex and rapidly evolving areas, develop outstanding engineering leaders and teams, and turn emerging security threats and technologies into durable protections for customers.

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.

• Lead the engineering strategy and execution for Windows Hardware Security, spanning Microsoft Pluton, hardware and firmware security, hardware-rooted platform security capabilities, and cloud-based attestation services.
• Define and drive a cohesive chip-to-cloud security architecture that connects hardware roots of trust with Windows security capabilities and cloud services.
• Advance Microsoft Pluton as a foundation for security innovation in the Windows ecosystem, working across hardware, firmware, operating system, and service boundaries to deliver new protections for customers.
• Lead the engineering and evolution of Windows attestation services, enabling devices and services to establish identity, integrity, and trusted security state using hardware-backed security signals.
• Lead the design, development, delivery, and operation of security-critical software, firmware, and services with a focus on security, reliability, scalability, performance, quality, and operational excellence.
• Partner with silicon vendors, device manufacturers, industry standards organizations, and engineering teams across Microsoft to influence hardware security architecture and bring emerging security capabilities into the Windows ecosystem.
• Identify emerging threats and technology shifts and translate them into engineering strategy, product roadmaps, and systematic security improvements.
• Drive engineering excellence across both Windows product engineering and cloud service development, including architecture, testing, telemetry, reliability, incident response, secure development, and live-site operations.
• Create clarity across complex cross-organizational initiatives, make thoughtful engineering and business tradeoffs, and drive accountability for delivering customer outcomes.
• Build, coach, and grow a high-performing organization of engineering managers and engineers, developing technical leaders and fostering a culture of curiosity, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Represent Microsoft and Windows Security with senior internal and external partners on critical hardware, platform security, and attestation topics.
• Leverage emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to improve engineering effectiveness, security analysis, operational efficiency, and the team's ability to respond to an evolving threat landscape.

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor'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.

Additional or preferred qualifications

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 10+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, or Python.
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 6+ years of people management experience leading software engineering teams.
• Experience designing, building, shipping, or operating security-critical software, operating system components, embedded systems, firmware, hardware-integrated software, or large-scale cloud services.
• Experience leading complex engineering programs involving multiple teams, organizations, or external partners.
• Experience defining technical strategy and translating that strategy into engineering execution and measurable customer outcomes.
• Experience with operating system, platform, or hardware security architecture.
• Experience with hardware roots of trust, security processors, secure boot, firmware security, cryptography, device identity, Trusted Platform Module (TPM) technologies, confidential computing, or remote attestation.
• Experience building and operating highly available cloud services with security-sensitive workloads and demanding reliability requirements.
• Experience partnering with silicon vendors, device manufacturers, standards bodies, or other technology ecosystem partners.
• Experience leading engineering managers and senior technical leaders in a multi-team organization.
• Experience responding to security vulnerabilities or incidents and translating individual findings into systematic platform improvements.
• Experience influencing technical strategy across organizational boundaries and communicating complex engineering and security topics to senior leaders.
• Experience developing inclusive teams and growing engineers and engineering leaders across career stages.

#W+DJOBS

Software Engineering M6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $165,600 - $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:
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.