Principal Forward Deployed Engineer - Software Engineer - German Speaking

Microsoft seeks a Principal Forward Deployed Engineer in Zürich to lead technical solutions for strategic accounts. The role demands deep coding expertise, German fluency, and the ability to deliver production-ready systems directly within customer environments.

This position places a senior technical leader directly inside customer teams to address their most complex challenges. The individual serves as the primary technical point of contact for a strategic account, translating business requirements into actionable engineering strategies. By operating with an entrepreneurial mindset, the engineer delivers high-impact, production-grade solutions rapidly while navigating ambiguous environments and influencing senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Translate business needs into clear technical strategies to drive positive customer outcomes.
• Design and implement production-ready solutions within customer environments, taking full end-to-end ownership.
• Deliver iterative, high-impact results quickly, even when operating in ambiguous situations.
• Build trust and align priorities with senior stakeholders to guide both technical and business decisions.
• Leverage industry knowledge to tailor solutions rather than applying generic approaches.
• Prepare work for handover to Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) teams with precise scope and technical direction.
• Navigate complex account dynamics with urgency, setting clear boundaries and driving accountability.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related technical field combined with at least six years of hands-on coding experience.
• Proven track record of partnering directly with customers or internal stakeholders to deliver complete solutions from start to finish.

Nice to have

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field with ten or more years of coding experience.
• Master's degree in Computer Science or related field with eight or more years of coding experience.
• Practical experience delivering AI solutions, including building and deploying systems based on Large Language Models (LLMs).
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% of the time.

What the company offers

• Annual base salary range of CHF 146,200 to CHF 245,900 for the IC4 level.
• Annual base salary range of CHF 183,800 to CHF 309,700 for the IC5 level.
• Eligibility for comprehensive benefits and additional compensation packages.

About the company

Microsoft is driven by a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. The company fosters a culture of inclusion built on respect, integrity, and accountability. Employees collaborate with a growth mindset, innovating to empower others and realizing shared goals together.

• Empowering individuals and organizations to achieve greater success.
• Fostering a growth mindset and collaborative innovation.
• Upholding values of respect, integrity, and accountability.