Join the Windows Cloud Experiences team and help redefine how people connect to and interact with their Windows environments, anytime, anywhere, and from any device. We’re building the next generation of remote desktop experiences and are looking for engineers excited to solve complex technical problems across C++, graphics, media, and low-latency desktop streaming.
As a Software Engineer II working on Windows desktop remoting, you will work alongside engineers and product managers to build high-performance experiences that connect users to Windows across devices and network conditions. You will have opportunities to work on technologies spanning graphics and rendering, GPU acceleration, remote desktop protocols, real-time media pipelines, and video encoding and decoding.
Our team moves quickly, collaborates closely, and is focused on building reliable, high-quality experiences for customers at scale.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, test, and optimize C++ software for Windows desktop remoting and streaming experiences.
- Build high-fidelity, low-latency remote desktop experiences that perform across a range of devices and network conditions.
- Develop and optimize components across graphics, rendering, GPU acceleration, and real-time media pipelines.
- Contribute to remote desktop and streaming technologies, including RDP, video encoding/decoding, and modern codecs such as H.264 and H.265/HEVC.
- Investigate and improve performance, reliability, and quality using debugging, telemetry, and performance analysis.
- Collaborate across engineering disciplines to integrate Windows clients, virtualized environments, and cloud-hosted desktops.
- Diagnose complex technical issues across graphics, media, networking, and Windows system components.
- Participate in design discussions, code reviews, testing, and continuous improvements to engineering quality.
Qualifications
Required/Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 2+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages using C++
- OR equivalent experience.
Additional or preferred qualifications
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:
- Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages using C++.
- OR Master's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 6+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages using C++
- OR equivalent experience.
- Experience developing performance-sensitive or systems-level software using C++.
- Experience in one or more of the following areas: graphics, rendering, GPU programming, desktop remoting, video/media streaming, or real-time media processing.
- Familiarity with graphics or GPU technologies such as DirectX/Direct3D, Vulkan, OpenGL, or CUDA.
- Experience with video encoding/decoding, media pipelines, or codecs such as H.264, H.265/HEVC.
- Experience with remote desktop, desktop streaming, screen capture, virtualization, or low-latency interactive applications.
- Familiarity with Windows internals, Windows OS concepts, or native Windows development.
- Experience debugging and optimizing performance, latency, memory, or resource utilization in complex software systems.
#W+DJOBS
Software 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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related technical field and 2+ years of technical engineering experience with coding in C++, or equivalent experience
- Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements
- Pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire or transfer and every two years thereafter
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related technical field and 8+ years of technical engineering experience with coding in C++, or equivalent experience
- Master's degree in Computer Science or a related technical field and 6+ years of technical engineering experience with coding in C++, or equivalent experience
- Experience developing performance-sensitive or systems-level software using C++
- Experience with graphics, rendering, GPU programming, desktop remoting, video/media streaming, or real-time media processing
- Familiarity with DirectX/Direct3D, Vulkan, OpenGL, or CUDA
- Experience with video encoding/decoding, media pipelines, or H.264 and H.265/HEVC codecs
- Experience with remote desktop, desktop streaming, screen capture, virtualization, or low-latency interactive applications
- Familiarity with Windows internals, Windows OS concepts, or native Windows development
- Experience debugging and optimizing performance, latency, memory, or resource utilization in complex software systems
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.
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