Senior Hardware Systems Engineer
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 25, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 20, 2026. Microsoft scores B on the Alion truth index.
Microsoft is a highly innovative company that collaborates across disciplines to produce cutting edge technology that changes our world. The Azure Cloud Hardware and Infrastructure Engineering (CHIE) team is seeking a highly motivated Senior Hardware Systems Engineer to work in a team of other hardware and software developers to create systems and modules to be deployed in Microsoft’s Azure Cloud. Microsoft provides ample opportunities for developers to have an impact on products that touch the lives of millions of users daily, in a cutting-edge public cloud environment.
As a Systems Engineering team member, you will develop System Validation plans for Azure's leading HW solutions by incorporating advanced technologies, datacenter use cases and by working across different engineering functions. Responsibilities will include architecting and developing efficient test and debug frameworks for cutting edge technologies, building test and debug automation, partnering with leading technology providers to define test and debug strategies, driving unified and efficient test, validation and debug methodologies across product segments. This is an opportunity to leverage and grow your existing hardware design/validation experience and provide innovative E2E hardware solutions to Microsoft Cloud.
Come join this exciting and growing team through our monumental evolution of cloud hardware at Azure and Microsoft!
Responsibilities
- Plan, design and execute System validation plans, test frameworks for state-of-the-art HW solutions based on CPU/GPU applications to confirm design meets cloud grade quality.
- Drive continuous improvement to achieve unified and standard testing, validation and debug methodology - adopt automation, AI Capabilities to drive efficiency and enhance test coverage.
- Work with OEMs/ODMs and other system engineers to run system validation, SKU qualification, scale testing, and system debugging.
- Hands on validation and debug work with test engineers in the laboratory
- Identify, triage and resolve server subsystem faults; drive end-to-end root cause with cross team partners and implement fixes.
- Work with stakeholders on process improvement, data quality improvement, and cross-boundary triaging.
- Develop automation and tooling for server validation in collaboration with other teams.
- Develop application/system software, libraries, and drivers to interface with the firmware/ hardware devices
- Handle a DevOps role with occasional on-call responsibilities for resolving customer issues in production.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years technical engineering experience
- OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 5+ years technical engineering experience
- 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:
- BS/MS in Electrical/Computer Engineering or related degree.
- 6+ years of relevant experience in server systems/platforms development and validation for enterprise or cloud market segments.
- Minimum 3 years of hands-on experience in server hardware validation architecture, developing test infrastructure, writing test cases, automation and executing tests.
- 2+ years of experience in programing languages such as Python/PowerShell or similar for automation development or integration.
- Solid understanding of hardware, firmware, and OS interfaces and interdependencies, different CPU and GPU architecture and system design concepts.
- Strong technical communication skills (verbal and written) interface with cross-functional technical leads within and/or outside of the organization.
- Understanding of OTD (Observability, Testability, and Debuggability).
- Familiar with different technology areas including but not limited to PCIe, memory subsystems, networking, power management, rack device management, remote device management.
- Experience in performance benchmarking tools such as SPEC workloads, Linpack, AI workloads.
- Experienced in defining custom HW tools for either validation or debug.
- Experience in windows and Linux operating systems.
- Advanced troubleshooting and debugging skills. Hands on experience in debug and measurement tools such as Logic Analyzers, Oscilloscopes, PCIe analyzers.
- Experience in developing benchmarking/system software tools with C/C++ on PCs or Server Platforms.
- Knowledge of Windows and Linux internals: Thread services such as priority, affinity, synchronization, atomics.
- Experience in evaluating hardware designs, HW/FW/OS interactions, platform config trade-offs, and E2E error flows is required.
- Experience in debugging complex system level issues related to board hardware, thermal and Firmware components is required.
- Experience with data analytics, data collection/aggregation, and dashboarding.
- Ability to trace issues across firmware, drivers, and OS; written/verbal communication with partner teams.
- Self-motivated individuals must be able to work collaboratively in a team environment and across internal divisions and industry (OEM, ODM), demonstrated technical leadership in driving successful product designs.
- Familiarity with one or more system level protocols (ACPI, I2C, PCI).
Hardware Engineering IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 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 $160,200 - $261,000 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.