Principal Software Engineer

Overview We are the Copilot and Agents Core Platform team. We are building a scalable platform to develop and run copilot workloads that bring intelligent agents into the daily workflow of millions of Microsoft 365 users. The extensible runtime infrastructure we build enables rapid experimentation, safe deployment, and seamless orchestration of LLM-powered agents.

Our mission is to empower developers to build, compose, and operate AI agents with agility and confidence. We operate at the cutting edge building AI workflows for productivity including long-running tasks and proactive workflows and permanent compute and memory.

We are seeking a highly experienced and technically visionary Principal Software Engineer to shape the architecture and development of the next-generation agent runtime and features. This role is pivotal in shaping the future of agent-based computing at Microsoft, enabling the runtime for long running tasks, extensibility at scale and supporting multi-agent collaboration.

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

• Architect and evolve the core runtime infrastructure to support.
• Agent-to-Agent (A2A) and Multi-Agent Protocols (e.g., MCP).
• Declarative and code-based extensibility models.
• Runtime patching, flighting, and dynamic configuration.
• Runtime extensibility through skills.
• Design and implement scalable orchestration patterns for agent collaboration, including delegation, sub-agent invocation, and shared memory contexts.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure runtime stability, performance, and security.
• Drive innovation in agentic patterns such as proactive agents, long running tasks, async workflows, and dynamic skill selection.
• Contribute to the platform roadmap and influence long-term technical strategy.

Qualifications

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.

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

• 10+ years of experience in software engineering with a focus on distributed systems, runtime architecture, or platform engineering.
• Proven track record of technical leadership at scale, ideally in runtime or orchestration systems.
• Deep understanding of extensibility frameworks, plugin architectures, and protocol design.
• Solid coding skills in C#, C++, or equivalent systems-level languages.
• Experience with LLM-based systems, agentic workflows, or AI orchestration is a plus.
• Experience working on Microsoft Copilot, Azure AI, or similar agentic platforms.
• Familiarity with declarative programming models and manifest-driven extensibility.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-org initiatives and influence without authority.

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Software Engineering IC6 - 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, read more about requesting accommodations.