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Microsoft Principal Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Microsoft

Principal Product Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

Overview Microsoft Silicon, Cloud Hardware, and Infrastructure Engineering (SCHIE) is the team ... We are looking for a Principal Product Engineer to join the team. Responsibilities The position ...

Microsoft

Principal Product Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

Overview Microsoft Silicon, Cloud Hardware, and Infrastructure Engineering (SCHIE) is the team ... We are looking for a Principal Product Engineer to join the team. Responsibilities The position ...

Lantern

Principal Engineer

Dallas, TX · On-site +1

Lantern is looking for a Principal Engineer to join our fast-growing Member Experience team. In ... Microsoft Azure for cloud services, hosting, integration, and operational support. Responsibilities:

Microsoft

Principal Packaging Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$188K - $304K/yr

Overview At Microsoft Quantum, we aim to empower science and scientists to solve the world ... We are seeking a Principal Packaging Engineer with a focus on hands-on process and materials ...

RELIAS

Principal Software Engineer

Morrisville, NC · Hybrid

$126K - $169K/yr

The Principal Engineer will be instrumental in shaping strategic decisions, guiding technical ... Microsoft AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals Certification (if certification is not current, must be ...

Bertelsmann

Principal Software Engineer

Morrisville, NC · On-site

$126K - $169K/yr

The Principal Engineer will be instrumental in shaping strategic decisions, guiding technical ... Microsoft AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals Certification (if certification is not current, must be ...

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All JobsMicrosoft Principal Engineer Jobs

Microsoft Principal Engineer information

See salary details

$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do microsoft principal engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 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 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 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 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 98% Full Time, and 2% Part Time. Highlights an 90% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.
Principal Engineer

Principal Engineer

System One Holdings, LLC

Evendale, OH • On-site

$150K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

Job Title: Principal Engineer
Location: North Cincinnati, Ohio
Type: Direct Hire
Compensation: $150k +
Contractor Work Model: Hybrid - onsite and remote
Responsibilities
  • Serve as the primary technical authority for the Client Technology platform, defining how our flagship products interact with partner integrations, internal core services, and downstream data consumers.
  • Drive technical roadmap planning in partnership with product and leadership, translating business objectives into architectural direction across both the application and data platform.
  • Maintain a high level of individual contribution within the customer-facing application team.
  • Write production code, perform deep-dive code reviews across the integration layer (core service interop, partner APIs, message queue consumers, etc.), and guide the team through complex technical problems.
  • Provide non-management technical leadership to Senior Software Developers and Data Engineers.
  • Elevate the technical bar across the application and data teams through shared standards, architectural reviews, and mentorship on design principles.
  • Collaborate with business analysts, subject matter experts, and other team members to design new applications and perform modifications to current applications.
Requirements
  • Minimum ten years of progressive experience as a practitioner in software development and data management, preferably with at least three years operating at a principal level.
  • Comprehensive and demonstrable full-stack software development skills and experience utilizing modern and open-source technologies to build enterprise business applications.
  • Knowledge of and practical experience with modern data architecture: Medallion model, CDC-based data capture, bronze/silver/gold layer design, and SCD Type 2 patterns.
  • Experience developing and managing enterprise-level B2B data sharing, API strategy, and high-volume data ingestion/egress.
  • Must be comfortable working in and managing multiple system environments (Linux & Windows), including Docker-based development workflows and production deployment pipelines.
  • Proven ability to influence technical direction across multiple teams (Data, Application Support, Product) without formal people-management authority.
  • Track record of leading technical design sessions, producing architecture documentation, and guiding developers through design trade-offs in complex, multi-schema enterprise systems.
  • Experience establishing or contributing to engineering standards, code review practices, and development workflows across multiple teams.
  • Must be comfortable navigating a polyglot environment that includes Java interop, multiple integration protocols (REST, message queues, serverless), multiple databases and data platforms including Oracle, MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Fabric, Snowflake, AWS, and various integration partners and systems.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills. Able to communicate effectively with a diverse group of individuals with varying levels of technical understanding and varying skillsets.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with other application development and data engineering areas to define standards and manage change.

System One, and its subsidiaries including Joulé and Mountain Ltd., are leaders in delivering outsourced services and workforce solutions across North America. We help clients get work done more efficiently and economically, without compromising quality. System One not only serves as a valued partner for our clients, but we offer eligible employees health and welfare benefits coverage options including medical, dental, vision, spending accounts, life insurance, voluntary plans, as well as participation in a 401(k) plan.
System One is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, family care or medical leave status, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
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Ref: #861-Cincinnati-S1

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