Principal Software Engineering Manager - Substrate- CTJ- Secret (Cleared Environments)

Microsoft Corporation

Redmond, WA

JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$139,900–$274,800 Per Year
SKILLS
Background Investigation, Business Growth, Business Strategy, C Programming Language, C++ Programming Language, Candidate Screening, Cloud Computing, Coaching, Communication Skills, Computer Science, Embedded Systems, Engineering, Engineering Management, Government Requirements, High Availability, High Reliability, Identify Issues, Incident Management, Integrated Circuits (ICs), Java, JavaScript, Leadership, Microsoft C# (C Sharp), Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Product Family, People Management, Python Programming/Scripting Language, Reliability Engineering, Security Clearance, Software Engineering, Succession Planning, System Operations, Technical Strategy, Technical/Engineering Design
LOCATION
Redmond, WA
POSTED
11 days ago
**Overview** Microsoft **Substrate** is the foundational cloud platform that powers many of Microsoft's most critical services including **Exchange Online** and **M365 Copilot** , providing shared infrastructure, identity, messaging, storage, and service-to-service capabilities used across Microsoft 365 and related cloud offerings. Substrate services operate at global scale and are designed to deliver high availability, reliability, security, and compliance for some of the world's most demanding workloads. We are seeking a **Principal Software Engineering Manager** to lead a mixed organization of **Site Reliability Engineers** and **Software Engineers** responsible for building and operating Substrate services across highly regulated and enterprise-critical environments. This role requires strong technical depth, operational judgment, and people leadership, with the ability to scale impact through managers while remaining deeply connected to engineering fundamentals and service health. As a principal-level manager, you will define and drive technical and organizational strategy, grow senior engineering leaders, and partner across engineering, security, compliance, and operations to ensure Substrate services are reliable by design. You will be accountable for delivering durable engineering systems, strong operational posture, and a healthy, high-performing organization that can sustain long-term business growth. 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** + **Lead and develop Site Reliability Engineering Managers** , coaching them to build strong, accountable SRE organizations and scale operational excellence through others. + **Lead a set of Software Engineering ICs** , ensuring strong software engineering fundamentals, clear technical direction, and high-quality execution across the engineering lifecycle. + **Own the end-to-end engineering and operational health** of your organization's services, balancing feature delivery, reliability, security, and compliance. + Establish and drive **technical and organizational strategy** for your area, aligning engineering investments with business priorities and long-term platform goals. + **Guide engineering design and architecture decisions** , ensuring reliability, diagnosability, security, and compliance are embedded early and consistently. + Drive strong **incident management, learning culture, and post-incident reviews** , emphasizing systemic improvements and long-term resilience. + **Develop senior and principal-level talent** , including succession planning for managers and technical leaders. + Partner closely with product, security, compliance, infrastructure, and operations teams to deliver **durable, auditable, and scalable services** . + Communicate clearly and credibly with leadership, articulating risks, tradeoffs, priorities, and progress across technical and organizational dimensions. **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. **Other Requirements:** **Security Clearance Requirements** Candidates must be able to meet **Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements** required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the following specialized security screenings: This role requires access to **Microsoft Government cloud environments** , including **GCC Moderate (GCCM), GCC High (GCCH), and Department of Defense (DoD)** environments. As a result, the successful candidate must be able to **obtain and maintain** the appropriate background investigations and customer screenings required for access to these environments. + For access to **GCCH and DoD environments** , this role requires the ability to obtain and maintain a **favorably adjudicated Tier 3 (T3) background investigation** . + For access to **GCCM environments** , this role requires the ability to meet **Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS)** eligibility requirements. For **manager-level roles** , a **Tier 5 (T5) background investigation is preferred** , as certain approval authorities and operational responsibilities require this level of screening. Candidates **may be considered without currently holding these background investigations** , provided they are **eligible for and able to successfully obtain them** . Candidates may begin work while required background investigations are in progress; however, **failure to obtain or maintain the appropriate clearance and/or customer screening requirements may result in employment action up to and including termination** . In addition, this position will be required to **pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter** . **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. + 4+ years people management experience. + Experience operating or supporting services in **regulated, sovereign, or compliance-sensitive environments** . Software Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $139,900 - $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)

About the Company

M

Microsoft Corporation

DO WHAT YOU LOVE
Make your mark on the world’s most used technologies. Develop the next hit mobile application. Pioneer a startup that could be the next big thing. At Microsoft, you choose your path.

Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, Microsoft is a top innovator in both the consumer and enterprise technology industry. Just a few of the many things our products do are unleash creativity, connect businesses, and make learning more fun. But our continued success is based on one thing: our employees. We hire amazing, talented people and give them the opportunities—and the tools—to succeed.

WHY MICROSOFT?
As a Microsoft employee, you’re surrounded by a diverse group of the smartest people in your field. This fosters new ideas, better business results, and creates a dynamic work environment. In the office, you’re constantly challenged and supported by your colleagues. Every day holds something new and exciting.

We also offer unparalleled depth and breadth of career opportunities. As an industry leader in multiple fields, working for Microsoft means being able to do whatever you feel passionate about—and being able to make an impact in that field. From day one, we give our employees significant responsibility. This means that you’ll know that you directly contributed to something that has a positive impact on people worldwide. Whether you choose to work in management, dive deep into the newest technology, or explore multiple professions, you’ll find everything you need at Microsoft to drive your career—and to make a difference.

WE GET IT – YOU’RE MORE THAN YOUR JOB
Everyone works differently and is motivated by different things. We also understand that there’s more to you than your job. That’s why we offer competitive pay and a wide assortment of benefits-- to help you make the most of life at work and away from it.

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COMPANY SIZE
10,000 employees or more
INDUSTRY
Other/Not Classified
FOUNDED
1975
WEBSITE
http://www.microsoft.com