Principal Software Engineer - Platform Architect

Principal Software Engineer - Platform Architect

Microsoft Teams is a unified communication and collaboration platform built from the ground-up on Azure, serving millions of users worldwide at scale. We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer - Platform Architect for the Teams Platform, with a focus on AI & LLM technologies, to design and build our next-generation programmability and API interfaces across Microsoft Teams and M365. In this role, you'll shape the infrastructure that enables Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and enterprise developers to introduce intelligent AI agents within Teams. You'll design systems that support Model Context Protocol (MCP), agent-to-agent communication, and secure LLM-driven experiences at hyperscale. You will be empowered to make product-wide technical decisions, directly impacting Microsoft’s flagship product. You'll work within a highly dynamic, collaborative environment rooted in Microsoft’s mission to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more fueled by innovation, respect, integrity, accountability, and inclusion.

Responsibilities:

• Define long-term technical strategy: Set vision and direction for Teams API and AI platform initiatives, including agent-to-agent protocols, composable LLM pipelines, and developer extensibility.
• Architect complex, scalable systems: Lead design for end-to-end scenarios involving distributed microservices, multi-tenant routing, LLM orchestration, tool integration, and secure API endpoints.
• Build hyperscale LLM-enabled infrastructure: Craft systems to support developer-deployed AI agents, multi-step workflows, data connectors, and runtime MCP patterns across global Teams environments.
• Design APIs & SDKs for AI applications: Define developer-facing components that allow ISVs to deploy, configure, and manage LLM-powered agents and tools within Teams.
• Drive engineering culture: Champion scalability, reliability, observability, security, operational excellence, and customer obsession.
• Collaborate broadly: Partner with leadership, cross-functional teams (Research, Security, UX), and ecosystem stakeholders to deliver unified, strategic outcomes.
• Hands-on leadership: Develop, debug, optimize, and maintain platform features end-to-end—from coding to deployment and operational excellence.
• Operational responsibility: Troubleshoot complex infrastructure issues at scale, proactively reduce incidents, and maintain on-call readiness.
• Mentor and foster growth: Build a healthy, inclusive environment, guiding engineers toward excellence in distributed platforms and AI infrastructure.
• Embody the Microsoft culture and values.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 10+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of experience focused on advanced software development and architecture, building commercial-grade, high-availability services.
• 10+ years of experience driving software platform architecture projects from both a technical and functional perspective, guiding complex projects from planning through execution and service operations.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role.
• 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:

• 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++, or Rust OR equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to software engineering excellence.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills, with a history of navigating significant technical challenges, emphasizing a continuous release mindset and service operation in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to lead in a fast-paced, customer focused, and data-driven environment.
• A decisive, self-directed, collaborative, and innovative approach to projects.
• Experience in LLM infrastructure and paradigms: Agent-to-agent communication protocols and orchestration, Model Context Protocol, Integration of third-party tools, APIs, and data sources into LLM pipelines. Secure execution of LLMs in cloud environments, multi-tenant isolation, throttle control.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, 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.