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Software engineering roles have shifted significantly with the growing availability of AI tools. One Microsoft engineer described how their day-to-day work has evolved from writing code for several hours without AI assistance to acting more like an “architect,” guiding AI to generate code while they design the system.
The engineer said AI usage increased around the beginning of last year, when more tools became available internally. They spent the first half of 2025 experimenting with AI and learning its capabilities, then used the second half to incorporate AI into their workflows, including using AI to review code.
They described GitHub Copilot as their primary tool for coding suggestions and debugging. While their work still undergoes review by a senior engineer, they said AI has been helpful in supporting that process.
The engineer said they began pursuing Big Tech roles in 2023 while working as a software engineer at a consulting firm in Connecticut. During that period, a founder of a smaller tech firm reached out with a software engineering opportunity in San Francisco. The engineer accepted the offer, moved to San Francisco, and started the role in January 2024.
They said they continued pursuing their Big Tech goal while in the new position, hearing back from applications submitted before they started the San Francisco role. They advanced in interviews at Apple, Meta, and Tesla, while continuing to apply elsewhere.
In February, they applied to a software engineering role at Microsoft. They had a referral from a fellow New York University alum they connected with on LinkedIn. The engineer said the interview process moved quickly: after an interview with the hiring manager, they learned within a day they were moving forward, followed by four additional interviews. Within a couple of weeks, they received and accepted an offer.
The role required hybrid work from the Seattle office, leading them to leave San Francisco. They relocated and started at Microsoft in May 2024.
The engineer said AI tools have reduced time spent on tasks such as navigating large codebases and writing boilerplate code. However, they emphasized that the main benefit is not simply speed. They said using AI effectively still requires judgment—reviewing suggestions carefully and deciding when to trust them.
They also said they have not experienced “AI fatigue” or burnout from heavy AI use, but they noted that many engineers across the industry—especially early in their careers—feel additional pressure to meet deadlines. They argued AI can help ease some of that pressure by speeding up tasks like debugging and understanding code, making work feel more manageable even if it remains demanding.
They cited understanding large Microsoft codebases—described as having been around for more than a decade—as one of AI’s most useful applications. As a newer engineer to the scale of those systems, they said the code was initially intimidating, but that asking AI questions helped them better understand it.
The engineer said human engineers remain essential, arguing that even with AI, it is difficult for AI to have full context about what someone is trying to accomplish. They also said senior engineers’ support and guidance continue to matter, particularly at companies with long-established engineering practices.
For job seekers, they recommended connecting with as many people as possible on LinkedIn. They said they found it helpful to apply for a role and then reach out to employees at the company to explain interest, which they believe can help land interviews.
They also advised optimizing a LinkedIn profile, noting that recruiters may spend only a few seconds reviewing it. They recommended including a portfolio section that highlights the best projects to make it clear the candidate is doing “something cool.”
Finally, they said aspiring software engineers should remember that the role is changing quickly. They noted that traditional coding skills learned in college and used in interviews remain valuable, but candidates should be prepared for workplaces that expect AI usage.
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