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Microsoft Computer Science Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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 ...

... Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter. Additional or preferred qualifications * Master's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 6+ ...

Computer Field Analyst

Oakland, CA · On-site

$22 - $30/hr

Support Microsoft Windows, Microsoft 365 applications, and enterprise business software * Escalate ... Associate's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent ...

Computer Scientist I

Edwards, CA · On-site

$122K - $150K/yr

... using Microsoft automation tools and in-house source code. JOB SUMMARY - ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS ... In addition, a Computer Scientist I must possess the following qualifications: Knowledge of ...

Computer Scientist I

Edwards, CA · On-site

$122K - $150K/yr

... using Microsoft automation tools and in-house source code. JOB SUMMARY - ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS ... In addition, a Computer Scientist I must possess the following qualifications: * Knowledge of ...

This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter. Preferred Qualifications: * Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computer ...

... data science, and computer science to help us develop a software framework for designing and ... EC2, Microsoft Azure * familiarity with SaltStack or similar Benefits Company Benefits Include

... data science, and computer science to help us develop a software framework for designing and ... EC2, Microsoft Azure * familiarity with SaltStack or similar Benefits Company Benefits Include

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Microsoft Computer Science information

See California salary details

$55.8K

$82K

$96.7K

How much do microsoft computer science jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for microsoft computer science in California is $82,020.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $76,500.00 and $92,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Microsoft Computer Scientist, and why are they important?

To excel as a Microsoft Computer Scientist, you need a solid background in computer science fundamentals, programming languages like C#, C++, or Python, and at least a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with Microsoft's development tools (such as Visual Studio), cloud platforms like Azure, and relevant certifications (e.g., Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert) is highly valuable. Strong problem-solving, teamwork, and effective communication skills help you contribute to complex projects and collaborate across diverse teams. These skills and qualifications are crucial for innovating, building scalable solutions, and driving success within Microsoft's dynamic technology environment.

What is the highest paying job at Microsoft?

The highest paying roles at Microsoft are typically executive positions such as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or Vice President of Engineering, which can offer compensation packages exceeding several million dollars annually, including base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Senior technical roles like Distinguished Engineer or Partner also command high salaries due to their expertise and leadership responsibilities.

What are the typical collaborative projects a Microsoft Computer Science professional might work on, and how does teamwork influence success in this role?

As a Microsoft Computer Science professional, you will often collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers, designers, and other engineers, to develop scalable software solutions. Projects may range from cloud computing services in Azure to building new features for Microsoft Office or Windows. Teamwork is crucial, as success often depends on effective communication, code reviews, and shared responsibilities. Regular stand-up meetings, agile sprints, and pair programming are common practices that help ensure alignment and foster innovation. This collaborative environment not only enhances project outcomes but also supports individual growth through knowledge sharing.

Is computer science dead due to AI?

Computer science professionals, including those in Microsoft-related roles, continue to find demand as AI advances, requiring skills in programming, algorithms, and data analysis. AI tools often complement human expertise rather than replace it, making foundational knowledge in software development and systems design essential for ongoing employment.

What is Microsoft Computer Science?

Microsoft Computer Science typically refers to the study and application of computer science principles within the context of Microsoft technologies. This can include working with programming languages, software development, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and other tech projects using Microsoft tools like Azure, Visual Studio, and .NET. Professionals in this field may work on developing software, managing IT infrastructure, or creating innovative solutions for business and consumer needs. Microsoft also offers educational programs and certifications for those interested in advancing their computer science knowledge and careers.

What are 5 jobs in computer science?

Five common jobs in computer science include software developer, systems analyst, database administrator, cybersecurity analyst, and network engineer. These roles often require programming skills, knowledge of computer systems, and problem-solving abilities, with many positions requiring a bachelor's degree in computer science or related fields.

Is it hard to get hired at Microsoft?

