Microsoft Posts Another Hiring for Windows 8

Last week we caught the first indication of Microsoft’s plans for Windows 8.

While a next version of Window after 7 is no surprise, it’s interesting that Microsoft is already hiring for what’s already being called Windows 8 before upcoming one is out.

The second job listing (that’s been found by the media community thus far) is for a position in Software Testing, calling for a Software Development Engineer in Test. The parts that pertain to Windows 8 are as follows:

For Windows 8, the SSD organization is working on the next version of the file server. As a member of the test team, you will focus on working closely with the dev team to finish the automation development for our Windows Server 2008 R2 components. This will provide valuable ramp-up and familiarity with our existing test automation infrastructure. As the team moved to Windows 8, you will have 2 main responsibilities - (i) put on the customer/design critique hat as we plan our next version file server management experience (i) participating in the architectural design, and development and driving automated testing for managing the next generation file server.

If you've got what it takes to be the " Software Development Engineer in Test," apply right here. Or you can sit back and wait to see how Windows 8 will develop.

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Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.

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15 Comments Comment from the forums

Greatwalrus

It kind of makes me not want to upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 if Windows 8 is right around the corner.
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jsloan

GreatWalrusIt kind of makes me not want to upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 if Windows 8 is right around the corner.
hiring someone does not mean that windows 8 is around the corner, it will most likely be years. that person will most likely be brought up to speed, the ad says windows server 2008, windows 8 is not windows server 2008.
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LockPick

Win8 probably 2-3 years out.

I still think even Win2k is better than Vista
Reply
tester3000

There is always something "around the corner". Win7 will be good for atleast 3 years. And plus,, it's MS's best OS yet.
Reply
The Schnoz

GreatWalrusIt kind of makes me not want to upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 if Windows 8 is right around the corner.This is not uncommon, just not usually announced so soon. It's also common to begin the planning of a next generation videogame console before launching a current one. Think of it this way. With the movies that studios predict will be a hit they start the pre-production phase of a sequel before the first film is even released. This doesn't mean you should skip the first movie just because the sequel will be out in a few years.
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scryer_360

Just noticed that in this job posting and in the first posting, both talk heavily about storage requirements. Also, development based on Windows Server 2008 R2 is heavily mentioned.

Is Microsoft trying to use the architecture of Server 08 as the underpinning of Windows 8? Why would they put new people through the Server 08 development process then try and put them into Windows 8? Or could it be (and maybe this is the most likely) the Microsoft is trying to bring down the number of SKU's they have for Windows 8, so they are integrating many of their components and part of that is to have a SKU for Windows 8 that functions w/Servers? That makes sense to me actually: a SKU for Servers, home users, business users, and then a user who might do any of the previous three. Not this 7-8 SKUs we have for Windows 7 (as apparently it will be), not including the Server version. By building components of their next Server product into Business and Ultimate, they can continue to streamline and reduce the vast amount of hassle for end users.

OR even better: the finishing work on Server 08 will lead to an entirely new architecture. Notice how both job posting deal with "storage?" Maybe a more efficient file system is in the works.
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scryer_360

About how long windows 8 could take: I wouldn't put it out in three years. Really, Windows 7 will probably launch early next year, and considering its more of an upgrade to Vista (with, you know, the kinks out of it), I wouldn't say Microsoft is going to start launching redundant OS's. No, Windows 8 will probably have a long development cycle.
Reply
Greatwalrus

The SchnozThis is not uncommon, just not usually announced so soon. It's also common to begin the planning of a next generation videogame console before launching a current one. Think of it this way. With the movies that studios predict will be a hit they start the pre-production phase of a sequel before the first film is even released. This doesn't mean you should skip the first movie just because the sequel will be out in a few years.
Yeah that makes sense. Another example is AMD/ATI who develop the next driver release before the previous one is even released yet.
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bunnyblaster

Did anyone not simply realize that you found this posting because more and more postings are being made public online instead of through alternative hidden job networks.
Reply
apache_lives

LOL i feel sorry for all those people thinking vista is "unstable" and waiting for windows 7 when windows 8 is in the wings

get over it
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