Microsoft Azure is hiring only Americans?

Hey siscia,

MSFTie chiming in here. I'm probably the wrong person to speak to the "cloud backround check itself" but I can tell you that on multiple azure teams I've worked for, I've had the opportunity to work alongside Iranian, Nigerian, Australian, , citizens/peers. As such I'd be somewhat surprised if that was a hard prohibition.

Reading the official documentation here [0] I'm inclined to be confident in my assessment, the citizenship requirement seems limited to those working on USGovt clouds (there are similar fascinating rules for e.g. German cloud to conform with their regulations)

As always I'd encourage you to talk to a hiring manager to sanity check this statement, but I would simultaneously encourage you to not let US citizenship stop you from applying. MS (and I'd make a similar statement for other bigcos too, to be fair) always needs good people.

[0] https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office365/enterprise/office...

It depends. If it’s for govcloud related work(this isn’t only DoD), then you need to be a US Person which includes residents and citizens. You also need to be located in US territory. This is due the government requirements, not a Microsoft thing.

I work on azure compute on a core infrastructure team. I can say for certain that yes a cloud background check is required once you start on the team and this does not require citizenship. I know co-workers on many types of visas. This is a compliance measure. Azure is very into compliance.

For some of the other US gov stuff, Secret or Top Secret clearance is required. This does require citizenship and a lengthy clearance process. You will know if you’re doing this though as clearance is difficult to get so I’ve seen them hire a lot of people who already have clearance. These projects are for the most part separate from regular azure although they use the same technologies. Outside of PM these roles are mostly live site roles where access to control plane machines may be required to ensure proper operation of the platform.

A single statement from your linked site would have avoided this discussion entirely:

>A Microsoft Cloud Background Check is required for candidates hired as employees providing Office 365-related services in the United States.

Thats not worded confusingly in anyway, and its the first statement on the page.

My understanding is that Azure is attempting to compete with AWS in gaining business from US governmental agencies. This means emphasis on Gov Cloud, FedRAMP, and other constraints which would probably preclude foreign nations from working on those projects.

Usually US Citizen only gigs will involve government contracts, it's not the overall company policy, unless they're specifically focused on military contracts, just the requirements of the client. It makes sense. Microsoft has people all over though.

Edit:

By the way technically companies can hire non-citizens for contract work, but you have to prove that you couldn't fill the seat, which I don't know how likely that will be.

I’d imagine that with the DoD cloud contract they’ve got, only Americans that pass a background check would be allowed to work.

I hope this isn't a poor man's control for ITAR purposes.

>>>But the ITAR generally allows U.S. Persons to have access to ITAR controlled data, and defines a (natural) "U.S. Person" as "a lawful permanent resident as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20)" or "a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)." See 22 C.F.R. 120.15. Thus the ITAR does not restrict access to U.S. citizens only, but also generally allows access by non-U.S. citizens who fall within the following classes, among others:

Nationals of the U.S. (i.e., those born in the "outlaying" possessions of the U.S. meeting specified requirements, or individuals born of a parent who meet specified requirements); Aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., "green card" holders); Certain refugees; and Certain asylum seekers.

> I noticed that all the position requires the "Microsoft Cloud Background Check"

Nope, you don't need to be a citizen for this.

>however it seems like it requires to be an US citizen.

Where did you read that? That is only true for Gov cloud related teams. But that requirement is mentioned in the job decription, imo.

When your company is big enough to do both private and government contract work, it will be inevitable to choose a compromise at some point. These things are like PoC software. You find the optimal solution by trial and error.

IMHO, I feel it would make perfect sense if they hire Americans to do the Government Cloud work, other areas , it should NOT be the case

If such a prohibition exists, then I assume it pertains to US government cloud solutions as others have also stated.

I hear a rumor that Microsoft, Apple, and Google are practicing hiring bias in favor of Indian candidates. Stories from retired engineers [0].

0 - https://www.quora.com/Is-there-any-bias-among-Indians-of-hir...

It's for govcloud stuff right?

I know someone who has passed that MS check and is not a US citizen.

This will be for secure work for government, and from the sound of it its for TS the higher security clearance.

Though the USA is more permissive that say the UK.

I’d be willing to bet this is a job on their new “Jedi” contract with US Gov.

> it seems like it requires to be an US citizen.

Where are you getting this information from ? The BG check is required as you will be exposed to US citizen's information/data and so a background check is required.

I'm not sure where you have seen the requirement that you must be a US citizen...