Principal Hardware Engineer, AI Systems

• Serve as theSystem Technical Lead (STL)and end-to-end technical owner for next-generation AIand GPUplatforms from architecture handoff through production deployment and fleet readiness.

• Partner closely withSystem Architectsto translate product requirements, workload needs, architectural intent, andnew technologiesinto executable system designs, engineering requirements, and development plans.

• Drive program-level technical execution across hardware, firmware, software, validation, manufacturing, and datacenter infrastructure teams, ensuring alignment to system requirements, architecture specifications, schedule, and qualityobjectives.

• Lead cross-functional technical decision making and resolve complex system-level tradeoffs spanning performance, power, thermal, mechanical, reliability, manufacturability, serviceability, cost, and total cost of ownership (TCO).

• Own technical readiness for key program milestones, design reviews, phase exits, and production releases, ensuring engineering deliverables are complete, integrated, and meet quality expectations.

• Maintain end-to-end system integrity across electrical, mechanical, thermal, firmware, networking, rack, and datacenter domains, ensuring seamless integration fromcomponentto rack and cluster level.

• Drive alignment across engineering disciplines including Electrical, Mechanical, Thermal, Power, Firmware, System Engineering, Validation, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams to deliver a cohesive system solution.

• Partner with TPMs toestablishand manage program technical baselines, assess technical impacts of design changes,identifyrisks, and drive issue resolution throughout the development lifecycle.

• Evaluate, de-risk, and enable adoption of new and disruptive technologies, including AI accelerators, advanced memory architectures, liquid cooling solutions, optical interconnects, rack-scale infrastructure, and emerging datacenter technologies.

• Collaborate with ODMs, silicon suppliers, and ecosystem partners to influence technical direction, resolve critical issues, and ensure successful integration and production readiness.

• Communicate technical status, risks, mitigation plans, and key decisions to engineering leadership and executive stakeholders while serving as the primary point of accountability for program technical success.

• Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 7+ years technical engineering experience

• OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience
• 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:

• Proven track record leading cross-functional technical execution across hardware, firmware, software, and datacenter infrastructure.

• Deepsystemexpertisein power delivery, thermal and liquid cooling, signal integrity, mechanical design, and reliability.

• Experience bringing high-volume silicon platforms (GPU, SoC, accelerator) from architecture through productionramp.

• Hands-on experience with PCIe, DDR, Ethernet, BIOS/BMC, and Linux and Windows integration.

• Experience with datacenter-scale AI systems, including system debug and root cause analysis.

• Proven ability to evaluate AI systems using performance-per-watt and performance-per-dollar metrics.

• Clear, concise communicator with the ability to influence technical direction across teams and at senior levels.

• BS / MS in Electrical/Computer Engineering or equivalent industry experience

• 10+ years of relevant experience in system (compute, storage, networking, and/or accelerator) level design and/or implementation across the hardware development lifecycle.

• 10+ years of hands-on experience in server hardware architecture, design, and development with solid understanding of hardware, firmware, and Operating System (OS).

• Proven experience delivering AI and GPU-based systems to production.

Hardware 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.

Microsoft is a global technology company headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. We develop, license, and support a wide range of software products, services, and devices that help individuals and businesses realize their full potential.

Our flagship products include the Microsoft 365 productivity cloud, Windows operating system, Azure cloud platform, and Dynamics 365 business applications. We are also a leader in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, developer tools, and gaming through Xbox and Game Pass.

With operations in more than 190 countries and over 220,000 employees worldwide, Microsoft is committed to responsible innovation, inclusive economic growth, and sustainability. We work closely with governments, industries, and communities to ensure that technology serves the public good and helps address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

As we celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2025, we continue to look forward—investing in AI, cloud, and quantum computing to shape the future of work, education, and society at large scale.