Design Engineer II

Overview

Microsoft Foundry is empowering developers and organizations to build the next generation of AI applications and agents. As AI transforms how software is designed and built, we're rethinking the tools, workflows, and experiences that help developers bring ideas to life.

We are looking for a UX Engineer II who thrives at the intersection of design, engineering, and AI. We're seeking a creative, technically curious builder who combines an eye for design with hands-on prototyping skills and a passion for exploring new technologies.

In this role, you'll help bridge the gap between design and engineering, turning ideas into interactive experiences, experimenting with emerging AI technologies, and developing tools that help teams design and build more effectively. You'll work closely with product designers, researchers, engineers, and product managers to explore new possibilities, validate ideas, and elevate the quality of our products.

We're looking for someone who enjoys working across traditional disciplines, is comfortable experimenting with code, and is excited about the rapidly evolving ways AI is changing product development. This is an opportunity to join a multidisciplinary team shaping the future of Microsoft Foundry, where design craft, technical exploration, and a builder's mindset come together to create exceptional developer experiences.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities

• Prototype and experiment: Translate concepts, designs, and emerging ideas into functional, interactive prototypes and demos using design tools, code, and AI-assisted development workflows.
• Bridge design and engineering: Collaborate with product designers and engineers to bring design intent to life, explore technical feasibility, and ensure high-quality, polished user experiences.
• Explore AI-powered experiences: Experiment with AI models, agents, and emerging interaction patterns to help shape innovative experiences for developers building with AI.
• Contribute to design systems and UI quality: Help evolve reusable UI components, interaction patterns, and design system implementations, with an emphasis on consistency, accessibility, performance, and design fidelity.
• Use code as a creative medium: Leverage front-end technologies and modern development tools to explore ideas beyond static mockups, contributing to production UI implementations where appropriate in partnership with engineering teams.
• Collaborate across disciplines: Work with designers, researchers, product managers, and engineers to gather feedback, iterate quickly, and communicate ideas through tangible, testable experiences.

Qualifications

Required/minimum qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Graphic Design, Product Design, Visual Design, Human Computer Interaction or related field AND 2+ years experience working in product or service design and/or shipping production code OR equivalent experience.

Additional or preferred qualifications

• Masters Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Graphic Design, Product Design, Visual Design, Human Computer Interaction, or related field AND 3+ years experience working in product or service design and/or shipping production code OR Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Graphic Design, Product Design, Visual Design, Human Computer Interaction, or related field AND 5+ years experience working in product or service design and/or shipping production code OR equivalent experience.
• 2+ years experience shipping production-ready code as a result of a collaborative process.
• Experience with Figma, Sketch, or other modern design tools, including AI-assisted design & prototyping tools.
• Experience with modern front-end frameworks and technologies such as React, TypeScript, SwiftUI, or similar tools and git workflows.

We value curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to learn. UX Engineers come from a variety of backgrounds, and we recognize that no single person will bring every skill to the table. We're interested in people who enjoy building things, approach challenges with a design mindset, and are excited about using technology to expand what's possible.

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.

UX 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.