Principal Engineering Manager – Defender for endpoint

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Are you an exceptional engineering leader with deep experience working across the Windows operating system? Can you make kernel, user, and shell code dance? Is your copy of Windows Internals feathered from a decade of usefulness?

Become an integral member of the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE) team, dedicated to protecting consumers and enterprises alike from cyber-attacks. Our mission is to safeguard every user with innovative proactive protection, detection, and response technologies, aiming to stay ahead of malicious actors and anticipating the threats of the future.

We’re looking for a Principal Engineering Manager to lead a team of developers to design and build the next generation of endpoint protection. In this role you will champion fundamentals such as performance and reliability, scaling to platforms big and small, and driving foundational changes throughout the entire Defender stack.

This team provides the potential for tremendous personal and career growth across many dimensions. You’ll have the opportunity to work across divisional boundaries and develop a broad understanding of Microsoft’s business while making a meaningful impact on society.

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 6+ years technical engineering experience with modern C++
  
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 6+ software development experience working in the Windows OS and with windows internals or kernel drivers.
• 2+ years of experience architecting and developing robust and extensible solutions in large scale, customer facing, production environments.
• 2+ years of experience with multi-threaded / parallel programming.

Other Requirements:

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 background and Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 4+ years engineering management experience
• Communication and collaboration skills
• Leadership skills

Software Engineering M5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $139,900 - $274,800 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 $188,000 - $304,200 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

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until June 2, 2025.

#MSFTSecurity #MSDefender #C++ #windowinternals #kernaldrivers

• Collaborate across engineering and security research teams at Microsoft to design and implement solutions tightly integrated into the Defender stack.
• Champion a culture of innovation and excellence, driving merit-based improvements across the organization.
• Lead architecture, design, development, and code reviews for mission-critical systems.
• Promote a healthy, inclusive, and growth-oriented team environment.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership across the software development lifecycle, including quality assurance.
• Partner effectively with cross-functional teams across Microsoft.
• Build and scale a high-performing engineering team.
• Attract, mentor, and retain top talent while fostering career growth.
• Embody and promote Microsoft’s culture and values in daily work.
• Actively participate in code reviews to uphold software quality and share best practices.
• Deliver secure, maintainable, and well-tested code at a high standard.
• Drive a fast-paced, agile, and design-led product development process.