Prinicipal Software Engineer - System Optimization

The Artificial Intelligence Frameworks team at Microsoft builds the software foundation that enables AI to run everywhere. We operate at the intersection of AI algorithmic innovation, purposebuilt hardware, largescale systems, and production software, working closely with internal hardware teams and external partners. Our team is composed of highly capable, deeply motivated engineers who value technical excellence, collaboration, and an inclusive culture. 

We own inference performance for OpenAI and other stateoftheart large language models, working directly with OpenAI on models deployed through Azure OpenAI Service. These systems power some of the largest AI workloads on the planet—serving trillions of inferences per day across Microsoft products. 

As a Principal Software Engineer - System Optimization you will provide technical leadership across the AI inference software stack, with a strong focus on highperformance, largescale serving systems. You will lead the benchmarking and optimization of cuttingedge LLMs across GPUs and Microsoft’s custom AI hardware, architect improvements to distributed serving pipelines, and drive deep performance investigations across complex, multilayered systems. You will own critical performance and efficiency metrics, design and implement durable optimizations, and influence technical direction across teams. In close partnership with research, hardware, and production engineering groups, you will help deliver nextgeneration AI capabilities into Microsoft’s most widely used products—directly shaping Azure’s efficiency and the future of Microsoft’s AI infrastructure. 

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. We bring a growth mindset to our work, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize shared goals. Guided by our values of respect, integrity, and accountability, we strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone can do their best work and thrive. 

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. 

As a Principal Software Engineer on the team the common tasks of the job would include, but not be limited to: 

• Own and drive inference performance for OpenAI LLMs across NVIDIA, AMD, and Microsoft silicon, benchmarking, optimizing, and monitoring largescale production workloads.  

• Lead deep performance investigations across software, frameworks, and hardware; identify bottlenecks, design durable optimizations, and preserve system integrity.  

• Build and evolve AI tooling that accelerates insight, simplifies pipelines, enables fast model and hardware bringup, and reduces operational complexity.  

• Improve efficiency and reduce fleet footprint, influencing Azure AI CapEx goals and nextgeneration infrastructure through softwarehardware codesign.  

• Provide technical leadership and influence, partnering with research, hardware, and production teams; exercising exceptional judgment, autonomy, and execution while embodying Microsoft’s Culture and Values. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 6+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, or Python OR equivalent experience. 

Other Qualifications:

• 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: 

• • Master's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 8+ years technical engineering experien