Principal Platform Architect

Join Microsoft as a Principal Platform Architect in the Microsoft Silicon, Cloud Hardware, and Infrastructure Engineering (SCHIE) team. SCHIE delivers the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft’s over 200 online businesses, including Azure, Office 365, and Xbox Live. We focus on smart growth, high efficiency, and delivering a trusted experience to customers worldwide. Learn more about the general tasks related to this opportunity below, as well as required skills. Overview As cloud demand grows, the ability to deploy new offerings and hardware infrastructure rapidly and cost‑effectively is critical. The CHSE (Cloud Hardware Systems Engineering) team defines and delivers operational measures of success for hardware manufacturing, improving the planning process, quality, delivery, scale, and sustainability of Microsoft cloud hardware. The Principal Platform Architect will define future generations of servers and building blocks, ensuring our high‑volume systems meet performance, security, reliability, and cost goals. You will work across domains to optimize designs, drive technology insertion, create concept proposals, manage cost/performance trade‑offs, and guide prototype engineering to production. Responsibilities Partner across Microsoft teams to architect solutions addressing customer challenges. Drive industry influence by collaborating with technology providers, design partners, and standards bodies to shape Azure infrastructure requirements. Lead technology definition for industry‑leading Azure server platforms and generate intellectual property that strengthens Microsoft’s position in cloud computing. Build relationships with internal partners to enable leading‑edge innovation in next‑generation products while optimizing performance, costs, and risks. Distill and articulate architectural trade‑offs (electrical, signal integrity, mechanical, power, thermal) in terms of key metrics such as TCO, performance, schedule, and risk. Embody Microsoft’s culture and values in all interactions. Minimum Qualifications Master’s Degree in Electrical, Computer, Mechanical Engineering, or related field and 7+ years of technical engineering experience in computer/server/storage platform architecture and design. OR Bachelor’s Degree and 8+ years of technical engineering experience. OR equivalent experience. Demonstrated expertise in multi‑disciplinary server platform architecture and design. Ability to analyze solutions from a full TCO perspective, including CAPEX, OPEX, and system constraints. Proficient communication skills for influencing and partnering with Azure business and engineering teams. Other Requirements Must meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements, including the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire and every two years thereafter. Preferred Qualifications Server PCBA design experience (schematic, layout, routing, power, signal integrity). Experience deploying systems at scale for a cloud service provider or hyper‑scale company. Expertise in balancing challenging electrical designs with mechanical and thermal trade‑offs. Knowledge of leading processor/memory technologies and industry standards such as DC‑MHS. Proficiency with high‑speed signaling and interconnects including PCIe/CXL. EEO Statement Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, 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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations. #J-18808-Ljbffr