Principal Software Engineering Manager - Windows File Explorer

Microsoft
$139,900.00 - $274,800.00 / yr
United States, Washington, Redmond
Feb 24, 2026
Overview The FLEX (Files and Lovable EXperiences) team within Windows Shell & Services Engineering (WinSaS) has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Principal Software Engineering Manager - Windows File Explorer to manage a growing team of Windows client developers working on an integral piece of many Windows users' daily workflow. With over 1B MAD and 131M daily instances, File Explorer has immense reach, and we deliver new features and improvements on monthly basis to our broad Retail customer base. Updates to File Explorer on the horizon include: deep AI integration, transformational performance optimization, and continually addressing our customers' most pressing pain points. We are looking for an experienced Principal Software Engineering Manager - Windows File Explorer with a strong track record of releasing end-user experiences to large audiences with quality. We are a fast-paced team working with urgency to deliver, and need leader with the energy, ability, and drive to hit the ground running and leading. This Principal Software Engineering Manager - Windows File Explorer must be a effective people manager who can motivate and develop individuals, teams, and partners to adapt and move quickly within our frontier organization. Join the WinSaS team to help lead the evolution of File Explorer-one of the most iconic and widely used components of Windows. As a Principal Engineering Manager, you will guide a team of talented engineers in delivering intuitive, intelligent, and performant file management experiences to more than a billion users worldwide. As a Principal Software Engineering Manager - Windows File Explorer, you will be responsible for driving technical excellence, promoting a culture of innovation, growth mindset, and inclusion, and continuously aligning engineering efforts with customer needs and business goals. This is a high-impact role that blends strategic leadership with hands-on engineering oversight and project delivery. Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond. Responsibilities Lead and continuously develop a high-performing engineering team, owning and steering execution of high-quality features within File Explorer. Drive alignment across and collaborate with product management, design, data, and partner teams to define and deliver priority features following the "One Microsoft" philosophy. Champion engineering best practices, including code quality, testing, and leveraging AI efficiencies. Own team health, career development, and performance management, fostering a culture of inclusion, mentorship, growth mindset, and continuous learning. Motivate and develop individuals, teams, and partners to adapt and move quickly within our rapidly evolving. Qualifications Required 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. 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 Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter. Preferred Qualifications: 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. 4+ years of people management with experience leading high-performing, diverse engineering teams and demonstrated success growing individual talent. Proven track record of shipping production-grade software at scale. Proficient cross-team collaboration and stakeholder management skills. Passion for delivering high-quality and delightful end-to-end customer experiences. Energy, ability, and drive to hit the ground running. Experience leveraging AI for productivity. Familiarity with building UI using XAML is a plus. 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 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.