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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Bellevue, WA

Principal Software Engineer** to join our Inventory Technology team. Inventory is Nordstrom's biggest investment and the productive use of it is critical to the company's success. Our team is ...

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$185K - $255K/yr

Principal Software Engineer Position Description: Protingent Staffing has an exciting direct-hire opportunity for a Principal Software Engineer. Job Responsibilities: • Elevate the technical ...

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$151K - $202K/yr

We're looking for a Principal Software Engineer who thrives at the intersection of AI systems, real-time decision-making, and scalable cloud infrastructure . You'll help shape the next generation of ...

Principal Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$191K - $297K/yr

As a Principal Software Engineer , you will play a crucial role in building technology to improve the way we move, track and optimize our inventory. As a key member of our Inventory technology ...

Principal Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$191K - $297K/yr

As a Principal Software Engineer , you will play a crucial role in building technology to improve the way we move, track and optimize our inventory. As a key member of our Inventory technology ...

Principal Software Engineer

Bellevue, WA · Hybrid

$152K - $204K/yr

Hybrid role: 3 days/week in office Role Overview As a Principal Software Engineer at MediaAlpha, you will be a technical leader accountable at the ecosystem level. You own the architecture, health ...

Principal Software Engineer

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$152K - $204K/yr

Hybrid role: 3 days/week in office Role Overview As a Principal Software Engineer at MediaAlpha, you will be a technical leader accountable at the ecosystem level. You own the architecture, health ...

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$151K - $202K/yr

As a Principal Software Engineer, you'll drive projects from concept to delivery, influence technical decisions across multiple teams, and collaborate with engineering, product, design, and applied ...

Principal Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$160K - $250K/yr

The Role Gradial is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to drive the architecture and technical vision behind AI-native systems that transform how creative teams build and update websites. As a ...

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$151K - $202K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer with experience in cloud service development to come help us develop and light up innovative solutions that powers Azure and make our world-class ...

Principal Software Engineer- Eng

Seattle, WA · On-site

$153K - $206K/yr

Principal Software Engineer-ENG: This Principal Software Engineer- Eng role serves as a technical authority and architectural leader for UKG's Pro Foundation team, which owns HCM-level platform ...

Principal Software Engineer- Eng

Seattle, WA · On-site

$153K - $206K/yr

Principal Software Engineer-ENG: This Principal Software Engineer- Eng role serves as a technical authority and architectural leader for UKG's Pro Foundation team, which owns HCM-level platform ...

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Showing results 1-20

Principal Software Engineer information

See Bellevue, WA salary details

$68.3K

$181.6K

$260.7K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Bellevue, WA is $181,639.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $152,400.00 and $204,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal software engineer?

A principal software engineer is in charge of software development. In this career, you guide the software design process and inspect software programs to make suggestions for improvements. Principal software engineers also process complex data and may need to enforce software design, development, and maintenance requirements. Your job requires a high level of technical knowledge and skills and a thorough understanding of the software development process. Your employer may require you to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in software development. Similar job titles include software architect and principal software developer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal software engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Software Engineer, you need deep expertise in software architecture, programming languages, and system design, often supported by a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or a related field. Advanced proficiency with development frameworks, cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure), and familiarity with DevOps tools and agile methodologies are typically required. Exceptional leadership, mentorship, and communication skills help facilitate cross-functional collaboration and guide technical teams. These skills are crucial for driving technical vision, ensuring scalable solutions, and fostering innovation within complex projects.

How does a principal software engineer typically balance hands-on coding with leadership responsibilities?

Principal Software Engineers often split their time between technical contributions—such as designing system architecture and reviewing complex code—and guiding teams through mentorship, technical direction, and cross-functional collaboration. While they may not code as much as junior engineers, they remain highly involved in critical implementations and code reviews. Balancing these responsibilities requires strong time management, clear communication, and the ability to prioritize tasks that have the highest impact on project and team success.

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

AspectPrincipal Software EngineerSenior Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in CS or related field; extensive experienceBachelor's or Master's in CS; several years of experience
Work EnvironmentLeadership roles, strategic planning, cross-team collaborationDesign, develop, and troubleshoot software; mentorship
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, large enterprises, startupsMost industries, including tech, finance, healthcare

The main difference between a Principal Software Engineer and a Senior Software Engineer lies in their level of responsibility and scope. Principal Software Engineers typically lead technical strategy, influence architecture decisions, and mentor multiple teams, whereas Senior Software Engineers focus on coding, design, and individual project contributions. Both roles require strong technical skills, but the Principal role emphasizes leadership and strategic impact.

