Software Engineer IC2

Overview

Join the Windows Ecosystem & Commercial Engagement (WECE) Quality, Reliability, and Telemetry (QRT) team and help reinvent how Windows is tested, validated, and proven across the broader hardware ecosystem. Our charter is to ensure Windows builds and updates land safely, predictably, and at scale across a growing set of third-party OEM, silicon, firmware, driver, and software configurations. 

We are looking for a Software Engineer to build automation and validation tools for the Readiness Assessment Lab. You will contribute to a packaged test suite that Microsoft labs and third-party partners use to validate Windows on their hardware with consistent scenarios and comparable results. 

Working with experienced engineers, you will implement and maintain deterministic tests, harness components, lab utilities, result processing, and deployment workflows. You will learn Windows debugging, system behavior, drivers, power, performance, reliability, and device configuration while using logs and telemetry to investigate test failures. 

You will also apply generative AI and agent-based tools responsibly to accelerate coding, test authoring, log analysis, documentation, and personal productivity. AI assists the work; reproducible tests, reviewed code, and accountable engineering judgment remain the quality bar. 

You will contribute to end-to-end Windows validation across the third-party ecosystem, including: 

• Packaged test collateral that runs in CER Lab, shared stations, and approved partner environments. 
• Automation components such as test cases, harness extensions, station utilities, device setup, and result collection. 
• Diagnostics that capture the logs, traces, configuration, and reproduction details needed to investigate failures. 
• Telemetry and reporting integrations that make results consistent and useful to engineers and program stakeholders. 
• AI-assisted workflows that reduce repetitive effort while preserving deterministic test execution.
• This role is a hands-on opportunity to grow as an engineer while building validation capabilities used on real Windows devices.
• We optimize for early signal, clear ownership, and fast learning.
• We build tools and tests that reduce friction for lab operators and partners.
• We expect engineers to ask questions, incorporate feedback, and own well-defined work through completion.
• We are AI-forward and use acceleration tools with appropriate review and validation.
• We value pragmatic engineering: understandable, testable, and reliable. 

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

• Implement, test, document, and maintain well-defined components of packaged Windows validation collateral under the guidance of experienced engineers. 
• Build and improve automated scenarios, harness adapters, runners, setup utilities, and result collectors for lab stations. 
• Reproduce and investigate test failures using logs, traces, crash data, configuration information, and Windows debugging tools. 
• Write clear, maintainable, secure code in languages such as C, C++, C#, or Python and participate constructively in design and code reviews. 
• Add useful telemetry, logging, and error handling so automated runs are observable and failures are actionable. 
• Fix defects, improve test reliability, and support automation in live lab environments with help from the team when needed. 
• Use approved AI-assisted engineering tools for coding, test authoring, analysis, and documentation while validating outputs and protecting confidential data. 
• Collaborate with software engineers, data engineers, data scientists, lab operators, program managers, and partner teams to complete assigned work. 
• Learn from operational results and customer scenarios, incorporate feedback, and steadily expand technical depth and ownership. 

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, or related technical discipline with proven experience coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python.
  • OR equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1+ year of technical engineering experience through professional work, internships, academic projects, open-source contribution, or equivalent experience. 
• Experience implementing or maintaining automated tests, developer tools, scripts, build workflows, or continuous integration pipelines. 
• Familiarity with operating system fundamentals, Windows diagnostics, device configuration, drivers, deployment, or hardware/software integration. 
• Experience coding in one or more of C, C++, C#, Python, PowerShell, or a comparable language, with attention to readability and testing. 
• Familiarity with logs, telemetry, test results, basic data analysis, and structured debugging. 
• Hands-on use of generative AI tools to support software development, testing, analysis, or documentation, with a willingness to verify outputs. 
• Clear verbal and written communication, curiosity, a growth mindset, and the ability to collaborate effectively in a diverse team. 
• Demonstrated focus on customer needs, quality, reliability, and completing commitments. 

Other Requirements: 

• Automation (Driving Solution Improvement & Excellence) - Implements reliable automated scenarios that help move the Readiness Assessment Lab from approximately 30% to 70% automated coverage. 
• Testing Process (Driving Solution Improvement & Excellence) - Creates and maintains tests, investigates failures, and improves repeatability. 
• Architecture Design (Designing & Architecting Business Solutions) - Applies established component and integration patterns when building test harnesses, utilities, and lab automation. 
• Distributed Systems Application Development (Engineering Robust Software Solutions) - Writes maintainable code for test collateral, harnesses, utilities, and integrations that coordinate devices and services. 
• Quality Assurance (Enhancing Product & Project Execution) - Uses data and engineering judgment to validate Windows experiences and prevent regressions. 

#W+DJOBS

Software Engineering IC2 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $85,400 - $168,100 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 $111,100 - $183,700 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

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Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. 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 with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.