below marketmost similar roles pay hereabove market
This role pays less than
65%
of similar roles. Most pay
$152,000–$197,750
— the blue band above.
At the midpoint, this role pays about
$152k
versus about
$175k
for comparable roles.
Based on 240 similar postings.
Employer
About Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is a global technology leader producing software, hardware, and cloud services including Windows, Office 365, Azure cloud platform, Xbox gaming, and Surface devices. Industry: Software & Cloud Computing
Microsoft currently has
648 open roles
on FindRole.
Listed pay typically runs
$119,800–$234,700
across 624 roles with salary data.
Software Engineer II - Remote Desktop Protocol & Redirection joins the Windows Cloud Experiences team to build core Windows client technologies for high-performance remote desktop experiences. The role involves designing and shipping foundational components that integrate with the operating system, devices, and hardware. Key responsibilities include implementing native Windows components, building capabilities for device redirection, input, display, audio/video, and USB/HID integration, and developing performance-critical code paths. The engineer will optimize memory, threading, IPC, and I/O while diagnosing issues using telemetry, traces, and debuggers. Required technologies include C++, C#, .NET, WinUI, Win32, WinRT, COM, RPC, and system APIs. The work focuses on solving systems-level problems across kernel and user-mode boundaries to ensure reliability and stability in remote desktop and virtualization scenarios.
What does a Software Engineer earn?
Median $196750 from 2601 postings across 154 companies.
Implement native Windows components using modern C++, Win32, COM, and system APIs.
Build device redirection capabilities for input, display, audio/video, USB, and HID in remote desktop scenarios.
Develop performance-critical code paths focusing on low latency, reliability, and stability.
Resolve systems-level issues spanning kernel and user-mode boundaries, drivers, and services.
Optimize memory usage, threading models, IPC, and I/O within complex Windows client processes.
Diagnose performance and concurrency issues using telemetry, traces, dumps, and debuggers.
Own well-scoped features through the entire lifecycle including design, implementation, testing, and live-site debugging.
Investigate production issues to determine root causes and implement engineering improvements to reduce recurrence.
What we're looking for
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field and 2+ years of technical engineering experience in languages like C++ or C# (or equivalent).
Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements, including a Microsoft Cloud background check.
Experience developing native Windows applications or system components (preferred).
Experience with Win32, COM, Windows services, or Windows system APIs (preferred).
Experience debugging performance, memory, threading, or concurrency issues in native code (preferred).
Experience with device integration, USB, HID, audio/video, or driver-adjacent development (preferred).
Familiarity with remote desktop or virtualization technologies such as RDP or ICA (preferred).
Experience using ETW, traces, dumps, or debuggers for Windows diagnostics (preferred).