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Microsoft Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Microsoft

Software Engineer II

Mountain View, CA · On-site

Overview Microsoft is a highly innovative company that collaborates across disciplines to produce ... We are looking for a highly motivated Software Development Engineer to build and operate large ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$188K - $304K/yr

Overview The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Frameworks team at Microsoft develops the AI software ... We work closely with ML researchers and developers to optimize and scale out model training and ...

Microsoft

Senior Software Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more ... Software Engineering IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 ...

ETAP Software

Software Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

Required : • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field • 2+ years of professional software development experience • Experience with Microsoft Visual Studio ...

ETAP Software

Senior Software Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$129K - $171K/yr

Required : • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field • 5+ years of professional software development experience • Experience using Microsoft Visual ...

ETAP Software

Software Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

Required : • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field • 2+ years of professional software development experience • Experience using Microsoft Visual ...

Microsoft AI

Senior Software Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$145K - $192K/yr

Microsoft AI is at the forefront of transforming digital advertising through intelligent automation and large-scale optimization. The Senior Software Engineer will collaborate with data scientists ...

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Microsoft Software Engineer information

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$62.7K

$145.6K

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How much do microsoft software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for microsoft software engineer in California is $145,592.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,400.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What type of engineers does Microsoft hire?

Microsoft hires a variety of engineers including software engineers, hardware engineers, security engineers, and data engineers. These roles typically require strong programming skills, knowledge of relevant tools and technologies, and often a background in computer science or related fields.

What are the entry-level jobs at Microsoft?

Entry-level jobs for a Microsoft Software Engineer typically include roles such as Software Development Engineer I or Associate Software Engineer. These positions often require a bachelor's degree in computer science or related fields, programming skills in languages like C++ or Python, and familiarity with software development tools and processes. They provide opportunities for new graduates to gain experience in coding, testing, and collaborating on projects within a team environment.

What is a Microsoft Software Engineer job?

A Microsoft Software Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, testing, and maintaining software products and services. They work with various technologies, programming languages, and frameworks to create innovative solutions that meet user and business needs. Engineers collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers, designers, and other developers, to build scalable and efficient software. They also engage in code reviews, debugging, and optimization to ensure high-quality code.

Is it hard to get hired at Microsoft?

Getting hired as a Microsoft Software Engineer can be competitive due to the company's high standards and rigorous interview process, which often includes technical assessments, coding challenges, and behavioral interviews. Candidates typically need strong programming skills, experience with relevant tools and technologies, and a solid understanding of computer science fundamentals. Success depends on preparation, relevant experience, and demonstrating problem-solving abilities.

How much do software engineers get paid at Microsoft?

Software engineers at Microsoft typically earn a base salary ranging from $100,000 to $160,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and level. Total compensation often includes bonuses, stock options, and benefits, which can significantly increase overall earnings.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Microsoft Software Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Microsoft Software Engineer, candidates typically need strong programming abilities (such as proficiency in C#, C++, or Java), a solid understanding of computer science fundamentals, and a relevant degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with Microsoft development tools like Visual Studio, Azure cloud services, and certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate are often advantageous. Excellent problem-solving skills, effective communication, and the ability to collaborate in diverse teams help individuals excel in this role. These capabilities are essential for delivering robust software solutions, keeping up with technological advancements, and contributing effectively within Microsoft's fast-paced, innovative environment.

What does a typical day look like for a Microsoft Software Engineer?

A typical day for a Microsoft Software Engineer involves writing and reviewing code, participating in team stand-ups or agile sprint meetings, and collaborating with cross-functional teams such as designers, program managers, and testers. Engineers also spend time troubleshooting issues, conducting code reviews, and contributing to architectural or design discussions. There is a strong emphasis on continuous learning and leveraging the latest Microsoft technologies to deliver scalable solutions. This structure provides opportunities to work on impactful projects, develop new skills, and contribute to a global technology leader.

