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Job Details
Posted date: Oct 07, 2026
Category: Hardware Engineering
Location: Multiple Locations, Multiple Locations
Estimated salary: $223,500
Range: $142,800 - $304,200
Employment type: Full-Time
Work location type: 0 days / week in-office – remote
Role: Individual Contributor
Description
OverviewOverview
Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO&I) is the team behind the cloud. Within CO&I, the Datacenter Engineering (DCE) team is responsible for delivering core datacenter infrastructure for Microsoft’s (MS) cloud business. The MS portfolio consists of complex, multi-disciplinary, large scale, multi-year datacenter construction and lease projects. We are looking for a passionate, high-energy individual to help build the cloud datacenters that power the world’s largest online services.
The role of the Principal Datacenter Design Strategist, for the Global Datacenter Engineering (GDCE) Strategy team, requires interpersonal, communication, graphics, and organizational skills. The candidate shall have the ability to self-direct with a background in critical facility design, architecture or engineering, and operational requirements with an emphasis on datacenter building design, master planning, systems analysis, systems integration, cooling, network, and power distribution.
The Principal Datacenter Design Strategist will collaborate with internal stakeholders across Microsoft to develop advanced datacenter infrastructure conceptual designs and prototype innovative technologies related to Microsoft’s datacenter portfolio. This position will coordinate internal and external resources for the delivery of the Datacenter building, power, cooling, telecom, and controls to align with Microsoft Corporation datacenter requirements globally. The candidate will oversee the execution of multiple datacenter conceptual design efforts concurrently. Candidate will be able to evaluate operational impacts, deployment, and implementation challenges associated with design implementation for both Microsoft Owned facilities and Lease sites. In managing the delivery of new, first of kind projects, this position supports team objectives, business processes, and cross-group collaboration efforts with GDCE Strategy.
The GDCE Strategy Principal Datacenter Design Strategist works directly for the Director of Global Datacenter Engineering’s Strategy organization located in Redmond, Washington and supports the strategic delivery of data center projects worldwide.
In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities:
Assists in the development of design documentation which may include drawings, specifications, or requirements for innovative products or features. Reviews documentation and serves as a subject matter expert and helps solve technical problems using complex features of modeling tools.Displays deep knowledge in a specific and complex architecture or engineering domain or knowledge in multiple technical areas.Provides recommendations for difficult or complex decisions based on complexity, financial impact, quality, reliability, and time duration. Influences decision making with wider decision makers and stakeholders.Creates robust, scalable, secure, and extensible architecture solutions and/or verification plans that account for industry/competitive threats. Ensures customer/partner value for the hardware engineering aspects of a product.Develops and implements technical solutions to complex quality and design challenges, and applies lessons learned to recommend future focused solutions.Coordinates with internal and external stakeholders to support development and delivery of global strategy projects.Generates or contributes to a single or multiple project implementation schedules and anticipates project implementation issues.Identifies potential intellectual property, conducts technical due diligence, and encourages other engineers to file patent designs. Encourages wider adoption of intellectual property and/or licensing throughout the industry. Files patents and completes necessary patent document.Monitors project progress/status updates across multiple project teams and anticipates potential challenges, sharing details with key stakeholders as necessary (e.g., proactively resolve design issues, acquire resources, or identify feasible alternatives).Good customer service focus, with the ability to communicate with highly technical management teams and collaborate with other technical and non-technical groups for greater impact in a fast-paced environment.Creative approach to problem solving, able to prepare and present using MS Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel including effective reporting/presentations of project information.Acts as a SME to others on matters related to industry trends, competitor designs, the customer experience, and advances in various engineering. Shares and acquires expert knowledge of deep technical areas across multiple domains within their team and across teams working on similar solutions.Growth mindset, able to perform complex business case analysis to justify technical decisions.Action-oriented with a passion for getting things done quickly, efficiently, and effectively.
Qualifications
Qualifications:
Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 7+ years technical engineering experienceOR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years technical engineering experienceOR equivalent experienceBackground Check 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 Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.Citizenship Verification: This position requires verification of citizenship due to citizenship-based legal restrictions. Specifically, this position supports United States federal, state, and/or local United States government agency customers and is subject to certain citizenship-based restrictions where required or permitted by applicable law. To meet this legal requirement, and as a condition of employment, the successful candidate’s citizenship will be verified with a valid passport.Preferred Qualifications:
Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 5+ years of technical engineering experienceOR Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 12+ years technical engineering experienceOR equivalent experience
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Hardware Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $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
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
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.