Software Engineer II

As a Software Engineer II on Microsoft’s Azure Core NIC team, you’ll build software that strengthens SmartNIC platforms and networking offload technologies. This onsite role in the United States focuses on measurable improvements to performance, scalability, reliability, and live-site outcomes for Azure networking services spanning hardware, firmware, and software boundaries.

You’ll help power networking capabilities that support Azure compute and storage workloads, translating production signals into engineering work that keeps services highly available. If you enjoy working close to the systems layer, collaborating across specialized teams, and shipping improvements that matter in live environments, this position aligns well with that focus.

What you’ll do

• Design and develop software for Azure SmartNIC platforms and networking offload technologies.
• Improve performance, scalability, and reliability for networking services supporting Azure compute and storage workloads.
• Collaborate across hardware, firmware, and software boundaries to deliver highly available cloud networking solutions.
• Analyze telemetry and production data to drive reliability and live-site improvements across Azure networking services.
• Partner with silicon, firmware, platform, and service teams to deliver next-generation networking capabilities.

What you bring

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or a related technical field AND 2+ years of technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C++, C, Rust, or Python.
• OR equivalent experience.
• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements, including the Microsoft Cloud Background Check: pass upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Technologies you’ll work with

• C++, C, Rust, Python
• TCP/IP, RDMA, Ethernet
• DPDK, SR-IOV
• SmartNIC architectures
• Linux

Preferred qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 3+ years technical engineering experience coding in languages including, but not limited to, C++, C, Rust, or Python; OR
• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 5+ years technical engineering experience coding in languages including, but not limited to, C++, C, Rust, or Python; OR equivalent experience.
• Experience with software design, debugging, performance analysis, and problem-solving in distributed systems or cloud-scale services.
• Experience developing and maintaining automated tests, monitoring, and telemetry for production systems.
• Experience participating in code reviews, design reviews, and engineering best practices.
• Networking experience including TCP/IP, RDMA, Ethernet, DPDK, SR-IOV, or SmartNIC architectures.
• Experience developing software for Linux-based systems.
• Experience with cloud infrastructure, distributed systems, or hyperscale platforms.
• Experience troubleshooting live-site incidents and improving service reliability.
• Experience working with telemetry, diagnostics, and data-driven operational improvements.
• Experience contributing to large-scale projects involving multiple engineering teams.
• Familiarity with hardware-software interactions, device drivers, firmware, or performance-sensitive systems.
• Ability to independently drive well-defined engineering problems from design through implementation and production deployment.

Location: United States (onsite)
Compensation: USD 102,100 - 219,200 per year
Experience level: 2+ years
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related technical field