Principal Software Engineer — Microsoft
- Location
- Zürich
- Contract
- full-time
- Posted
- Yesterday
Role overview
Visual Studio Code is where millions of developers turn ideas into working software. We are looking for a Principal
Software Engineer in Zurich to tackle hard product and platform challenges as VS Code and GitHub Copilot continue to reshape how developers build software.
You will help to evolve VS Code as a market leading developer environment, seamlessly connecting its editor, agentic coding abilities, platform and extension ecosystem.
- Visual Studio Code is where millions of developers turn ideas into working software. We are looking for a Principal
- Software Engineer in Zurich to tackle hard product and platform challenges as VS Code and GitHub Copilot continue to reshape how developers build software.
- Identify significant product opportunities and systemic engineering problems; set technical direction that balances near-term delivery with long-term product and platform health.
- Prove approaches through prototypes, critical implementation, testing, and difficult debugging, using hands-on work to guide architectural decisions.
- Basic 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++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR equivalent experience.
Main responsibilities
- Identify significant product opportunities and systemic engineering problems; set technical direction that balances near-term delivery with long-term product and platform health.
- Prove approaches through prototypes, critical implementation, testing, and difficult debugging, using hands-on work to guide architectural decisions.
- Lead cross-team delivery across Microsoft and GitHub, resolving architectural disagreements, clarifying ownership and API boundaries, and enabling teams to deliver independently.
- Own outcomes beyond release, using adoption, quality signals, evaluations, experiments, and user feedback to guide investment and adjust course.
- Improve engineering effectiveness across teams through testing strategies, performance work, shared design patterns, and tools for rapid, reliable experimentation.
- Lead technical discussions in the open, investigate community-reported issues, and work directly with developers and extension authors to shape designs.
- Mentor experienced engineers and technical leaders, helping them develop judgment and take ownership without making yourself a bottleneck.
Key requirements
- Basic 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++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR equivalent experience.
- Demonstrated technical leadership across multiple teams, including setting direction, building alignment, and delivering substantial initiatives without relying on reporting-line authority.
- Solid hands-on coding and design skills, with the ability to become productive in large TypeScript and Rust codebases.
What the company offers
- /perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work. Software Engineering IC5
- The typical base pay range for this role across Switzerland is CHF 183,800.00
- CHF 309,700.00 per year.
- Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.
- Find additional benefits and pay information here:
- https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/corporate-pay/switzerland-corporate-pay.html
Application process
- Experience designing shared platforms, APIs, or large application architectures, with sound judgment about extensibility, compatibility, performance, and maintainability.
- Solid product judgment, including identifying opportunities, setting priorities amid ambiguity, and turning technical decisions into practical designs and measurable improvements for users.
- A track record of mentoring experienced engineers and improving the effectiveness of teams beyond your immediate area.
- Clear communication skills, including explaining complex technical decisions and navigating tradeoffs with engineering and product partners. Preferred Qualifications
- We welcome a range of product backgrounds; these are helpful experiences, not a checklist.
- Previous work on developer tools, open-source projects, or AI products is not required.
- Master's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 12+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR equivalent experience.
- Experience with TypeScript, JavaScript and Rust.
Additional details
- Visual Studio Code is where millions of developers turn ideas into working software. We are looking for a Principal
- This is hands-on technical leadership: the opportunity to change both what developers can accomplish and what our engineering teams can deliver.
- Performance, accessibility, extensibility, security, and developer control are part of the product, not finishing touches.
- Clear communication skills, including explaining complex technical decisions and navigating tradeoffs with engineering and product partners.
- Experience providing technical leadership on AI-powered products, open-source projects, or extensible applications. Product and open source
- https://github.com/microsoft/vscode Other requirements
- Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work. Software Engineering IC5
Notes and original content
- Visual Studio Code is where millions of developers turn ideas into working software.
- We are looking for a Principal
- About the team
- Examples of work
- Responsibilities
- Qualifications
- Experience providing technical leadership on AI-powered products, open-source projects, or extensible applications.
- Product and open source
- https://github.com/microsoft/vscode
- Other requirements
Questions about this listing
What salary does Microsoft offer for this role?
Microsoft lists CHF 113'500 - 172'000 gross per year for this position in Zürich. This is the salary published in the original listing (or, when the employer omits a figure, a realistic estimate for the role and sector) — the calculator on this site converts it to your actual net take-home once cross-border tax and social contributions are applied.
Is this a full-time role, and what type of contract does Microsoft offer?
This listing is a full-time position. The contract type shown here comes directly from the employer's original posting; always confirm exact hours, notice period and probation length with Microsoft during the application process, since these details can vary by role even within the same contract category.
Do I need a cross-border work permit for a role in Zürich?
EU/EFTA residents living in the border zone of the country adjoining Canton Zürich can apply for a G permit; the Swiss employer files it with that canton's migration office after the contract is signed. Border-zone rules and processing times vary by neighbouring country and canton, so confirm the specifics with Zürich's cantonal migration office or with HR during the application.
How do I apply for this position at Microsoft?
Use the "Apply now" button on this page — it links directly to Microsoft's original listing at apply.careers.microsoft.com, so your application goes straight to the employer's own applicant-tracking system. Frontaliere Ticino does not collect or forward applications itself.
