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Microsoft Principal Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

City of Chicago

PRINCIPAL ENGINEER

Chicago, IL

$109.14K/yr

PRINCIPAL ENGINEER Job Number: 416799 Description BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT PRINCIPAL ENGINEER ... They will lead strategic initiatives supporting Microsoft technologies, Salesforce, ServiceNow ...

Sunbelt Solomon

Principal Engineer

Solomon, KS · On-site

Description The Principal Engineer role offers the opportunity to lead complex transformer design ... Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and AutoCAD. * Ability to read drawings ...

Microsoft

Principal Hardware Architect

Hillsboro, OR · On-site

Overview Microsoft Silicon, Cloud Hardware, and Infrastructure Engineering (SCHIE) is the team ... Principal PCIe Architect responsible for defining next-generation PCIe/CXL architecture for ...

BCI Inc

Principal Engineer

Dahlgren, VA · On-site

Principal Engineers are oftentimes sought out by BCI to serve as Subject Matter Experts in their ... Two (2) years' experience with Microsoft Office Suite applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer, CoreAI

Redmond, WA · On-site

$220.80K - $331.20K/yr

Overview CoreAI is at the forefront of Microsoft's mission to redefine how software is built and ... As a Principal Engineer on the team, you'll shape the architecture and strategy on how customers ...

Microsoft

Principal Engineer - Identity Services

Redmond, WA · On-site

$188K - $304.20K/yr

Microsoft Security aspires to make the world a safer place for all. We want to reshape security and ... Principal Software Engineer who knows how to build and nurture a high performing team. The role ...

City of Chicago

PRINCIPAL ENGINEER

Chicago, IL · On-site

$109.14K/yr

BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT PRINCIPAL ENGINEER Department of Technology & innovation Delivery Division ... They will lead strategic initiatives supporting Microsoft technologies, Salesforce, ServiceNow ...

City Of Chicago

PRINCIPAL ENGINEER

Chicago, IL

$109.14K/yr

BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT PRINCIPAL ENGINEER Department of Technology & Innovation Delivery Division ... They will lead strategic initiatives supporting Microsoft technologies, Salesforce, ServiceNow ...

Mike Albert Leasing

Principal Engineer

Cincinnati, OH · On-site

A principal-level engineer and technical leader responsible for the architectural integrity and ... Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Fabric, Snowflake, AWS, and various integration partners and ...

System One

Principal Engineer

Sharonville, OH · On-site +1

$150K/yr

Principal Engineer Location: North Cincinnati, Ohio Type: Direct Hire Compensation: $150k ... Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Fabric, Snowflake, AWS, and various integration partners and ...

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Microsoft Principal Engineer information

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$74K

$147.2K

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How much do microsoft principal engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for microsoft principal engineer in the United States is $147,220.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Microsoft Principal Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Microsoft Principal Engineer, you need advanced expertise in software engineering, architecture design, and a deep understanding of computer science principles, often supported by a relevant degree and extensive experience. Proficiency with Microsoft technologies such as Azure, .NET, Visual Studio, and familiarity with DevOps tools and cloud platforms is essential, and certifications like Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect are highly valued. Strong leadership, communication, and strategic thinking enable you to mentor teams and drive complex projects. These skills ensure you can deliver innovative solutions at scale, lead technical direction, and contribute to Microsoft's engineering excellence.

What are some common challenges faced by a Microsoft Principal Engineer when leading cross-functional projects?

As a Microsoft Principal Engineer, one common challenge is aligning diverse technical and business teams toward a shared vision, especially in large-scale, cross-functional projects. You’ll often need to balance immediate project needs with long-term architectural goals, while ensuring effective communication across teams with varying priorities and expertise. Navigating organizational complexity and influencing without direct authority are key aspects of the role. Success relies on strong leadership, stakeholder management, and the ability to drive consensus among senior engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders.

What are Microsoft Principal Engineers?

Microsoft Principal Engineers are highly experienced technical leaders responsible for designing complex systems, providing architectural guidance, and driving innovation within the company. They often serve as technical mentors to other engineers, lead cross-functional projects, and help set technical direction for their teams or divisions. Principal Engineers have deep expertise in their fields and play a key role in shaping Microsoft's products and engineering culture. Their responsibilities also include collaborating with stakeholders across the organization and ensuring that solutions align with business goals.

