As a Principal Software Engineer in Applied Sciences Group (ASG), you will lead development of the lowest-level software on our new AI devices. These devices may use Linux, Android, or other similar operating systems. You’ll evaluate code from silicon vendors and other open-source code as a starting point, and then customize it to our needs. This includes both driver development for our unique hardware and higher-level systems programming, building the foundation for our application developers.

In this opportunity, you’ll be the primary owner of a complex new codebase, scaling it from our earliest incubations through to shipment. This role will require some physical presence at our labs in Belgrade, Serbia, where you’ll work with our electrical engineering team for initial bring-up and low-level debugging. Most other work should be possible from home.

In Microsoft’s ASG team, we’ve incubated multiple new computing form factors, including the Surface Pro 2-in-1 laptop, Surface Hub collaboration devices, and many other smaller or less successful attempts. In the past, we’ve typically explored new concepts and built the earliest prototypes, then collaborated with other, bigger teams to bring a product to market. We’re now looking to continue that work, with a view to the new interactions enabled by recent advances in LLMs and other large AI/ML models.

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

• System architecture, including vendor silicon evaluation and selection.

• Schematic and other design review in advance of prototype manufacturing.

• Prototype hardware bring-up and initial software development, targeting specific limited experiences to demonstrate.

• Evolution of those initial demos into a maintainable production codebase.

• Mentoring of other contributors to that codebase, including code review.

• This role doesn’t currently involve any people management but might later as these projects advance.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND extensive technical engineering experience with low-level C or C++, with experience owning production code.

• OR equivalent experience.

• Extensive experience in systems engineering for embedded Linux or other similar operating systems.

• Ability to exercise good product judgment with limited formal specifications, considering both your areas of personal expertise and the overall product vision.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience customizing and developing on Linux audio and multimedia subsystems (ALSA, PulseAudio, PipeWire, etc.).

• Deep understanding of security, system updates, and post-launch device support.

• Knowledge of Linux driver and device tree customization and integration.

• Significant open-source contributions, especially to the Linux kernel.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, 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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html) .