From SDET to Microsoft Backend Engineer | ₹22 LPA + $40K Stocks

Moving from an SDET role to a backend engineering position at Microsoft is a significant career transition. I’ve received an offer for Software Engineer (Backend), L60, and wanted to share the compensation details to get feedback from others in the industry.

My profile

• Education: B.Tech, Tier 2 college

• Experience: 2.5 years

• Current role: SDET

Microsoft offer breakdown

• Role: Software Engineer (Backend), L60

• Location: Hyderabad

• Base salary: ₹22 LPA

• Joining bonus: ₹3.8 lakh in the first year and ₹3.8 lakh in the second year

• Stocks: $40,000 over 4 years, vested equally

• Performance bonus: 0-20% of base salary (average around 10%)

• Relocation: Not included; relocation expenses will be self-funded

Standard Microsoft benefits

• Health insurance and employee wellbeing programmes

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements, depending on team requirements

• Paid time off and company holidays

• Parental and family-care leave

• Employee communities, networking, and mentoring programmes

• Employee discounts on Microsoft products and services

• Office facilities and other employee perks

I’m unsure whether this is a competitive offer for an L60 backend role with 2.5 years of experience or if there was room to negotiate a better package.

Would appreciate feedback from Microsoft employees and engineers familiar with L60 compensation, particularly regarding the base salary, stock grants, bonus structure, and benefits.