What is the difference between Microsoft Principal Engineer vs Microsoft Senior Engineer?

CriteriaMicrosoft Principal EngineerMicrosoft Senior Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in CS or related field; extensive experienceBachelor's or higher in CS or related field; significant experience
Work EnvironmentLeadership in technical projects, cross-team collaborationIndividual contributor, focused on project execution
Employer & Industry UsageUsed across Microsoft for senior technical leadership rolesCommonly used for experienced technical contributors
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding senior technical roles at MicrosoftDistinguishing levels of seniority within Microsoft engineering

The Microsoft Principal Engineer is a senior technical leadership role focused on guiding large projects and influencing technical strategy, often leading multiple teams. In contrast, the Microsoft Senior Engineer is an experienced individual contributor primarily responsible for executing complex technical tasks. Both roles require strong technical credentials, but the Principal Engineer emphasizes leadership and strategic impact, while the Senior Engineer concentrates on technical expertise and project delivery.

More about Microsoft Principal Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Microsoft Principal Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Microsoft Principal Engineer job openings:
What job categories do people searching Microsoft Principal Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Microsoft Principal Engineer jobs are:
Microsoft Principal Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Microsoft Principal Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 77% Full Time, and 21% Part Time. Highlights an 76% Physical, 8% Hybrid, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Principal Engineer

Succession Planning for Railroads Investing in the Next Generation LLC

Chesapeake, VA

Full-time

Posted 17 days ago

Job description

Our company is looking for a Principal Engineer to join our Engineering team and work as a Senior member of the team reporting to Director of Engineering.

Responsibilities

As a Principal Engineer, you will:

  • Study, research and analyze customer specifications, and other data to assist in creating machine layout.
  • Lead the creation, review, and submittal bid packages.
  • Take customer specifications and translate them to actionable Functional Design Specification (FDS) so the engineering team can execute the design.
  • Assist Director of Engineering with sales presentations
  • Consult with sales to communicate customer needs to our engineering team
  • Provide technical support and expertise to sales & customers
  • Monitor projects for accuracy and quality from conception to Implementation.
  • Vet, document, and close technical queries (TQ's), change orders (CO's), and project milestones.
  • Adapt existing equipment to specific job applications.
  • Shares technical information across the company.
  • Adhere and contribute to internal policies, procedures, and standards.
  • Review engineering deliverables and initiate appropriate corrective actions
  • Applies knowledge of engineering principles to specify products used on maintenance of way equipment for the railroad industry.
  • Throughout development of the machine, the Principal Engineer works with design engineers to drive integration of all design elements. (Mechanical, Electrical, Fluid Power, & Software)
  • Plans, schedules, and coordinates the preparation of structural drawings to meet deadlines.
  • Keeps informed of new methods and practices in system designs and components.
  • Analyzes test data and reports to determine if design meets functional and performance specifications.
  • Evaluates engineering test results for application to developments of systems or other uses.
  • Familiar with a variety of the field's concepts, practices, and procedures used in the field of maintenance of way type of equipment. A.R.E.A., AAR.
  • May require some traveling to customer job site to evaluate problems and report back to management with findings
  • Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals.
  • A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected.
Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • Must have at 6-8 years of experience in mechanical/machine design.
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and a CAD program (Autodesk Vault, Inventor & AutoCAD Preferred)
  • Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
  • Exceptional customer service and interpersonal skills
  • Superb collaboration and communication
  • Familiar with methods of heavy machine manufacturing.
  • The individual also must be able to think practically and authoritatively, able to accommodate the company's deadlines, budget, and other resources to make informed decisions for their projects.
  • In addition to having the technical qualifications, the individual must be a good team player with effective communication and problem-solving skills.

Highly Valued:

  • Knowledge of the current ISO and ANSI (Y14) standards.
  • Experience in the Rail Industry (Specifically Maintenance-of-Way)
  • Familiarity with rules, regulations, best practices and performance standards of the rail industry
  • Ability to work with multiple discipline projects
  • Project management
  • Relevant training and/or certifications as a Principal Engineer
  • Knowledge of engineering concepts including electrical/electronics, mechanics, hydraulics and pneumatics
  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities
  • Great organization and time management

Physical Requirements:

  • Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
  • Must be able to lift 25 pounds at a time.
  • Must be able to access and navigate all areas of the industrial facility.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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