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Principal Software Engineer

Microsoft Corporation

ILJobPosted 1w agoStill listed 1 day ago

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At a glance

Compensation
No compensation found
Location
IL
Work Authorization
Not specified

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Job overview

Microsoft seeks a Principal Software Engineer in CISO Security Engineering to define tools and infrastructure and influence security across the company and industry. The role drives the architecture of complex security systems and aligns technical solutions with business goals. It calls for deep experience in distributed systems, cloud architecture, data platforms, and security, with technical leadership and hands-on contributions.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Software EngineeringArchitectural DesignC (Programming Language)C++ (Programming Language)C# (Programming Language)Java (Programming Language)JavaScript (Programming Language)Python (Programming Language)Cloud InfrastructureData InfrastructureGeneral SecurityDistributed SystemsCloud ArchitectureData PlatformsSecurity

Qualifications

Bachelor's in Computer Science or Related Technical Field or Equivalent Experience6+ Years Technical Engineering ExperienceMaster's in Computer Science or Related Technical Field + 8+ Years Experience or Bachelor's in Computer Science or Related Technical Field + 12+ Years Experience or Equivalent Experience

Full job description

Overview We are seeking a visionary and technically strong Principal Software Engineer to work with a high-impact team in CISO Security Engineering. With the future of security in development, CISO Security Engineering is looking for a Principal Systems Engineering Architect to define the tools and infrastructure. In this role, you will apply your software engineering and architecture skills to solve varied technical challenges that are critical to the security of Microsoft’s products and customers. As a Principal Software Engineering Architect in the Microsoft CISO organization you will have a unique opportunity to influence security across the company and industry and have a direct impact on protecting our customers and their data. You will drive designing, evolving and maintaining the architecture of complex security systems. You will collaborate with product managers and engineering managers to align technical solutions and business goals.

Responsibilities

Drive architecture and technical direction across the group. Work with security experts to translate real-world workflows into engineering solutions. Simplify systems and establish reusable architectural patterns. Lead cross-team technical decisions and modernization efforts. Mentor senior engineers and raise the technical bar across the organization. Stay hands-on through design, code reviews, prototypes, and critical implementations. We are looking for someone with deep experience in large-scale distributed systems, cloud architecture, data platforms, and security, with a proven ability to lead through technical depth and influence.

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 Master'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 Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 12+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR equivalent experience.

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.

How this job compares

Set against the 42,527 open Software Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 6, 2026.

Pay
  • This postingNot listed
  • Illinois median$118–199K/yr678 salary ranges
  • Illinois median$41–66/hr28 hourly ranges
Openings
Olive Jobs lists 803 open Software Engineer jobs in Illinois and 42,527 across the US. 8% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Illinois
Experience
This posting asks for at least 6 years of experience; Software Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (34,814 postings).
Education
13,955 of the 42,527 open Software Engineer jobs (33%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 6, 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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