Principal Firmware Engineer

• As a Principal Firmware Engineer, you will be part of engineering team and collaborate with partners to develop and maintain the BIOS/UEFI portfolio, supporting infrastructure across the Azure fleet.
• Drive strategic objectives and key results to enhance Azure's BIOS/UEFI security posture by ensuring timely resolutions of security vulnerabilities and keeping firmware components current, thereby achieving the highest security standards across the fleet.
• Partnering with the Hardware New Program Initiative team and engineering counterparts, you will oversee the development of new hardware SKUs, ensuring compliance with BIOS/UEFI requirements, adherence to development schedules, comprehensive validation, and the successful execution of rollout plans for AI-driven, next-generation compute, and high-memory SKUs.
• Beyond leading new product introduction (NPI) hardware development, this role will champion the implementation of new BIOS/UEFI requirements to optimize performance, telemetry, and diagnostics in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Manage requirements, and feature delivery through agile execution, including sprints, backlogs, and milestones, while leading continuous planning efforts.
• Define, communicate, and establish vendor-agnostic requirements for innovative hardware solutions powering Azure, engaging actively with internal and external partners such as silicon vendors, ODMs, and OEMs worldwide.
• Microsoft is at the forefront of developing standardized requirements and processes with key stakeholders in the hardware and firmware industry. In this role, you will partner with architects, technical program managers, and engineering leaders to advance these standardization efforts within Microsoft and throughout the silicon industry.

• Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field AND 3+ years technical engineering experience OR Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field AND 6+ years technical engineering experience OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience OR equivalent experience.

Other: 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., * 12+ years of experience with majority as a Technical Lead, or similar.

• Proficient in developing low-level FW or SW for HW platforms, including FW, BIOS, UEFI, EDK2, BMC, among others.
• Demonstrated expertise in leadership, and cross-functional collaboration, with a proven history of overseeing complex projects spanning multiple disciplines and business groups.
• Experience managing the product lifecycle from project inception through release, with the capability to guide teams toward realizing strategic visions.
• Proven ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments, balance multiple priorities, and drive resolution with a commitment to quality.
• Advanced problem-solving abilities and strategic thinking, with the capacity to develop and monitor success metrics for designated areas.
• Strong ability to synthesize information and communicate solutions to intricate technical challenges with effective presentations across all levels of the organization, both technical and non-technical.
• Bonus Qualifications:

• Background in firmware / software development, testing strategies, and requirements definition.
• Familiarity with end-to-end CPU/SoC product development processes.
• Experience with data center hardware/software projects, from concept through deployment.
• Technically adept, capable of addressing complex problems, and able to work independently.
• Over 10+ years of experience in software development using one or more programming languages such as C, C++, C#, Python, etc.

Firmware 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.

$142,800 - $304,200 a year - Full-time

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