Microsoft has just announced that Ray Ozzie, the company’s Chief Software Architect is stepping down from this position. The full letter CEO Steve Ballmer sent to employees is pasted below.

Ozzie assumed the chief software architect’s role in June 2006. In his role, Ozzie was responsible for oversight of the company’s technical strategy and product architecture. Prior to this role, Ozzie was chief technical officer from April 2005 to June 2006. He assumed that position in April 2005 after Microsoft acquired Groove Networks, a next-generation collaboration software company he formed in 1997.

In the note, Ballmer writes that Ozzie will remain at Microsoft until he retires (it’s unclear when that will be). Ballmer notes that Ozzie’s role as CSA role was unique and he will not be filling the position at this time.

Ozzie has been Microsoft’s cloud evangelist of sorts over the pas few years.