Software Engineer II - Remote Desktop Protocol & Redirection

Overview Join the Windows Cloud Experiences team to build core Windows client technologies that power secure, high-performance remote desktop experiences at global scale. As part of the Windows + Devices organization, you will design and ship foundational Windows client components that integrate with the operating system, devices, and hardware while connecting to cloud-powered services. This role is suited for engineers with experience building native C++ software close to the operating system, particularly in performance-sensitive and reliability-critical environments. You will solve systems-level problems, contribute to technical design decisions, and own well-scoped features and components through the engineering lifecycle.

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 Build Core Windows Client and Device Experiences

• Implement native Windows components in modern C++, integrating with Win32, COM, Windows services, and system APIs.
• Build capabilities involving device redirection, input, display, audio/video, USB, and HID integration for remote desktop and virtualization scenarios.
• Develop and maintain cross-process, cross-thread, performance-critical code paths where correctness, latency, reliability, and stability are important.
• Contribute to technical design decisions and evaluate tradeoffs across the Windows client components and devices you work on.

Systems-Level Engineering

• Investigate and resolve systems-level issues spanning kernel and user-mode boundaries, operating system integration, drivers, services, and client applications.
• Optimize memory usage, threading models, IPC, and I/O within complex, long-running Windows client processes.
• Diagnose performance, reliability, memory, and concurrency issues using telemetry, traces, dumps, debuggers, and other diagnostic tools.
• Partner with Windows platform, security, device, and other engineering teams to design robust and secure implementations.
• Work through technically ambiguous problems with the team, identify appropriate engineering tradeoffs, and carry solutions across component boundaries.

Technical Ownership

• Own well-scoped features across the engineering lifecycle, including design, implementation, testing, deployment, telemetry, and live-site debugging.
• Contribute to design and code reviews, and apply engineering practices for testability, performance, reliability, and long-term maintainability.
• Contribute to iterative improvements to Windows client technologies in an agile engineering environment with frequent releases.
• Investigate customer and production issues, determine root causes, and implement engineering improvements that reduce recurrence.
• Share systems-level knowledge through design discussions and code reviews, and contribute to raising engineering quality across the team.

Technologies You may work across technologies including:

• C++ for native Windows and systems-level development.
• C#, .NET, and WinUI.
• Win32, WinRT, COM, RPC, Windows services, and system APIs.
• Windows input, graphics, audio/video, networking, and device stacks.
• Windows diagnostics and debugging technologies, including ETW, traces, dumps, and debuggers.

Qualifications Required/Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 2+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C++, C#• 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:

• Experience developing native Windows applications or system components.
• Experience with Win32, COM, Windows services, or Windows system APIs.
• Experience debugging performance, memory, threading, or concurrency issues in native code.
• Experience with device integration, USB, HID, audio/video, or driver-adjacent development.
• Familiarity with remote desktop or virtualization technologies such as RDP or ICA.
• Experience using ETW, traces, dumps, or debuggers for Windows diagnostics.
• Experience using AI-assisted engineering tools responsibly to improve development, testing, or debugging workflows.

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Software Engineering IC3 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $102,100 - $202,200 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 $133,800 - $219,200 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.