Principal Software Engineering Manager - W+D

Overview

Our team plays a critical role in the development and delivery of Windows across a broad range of devices and silicon, from Arm-based laptops to gaming consoles. We maintain the health of the Windows application ecosystem, ensuring that every Windows OS release remains compatible with the vast breadth of applications that customers, enterprises, and partners rely on every day. As part of Windows Silicon & Systems Integration, we are responsible for the quality and compatibility of both in-market devices and new hardware, spanning multiple form factors, silicon vendors, and customer segments. In recent years the OS underwent significant rejuvenation, and we continue to evolve the platform to support new devices and AI features. We are expanding our team to ensure we succeed - there has never been a better time to come and work on Windows.

As a Principal Software Engineer Manager in our team in Dublin, you will be a technical and operational leader, responsible for the technical roadmap and vision for the team, the engineering execution and productivity, and the team's organizational health. You will lead and grow a team of engineers whose work impacts every development team globally that writes features for Windows. You will own the strategy, delivery, and quality of solutions that ensure critical app compatibility issues, introduced by the Windows development process, never reach customers. You will coach and develop engineers, set technical direction, and partner across Microsoft to constantly improve our results by leveraging AI and data. You will be accountable for building a high-performing, inclusive team and for the outcomes it delivers.

This opportunity will allow you to:

• Play a fundamental role in defining and building products used by millions of people.
• Work on AI solutions and be at the forefront of the AI revolution.
• Work in a team that operates with a level of autonomy that enables you to have strategic impact and input on what we deliver, not unlike working in a start-up environment.
• Invest in your professional development. Continuously learn on the job and access in person and online training. As part of Microsoft's culture of growth and development, you will participate in a monthly day of learning.
• Experience new engineering challenges to grow and enhance your skills.
• Work in a modern new workspace as part of a team that values results, flexibility, and fun.

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

• People Management: You will deliver success through empowerment and accountability by modeling, coaching, and caring - building trust, developing capabilities, creating clarity, and generating energy for your team.
• You will build, lead, and grow a diverse, inclusive, and high-performing engineering team; hire, coach, and develop engineers, and support their long-term career growth.
• You will set the technical strategy, priorities, and roadmap for your team's charter, and drive execution across multiple projects and release cycles.
• You will be accountable for the delivery, quality, and operational health of the tools and solutions that discover regressions before they are merged into the vast Windows codebase.
• You will lead your team's investment in our automation framework and in enhancing the test authoring experience through AI solutions and cutting-edge MCPs.
• You will foster a culture of engineering excellence, accountability, and inclusion, and model a growth mindset across the team.
• You will partner closely with engineering leaders and teams in Dublin, Redmond, Nairobi, and beyond to tackle compatibility challenges and align on shared goals.
• You will represent your team's work to senior leadership and partner organizations, and embody Microsoft's culture and values.
• You will partner with stakeholders across Windows to shape product strategy and translate it into a clear technical roadmap for the team's compatibility infrastructure, mitigation framework, and test methodology.
• You will establish a culture of extensible, maintainable code and effective code reviews, and drive flexible planning processes that adapt as priorities evolve.
• You will own the team's incident-response strategy, balancing short- and long-term tradeoffs, and drive a culture of high-quality products through robust CI/CD.

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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, or related technical discipline, with proven experience coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python.
• 6+ years' industry experience designing, building, testing, and shipping software, including experience in a technical leadership capacity.
• 3+ years' experience leading and managing software engineering teams, including hiring, coaching, and developing engineers.
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 8+ years' industry experience designing, building, testing, and shipping software, including experience in a technical leadership capacity.
• 5+ years' experience directly managing and growing engineering teams.
• Experience working with and building AI solutions is highly desired.
• Effective problem-solving skills and the ability to deal with ambiguity comfortably.
• Passion for customers, product quality, and drive for results.
• Compelling leadership, communication, and cross-team collaboration skills are key to this role.

#W+DJOBS

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

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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.