Principal Design Engineer

Job Title

Principal Design Engineer

Role Summary

Join Microsoft Silicon on the Artificial Intelligence System on Chip (AISoC) team to drive microarchitecture, RTL design, and SoC integration for high-performance, high-bandwidth AI server silicon.

This individual contributor role works across architecture, verification, and physical design teams to deliver verified IP and SoC implementations for Microsoft cloud infrastructure.

Experience Level

Senior level. The posting specifies experience ranges tied to academic credentials (examples: Bachelor's +8 years, Master's +6 years, PhD +3 years) or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

The core responsibilities focus on digital/IP design, RTL delivery, and cross-team SoC integration.

• Define and document IP microarchitecture and specifications.
• Implement RTL (Verilog/SystemVerilog) and perform synthesis.
• Support SoC integration across subsystems and collaborate with verification and physical design teams.
• Address Clock Domain Crossing (CDC), lint closure, and ensure timing/signoff readiness.
• Participate in post-silicon debug and PPA (power, performance, area) trade-off analysis.
• Work with teams to ensure designs meet implementation and verification requirements.

Requirements

Minimum operational and security requirements plus technical background expected. See Education Requirements for degree/experience equivalencies.

• Ability to meet Microsoft Cloud background check and periodic security screenings.
• Eligibility to access export-controlled information; must provide proof of citizenship or residency as required for export control assessments.
• Proven delivery experience on ASIC/SoC or IP projects (design, integration, or debug).
• Strong RTL coding, synthesis, and collaboration with verification and physical design teams.
• Nice-to-have: experience with fabric/Network-on-Chip design, CPU/graphics core design, complex algorithmic AI designs, die-to-die IP, and automation/script development.

Education Requirements

Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field plus 3+ years technical engineering experience; OR Master’s in EE/CE/CS or related plus 6+ years; OR Bachelor’s in EE/CE/CS or related plus 8+ years; OR equivalent practical experience. Fields mentioned: Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical fields.

About the Company

Company: Microsoft

Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States

Microsoft is a global technology company that develops and sells software, services, devices, and solutions. Known for its Windows operating system, Office suite, and Azure cloud platform, Microsoft aims to empower individuals and organizations around the world to achieve more. The company fosters a culture of innovation and inclusion, focusing on delivering trusted experiences to customers and partners globally.