Microsoft Senior Software Engineer reviews

Execution and strategic clarity have declined, particularly in newer AI initiatives. Teams are often misaligned and compete internally rather than working toward shared customer outcomes, which leads to duplicated effort and periods of sustained overtime. Frequent leadership changes and reorganizations can quickly disrupt team direction. Projects are sometimes re-scoped to align with top-down priorities that do not clearly map to customer value, making it difficult to build momentum or deliver meaningful impact. There is also a disconnect between leadership messaging and product reality. Features may be positioned as successful despite limited adoption, with lack of usage attributed to external factors rather than product quality. Compensation and benefits are increasingly uncompetitive relative to peers, especially given workload and expectations.

- Some teams are much more demanding than others, for the same pay - I couldn't afford a house in Redmond even as a SWE2 - "Unlimited" time off (This is a pro depending on how much your manager likes you) - HR / Hiring process seems incompetent. They lose applications and referrals for no reason. You have to engage managers directly. - Lower pay than similar roles at other companies