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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Senior/Principal Product Systems Engineer - **Company:** Microsoft - **Location:** Cambridge, UK - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** £74,700.0 - £122,600.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Systems Engineering, Microsoft Azure, Computer Engineering, Firmware, Software Engineering, AI Infrastructure, Information Technology - **Published:** September 27, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.adzuna.co.uk/jobs/details/5899759567 ## About the Role * Degree in electrical or electronic engineering, computer engineering, systems engineering, physics, applied physics, photonics, computer science, or a related field, and relevant experience in systems engineering, product development, hardware engineering, or technical product integration; or equivalent experience. * Broad technical understanding across some of the following: optical links and photonics, mixed-signal electronics, ASICs, packaging, signal and power integrity, thermal and mechanical design, networking, reliability, and high-volume manufacturing. * Experience defining requirements, specifications, interfaces, verification plans, or qualification criteria for a complex multidisciplinary hardware or infrastructure product. * Experience leading system-level technical trade-offs and integrating contributions from multiple engineering disciplines. * Experience working directly with external suppliers, technology partners, OEMs, ODMs, or component vendors on technical deliverables and design reviews. * Ability to operate effectively in an ambiguous, fast-moving environment spanning research, product engineering, and commercialization. * Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken, including the ability to explain assumptions, document decisions, and align diverse technical and non-technical stakeholders., * Experience taking a complex hardware, optical, semiconductor, networking, or cloud-infrastructure technology product through its full development cycle from concept or prototype through design validation, qualification, manufacturing readiness, or deployment. * Experience building technical and product roadmaps that connect customer or internal product scenarios to architecture, supplier capability, validation evidence, and investment decisions. * Demonstrated ability to provide strong execution leadership across teams while retaining ownership of product definition and system-level technical outcomes. * For appointment at the Principal level, demonstrated experience setting technical direction, leading across organizational boundaries, and influencing product or platform decisions for complex engineering programs. ## Description * Own the system-level product definition, including requirements, specifications, interfaces, acceptance criteria, and technical baselines. * Translate AI infrastructure and networking scenarios into measurable performance, reliability, cost, power, manufacturability, serviceability, and deployment requirements. * Lead multidisciplinary architecture, design, and trade-off reviews across optics, electronics, photonics, packaging, thermal, mechanical, firmware, networking, manufacturing, test, and qualification. * Act as a primary technical interface with suppliers and development partners, ensuring deliverables are complete, testable, and aligned to specification. * Partner with Microsoft Research, Azure engineering, product, supply-chain, and operations teams to maintain an integrated product and technology roadmap. * Own the system-level risk register, verification strategy, qualification plan, and stage-gate criteria from prototype through deployment readiness. * Coordinate technical execution across workstreams by maintaining clear decisions, interfaces, dependencies, milestones, and escalation paths. Communicate product maturity, technical gaps, alternatives, and recommendations to technical and senior stakeholders. ## Related Videos - [Breaking the Hardware Mindset: Overcoming Barriers to System-Level Innovation](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1635-breaking-the-hardware-mindset-overcoming-barriers-to-system-level-innovation) - [Building the Nervous System of AI - Michael Kagan (NVIDIA)](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2133-building-the-nervous-system-of-ai-michael-kagan-nvidia) - [Developer Tools for Microsoft Azure](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/450-developer-tools-for-microsoft-azure) - [Playing Pong on a shoulder press machine](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100140-playing-pong-on-a-shoulder-press-machine) - [Develop enterprise-ready applications for Microsoft Teams with Azure resources on modern web technologies](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/187-develop-enterprise-ready-applications-for-microsoft-teams-with-azure-resources-on-modern-web-technologies) - [Why Your Best Mediors Never Become Seniors (And How to Fix It)](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2108-why-your-best-mediors-never-become-seniors-and-how-to-fix-it) ## Related Articles - [What Jobs Can You Get with a Software Engineering Degree?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/398-what-jobs-can-you-get-with-a-software-engineering-degree) - [The 12 Best Jobs for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/401-the-12-best-jobs-for-software-engineers) - [What Are The Top Skills Required For Azure Developers?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/77-what-are-the-top-skills-required-for-azure-developers) - [What is Software Engineering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/289-what-is-software-engineering) - [What’s the Difference between a Junior, Mid, and Senior Developer?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/238-what-s-the-difference-between-a-junior-mid-and-senior-developer) - [Is Software Engineering Hard?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/448-is-software-engineering-hard)