Join the Windows Cloud Experiences team as Senior Software Engineer and help build the core Windows client technologies that power secure, high‑performance remote desktop experiences at global scale. As part of the Windows + Devices organization, we design and ship foundational Windows client components that integrate deeply with the OS, input subsystem, devices, and hardware — while connecting seamlessly to cloud‑powered services.
This role is ideal for C++ engineers who enjoy working close to the operating system, care about security, performance and reliability, and want to build real‑world innovative features that millions of users depend on every day.
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
- Design and implement native Windows components in modern C++ with deep integration into Win32, COM, Windows services, and system APIs.
- Work on device redirection, input, display, audio/video, USB, HID, and peripheral integration used by remote desktop and virtualization scenarios.
- Create and maintain solutions to ensure that keyboard input is secure from keyloggers running on the local client device (Windows Cloud Input Protection).
- Develop and maintain cross‑process, cross‑thread, and performance‑critical code paths where correctness, latency, and stability matter.
Systems‑Level Engineering at Scale
- Diagnose and fix issues spanning kernel / user‑mode boundaries, OS integration, drivers, services, and client applications.
- Optimize memory usage, threading models, IPC, and I/O in complex, long‑running Windows client processes.
- Partner closely with Windows platform, security, and device teams to ensure robust and secure implementations.
End‑to‑End Ownership
- Participate in the full lifecycle: architecture, implementation, testing, deployment, and live‑site debugging using telemetry, dumps, and traces.
- Contribute to engineering excellence through code reviews, design reviews, testability, and long‑term maintainability.
- Drive iterative improvements in a fast‑paced, agile environment with frequent releases.
Technologies You’ll Work With
- C++ for native Windows application and driver development.
- Win32, WinRT, COM, RPC, services, and system APIs.
- Windows input, graphics, audio/video, networking, and device stacks.
Why This Role?
- Work on core Windows client technology, not just surface UI.
- Solve hard systems problems that span devices, OS internals, and cloud services.
- Ship features used by enterprises and customers around the world.
- Be part of a team that values technical depth, ownership, and craftsmanship.
Qualifications
Required/Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 4+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, or C#.
- OR equivalent experience.
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:
- Solid experience in C or C++, with production‑quality, shipped code.
- Experience building native Windows applications or system components.
- 4+ years of professional development experience on Windows.
- Deep knowledge of Win32, COM, Windows services, and system internals.
- Experience with device integration, low‑level input, audio/video, USB, or driver‑adjacent code.
- Experience debugging performance, memory, and concurrency issues in native codebases.
- Familiarity with remote desktop or virtualization technologies such as RDP, PCoIP, or ICA.
- Experience working close to the OS, including diagnostics with ETW, dumps, and debuggers.
#W+DJOBS #Win365 #AVD
Software Engineering IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 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 $160,200 - $261,000 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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 4+ years technical engineering experience with coding in C, C++, or C# OR equivalent experience.
- Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements, including passing the Microsoft Cloud background check.
- Solid experience in C or C++ with production-quality, shipped code.
- Experience building native Windows applications or system components.
- 4+ years of professional development experience on Windows.
- Deep knowledge of Win32, COM, Windows services, and system internals.
- Experience with device integration, low-level input, audio/video, USB, or driver-adjacent code.
- Experience debugging performance, memory, and concurrency issues in native codebases.
- Familiarity with remote desktop or virtualization technologies such as RDP, PCoIP, or ICA.
- Experience with diagnostics tools and workflows such as ETW, dumps, and debuggers.
Microsoft Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Microsoft and has not been reviewed or approved by Microsoft.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is presented as broadly competitive overall, with clear role/level/location variation and an emphasis on using posted ranges and band information for apples-to-apples comparisons.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits are described as a standout, highlighted by a strong 401(k) match structure and immediate vesting, plus additional plan features for tax-advantaged saving.
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Parental & Family Support — Family-oriented benefits are portrayed as a meaningful strength, with substantial paid parental leave and added supports like back-up care and adoption/surrogacy assistance.
Microsoft Insights
What We Do
At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our mission is grounded in both the world in which we live and the future we strive to create. Today, we live in a mobile-first, cloud-first world, and the transformation we are driving across our businesses is designed to enable Microsoft and our customers to thrive in this world.