Getting hired for a Microsoft computer science role can be competitive, as the company seeks candidates with strong technical skills, relevant experience, and often advanced degrees or certifications. The hiring process typically involves multiple interviews, coding assessments, and technical evaluations to assess problem-solving abilities and fit. Success depends on preparation, technical proficiency, and alignment with the company's requirements and culture.
What job categories do people searching Microsoft Computer Science jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Microsoft Computer Science jobs in California are:
Infographic showing various Microsoft Computer Science job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 17% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,020 per year, or $39.4 per hour.
Principal Software Engineer - Performance

Principal Software Engineer - Performance

Microsoft

Mountain View, CA • On-site

$159K - $213K/yr

Full-time

Posted 6 days ago


Microsoft rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 130 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

57th of 209 rated software companies


Job description

Overview
The Artificial Intelligence Cloud Inference team at Microsoft develops AI software that enables running AI models everywhere, from world's fastest AI supercomputers, to servers, desktops, mobile phones, IoT devices and internet browsers. We collaborate with our hardware teams and partners, both internal and external, and operate at the intersection of AI algorithmic innovation, purpose-built AI hardware, systems, and software. We are a team of highly capable and motivated people that pride themselves on a collaborative and inclusive culture.
We own inference performance of OpenAI and other state of the art LLM models and work directly with OpenAI on the models hosted on the Azure OpenAI service serving some of the largest workloads on the planet with trillions of inferences per day in major Microsoft products, including Office, Windows, Bing, SQL Server, and Dynamics.
As a Principal Software Engineer - Performance on the team, you will have the opportunity to work on multiple levels of the AI software stack, including the fundamental abstractions, programming models, runtimes, libraries and APIs to enable large scale training and inferencing of models. You will benchmark OpenAI and other LLM models for performance on GPUs and Microsoft HW, debug and optimize performance at all levels of abstraction including kernel, model, algorithm and system level, monitor performance and drive efficiencies that contribute to achieving Microsoft Azure's capex goals.
This is a hands-on technical role requiring software design and development skills. We're looking for someone who has a demonstrated history of solving technical problems and is motivated to tackle the hardest problems in building a full end-to-end AI stack. An entrepreneurial approach and ability to take initiative and move fast are essential.
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
As a Principal Software Engineer on the team the common tasks of the job would include, but not be limited to:
  • Identify and drive improvements to end-to-end inference performance of OpenAI and other state of the art LLMs
  • Measure, benchmark performance on Nvidia/AMD GPU's and first party Microsoft silicon
  • Optimize and monitor performance of LLMs and build SW tooling to enable insights into performance opportunities ranging from the model level to the systems and silicon level, help reduce the footprint of the computing fleet and achieve Azure AI capex goals
  • Enable fast time to market of LLMs/models and their deployments at scale by building SW tools that afford velocity in porting models on new Nvidia, AMD GPUs and Maia silicon
  • Design, implement, and test functions or components for our AI/DNN/LLM frameworks and tools
  • Speeding up/reducing complexity of key components/pipelines to improve performance and/or efficiency of our systems
  • Communicate and collaborate with our partners both internal and external
  • Embody Microsoft's Culture and Values

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:
  • 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:
  • Master'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 Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 15+ 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' practical experience working on high performance applications and performance debug and optimization on CPU's/GPU's.
  • Technical background and solid foundation in software engineering principles, computer architecture, GPU architecture, HW neural net acceleration.
  • Experience in end-to-end performance analysis and optimization of state of the art LLMs, HPC applications including proficiency using GPU profiling tools.
  • Experience in DNN/LLM inference and experience in one or more DL frameworks such as PyTorch, Tensorflow, or ONNX Runtime and familiarity with CUDA, ROCm, Triton.

#AIInfra
Software Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $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
Software Engineering IC6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $165,600 - $296,400 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 $220,800 - $331,200 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.

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About Microsoft

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 100 datacenters and 1 million servers. Our foundation is built upon and managed by a team of subject matter experts working to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide. With environmental sustainability and optimization at the forefront of our datacenter design and operations, we continue to grow and evolve as we meet the ever-changing business demands that hold Microsoft as a world-class cloud provider.

Industry

Computer and computer peripheral equipment and software wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Redmond, WA, US

Year founded

1975

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