What are popular job titles related to Microsoft Software Engineer jobs in California? For Microsoft Software Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Microsoft Software Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Microsoft Software Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Microsoft Software Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Microsoft Software Engineer job openings:
Microsoft Software Engineer jobs near you
Software Engineer II

Software Engineer II

Microsoft

Mountain View, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago

Microsoft rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 129 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

55th of 202 rated software companies

Job description

Overview
Microsoft is a highly innovative company that collaborates across disciplines to produce cutting-edge cloud technology that changes the world. The Cloud Server Infrastructure team within Microsoft Azure builds and operates the hardware and software foundation powering Microsoft's global cloud services. The platform spans massive scale across global datacenters, requiring continuous innovation in reliability, efficiency, performance, automation, and serviceability.
The team partners across hardware, firmware, software, and operations to improve cloud infrastucture availability and enable next-generation systems. Microsoft also contributes to industry efforts such as Project Olympus and the Open Compute Project to accelerate open hardware innovation.
We are looking for a highly motivated Software Development Engineer to build and operate large-scale cloud infrastructure systems that power Azure. In this role, you will design and develop software that manages and monitors cloud hardware across hyperscale environments, driving improvements in reliability, availability, and performance.
You will work across the full stack-from low-level Linux-based device software to cloud-scale service orchestration-enabling intelligent decision-making on hardware health signals and improving overall cloud hardware availability and performance. This role provides an opportunity to influence next-generation datacenter architecture and contribute to industry ecosystems such as the Open Compute Project, aligning with Microsoft's open hardware innovation strategy.
Responsibilities
  • Design, develop, and maintain Linux-based service and device management stack using C, C++, Python, and systems programming languages.
  • Build and optimize distributed systems and cloud services for monitoring and managing hardware at hyperscale.
  • Implement hardware interface programming (SPI, I2C, GPIO, UART) and support board bring-up, firmware, and Linux boot flows including U-Boot and kernel integration.
  • Develop and enhance device telemetry, health monitoring, hardware health signal processing, and automated remediation workflows.
  • Drive live-site excellence through monitoring, debugging, root cause analysis, repair loops, and continuous service reliability improvements.
  • Collaborate with hardware, firmware, platform, and partner teams to deliver end-to-end solutions across hardware-software boundaries.
  • Translate customer and production feedback into feature enhancements, bug fixes, reliability improvements, and supportability investments.
  • Leverage and contribute to open-source ecosystems such as OCP and Linux where appropriate, bringing relevant best practices into Microsoft platforms.
  • Demonstrate end-to-end ownership for components and features, including design, implementation, validation, deployment, and production support.
  • Apply strong debugging and problem-solving skills in complex distributed, embedded, and hardware-software integrated environments.
  • Deliver secure, maintainable, and high-quality code with clear design documentation, unit/integration coverage, and operational readiness.
  • Participate actively in code reviews, design reviews, technical decision-making, and cross-team alignment.
  • Balance feature delivery with reliability, scalability, observability, performance, and long-term supportability.
  • Communicate clearly with peers, stakeholders, partner teams, and customers; convert ambiguity into actionable engineering plans.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 2+ 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:
  • Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field; OR M.S. with 4+ years of industry development experience; OR B.S. with 8+ years of industry development experience.
  • Strong proficiency in C/C++ systems programming and software design fundamentals.
  • Experience with Python and scripting languages for automation, diagnostics, and tooling.
  • Solid understanding of operating systems concepts, Linux/Unix environments, and system-level debugging.
  • Experience with multi-threaded, concurrent, and user-mode programming.
  • Knowledge of user-kernel interactions, system interfaces, and hardware-software integration concepts.
  • Working knowledge in one or more of the following: C#, .NET or other Object-oriented languages is desirable.
  • Experience with Azure services and database query language such as KQL/Kusto is desired but optional.
  • Strong problem-solving and debugging skills in production or complex integration environments. \Effective written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain technical findings clearly.
  • Experience with Linux kernel development, device drivers, or low-level system components.
  • Exposure to firmware development, BMC, Rack Manager, platform management, or embedded systems.
  • Familiarity with distributed systems, microservices, cloud services, or infrastructure automation.
  • Experience with telemetry pipelines, observability tools, monitoring, alerting, and live-site diagnostics.
  • Knowledge of datacenter hardware architecture, hardware health management, and operational workflows.
  • Understanding of security fundamentals such as secure boot, authentication, authorization, certificate handling, and secure update flows.
  • Experience contributing to open-source projects or engaging with industry communities such as Linux and OCP.

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.

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About Microsoft

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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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