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Principal Electrical Engineer

Microsoft Corporation

Redmond, WAFull-time$143–275K/yrSeen 1w agoSeen in employer's feed 2 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$143–275K/yr
Location
Redmond, WA
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Job overview

Microsoft’s Datacenter Engineering team seeks a global electrical subject matter expert to support technical excellence across its datacenter portfolio. The role sets technical direction for internal experts and external consultants, guides electrical design and operations, and oversees specifications and drawings for datacenter distribution systems. Hiring is planned for hubs in Atlanta, San Antonio, Redmond, Phoenix, or Washington, D.C.; relocation assistance is provided.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Electrical Systems DesignDatacenter DesignCustomer Requirements ManagementReliability CalculationsUninterruptible PowerDiesel GeneratorsElectrical SwitchgearDistribution DesignNeher-McGrath CalculationsShort Circuit AnalysisCoordination StudiesArc Flash AnalysisIndustry StandardsBuilding CodesEquipment ReviewsFactory Witness TestingEngineering LeadershipTechnical Report WritingWritten CommunicationVerbal CommunicationAttention to DetailMicrosoft OfficeMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelVisioMicrosoft PowerPointAutoCADRevitBIMSKMETAP

Qualifications

Doctorate+3, Master's+6, Bachelor's+8 or EquivalentProfessional Engineer LicenseAbility to Travel Domestically and InternationallyMicrosoft Cloud Background Check

Benefits

Relocation Assistance

Full job description

Overview

Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO&I) is the team behind the cloud.  Within CO&I, the Datacenter Engineering (DCE) team is responsible for delivering core datacenter infrastructure for Microsoft’s cloud business. The MS portfolio consists of complex, multi-disciplinary, large scale, multi-year datacenter construction and lease projects. We are looking for a passionate, high-energy individual to help build the cloud datacenters that power the world’s largest online services.

In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will fulfill a technical role for Microsoft as a global datacenter electrical subject matter expert (SME). This role will involve supporting Microsoft’s datacenter Technical Excellence program and projects globally. The successful candidate will be required to set and provide global technical direction for internal DCE electrical subject matter experts (SME) and external consultants. This role will require deep knowledge in the design and coordination of the electrical systems, associated systems and overall topology for Microsoft’s global fleet of datacenters. Additional responsibilities will require the candidate to:

  • Provide consistent and strong leadership with excellent communication, and with a high level of organization.

  • Providing technical guidance for facility operations and support in best practices analysis and strategic improvements, working with equipment manufacturers and integrators.

  • Maintain and manage Microsoft’s master electrical specifications, incorporating continuous improvement updates and aligning with emerging industry requirements

  • Coordinate with other teams within the DCE organization to maintain standard design schedules for consistency across the program.

  • Review existing operational sites and advising other orgs pursuing power harvesting opportunities to optimize existing infrastructure.

  • Interface closely with internal procurement team, manufacturers and the global and local engineering teams to deliver Electrical and Electrical Power Monitoring System (EPMS) solutions needed for projects.

  • Work cross functionally with multiple stakeholders to deliver and continually improve Microsoft’s overall Electrical design approach.

  • Responsible for the oversight of specification and drawing development, detailing the sequence of operation for the Electrical systems and overall drawings and specifications for Microsoft distribution topology.

  • Work effectively with other technical and non-technical groups in a fast-paced environment and facilitate cross-group collaboration and stakeholder alignment.

  • Exhibit personal integrity with a methodical and detail-oriented work ethic.

We will be hiring for this role in either of the hub locations- Atlanta, GA; San Antonio, TX; Redmond, WA; Phoenix, AZ, Washington D.C. Relocation assistance is provided for candidates interested to move to the specified locations.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

  • Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years technical engineering experience OR Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years technical engineering experience in Data center or critical environment field.

  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience

  • 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:

  • Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field AND 5+ years technical engineering experience OR Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience

  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field AND 12+ years technical engineering experience

  • OR equivalent experience.

  • Management of internal customer requirements and design.

  • Experience designing complex electrical engineering systems in Datacenters.

  • Licensed Professional Engineer in Electrical Engineering.

  • Ability to conduct and review availability and reliability calculations.

  • Detailed understanding of uninterruptible power sources, diesel generators, medium- & low-voltage electrical switchgear and distribution design.

  • Detailed understanding of underground distribution design, including Neher-McGrath duct bank heat calculations.

  • Extensive experience in the review and analysis of short circuit, coordination and arc flash studies.

  • Excellent knowledge of industry standards, building codes and regulations.

  • Ability to perform equipment reviews including factory witness testing.

  • Ability to lead teams of internal and external engineers in advanced engineering and operational processes and procedures as they relate to large datacenter environments.

  • Candidate must possess good written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail and maintain high quality standards, including technical report writing.

  • Ability to travel domestically and internationally.

  • Ability to present using the MS office suite; MS word, MS excel, Visio, and MS PowerPoint

  • AutoCAD, REVIT & BIM capability

  • SKM, ETAP power analysis software

#COICareers | #EPCCareers | #DCDCareers

Electrical Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $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:

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. (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html)

How this job compares

Set against the 2,953 open Electrical Engineering jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 2, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$143–275K/yr
  • Washington median$137–205K/yr70 salary ranges
  • US median$129–194K/yr1,785 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $209K, is 22% above the Washington median midpoint ($171K) — in the top quarter of Electrical Engineering salary ranges in Washington.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 83 open Electrical Engineering jobs in Washington and 2,953 across the US. 3% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Washington
Experience
This posting asks for at least 8 years of experience; Electrical Engineering postings that state a minimum ask for 6 years at the median (1,970 postings).
Education
1,382 of the 2,953 open Electrical Engineering jobs (47%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 2, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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