How much does a principal software engineer get paid?

A principal software engineer typically earns between $120,000 and $180,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. They often have advanced skills in software architecture, leadership, and technical expertise in programming languages and tools.

What are popular job titles related to Principal Software Engineer jobs in Bellevue, WA?

For Principal Software Engineer jobs in Bellevue, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Principal Software Engineer jobs in Bellevue, WA look for?

The top searched job categories for Principal Software Engineer jobs in Bellevue, WA are:

What cities near Bellevue, WA are hiring for Principal Software Engineer jobs?

Cities near Bellevue, WA with the most Principal Software Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Bellevue, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, and 15% Contract. Highlights an 86% In-person, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $181,639 per year, or $87.3 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer

Nordstrom, Inc.

Seattle, WA • On-site

$191 - $297/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 2 days ago


Nordstrom rating

6.8

Company rating: 6.8 out of 10

Based on 426 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

4th of 21 rated department stores


Job description

## Principal Software EngineerApplylocations: Seattle, WAtime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Todayjob requisition id: R-862338## **Job Description**Nordstrom, a leading fashion retailer, is seeking a highly skilled **Principal Software Engineer** to join our Inventory Technology team. Inventory is Nordstrom’s biggest investment and the productive use of it is critical to the company’s success. Our team is responsible for the movement execution and optimization of inventory across a network of 400+ stores and our warehouses, as well as the visibility and traceability of the inventory. Lastly, we are also responsible for the systems that support all of the reverse logistics lifecycle for Nordstrom. Our platform provides a real-time, unified representation of inventory state, enabling stores, fulfillment centers, and enterprise stakeholders to make informed decisions about stock availability, movement, and allocation. We’re also at the forefront of applying AI and agentic architectures to transform how inventory systems are built, tested and operated.As a **Principal Software Engineer**, you will play a crucial role in building technology to improve the way we move, track and optimize our inventory. As a key member of our Inventory technology leadership team, you will oversee the design, architecture, and implementation of critical technology. Your expertise will be instrumental in driving innovation and ensuring the scalability, reliability, and performance of our technology.**A day in the life...*** Set technical direction for a 150+ engineering org on how the org designs, builds, and ships code, with agentic development practices where agents write code and engineers provide the context and review* Architect and develop complex systems at scale that meet SLA’s, KPI's and engineering standards* Design and evolve event-driven, microservices-based architectures (e.g., streaming platforms such as Kafka) that power real-time inventory visibility, movement, and traceability across our store, warehouse, and RFID systems* Collaborate with and influence senior technology and business leaders to recommend solutions and articulate trade-off’s* Set technical direction and strategy across the Inventory Technology portfolio, serving as the domain’s technical authority to peer engineering organizations (Supply Chain, Merchandising, Data Science) and enterprise business stakeholders* Lead engineers across multiple teams through projects by providing guidance on software design and development* Diagnose and remedy performance or security issues* Demonstrates expertise in industry standards for secure development practices* Apply expertise with telemetry solutions and products available in the industry* Contributes to great open source, community projects and engineering standards* Mentor and elevate Senior engineers across the broader Inventory Technology organization; help acquire and retain top engineering talent* Stay hands-on: build POCs and dig into complex problem areas directly, not just at the whiteboard**You own this if you have...*** Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, Computer Engineering, or related field* 10+ years of professional software engineering experience* Highly proficient with Java and Python* Highly experienced with AWS and/or GCP* Hands-on experience with agentic AI systems; experience with AWS Bedrock AgentCore is a strong plus* Experience with Agile methodologies with a continuous improvement and quality mindset* DevOps experience with track record of improving time to recovery and mitigating failures* Highly experienced with various CI/CD process and tools (GitLab) and containerization technologies* Highly skilled at applying architectural patterns to express complex scalable systems that optimize for simplicity, operational support and implementation velocity* Experienced with developing data science enabled solutions using big data and traditional software skills* Experience leveraging AI, particularly Generative AI, to enhance platform automation, reduce operational costs, and improve engineering productivity. Identify opportunities where AI can streamline workflows, optimize data processing, and enable intelligent decision-making* Track record of designing and developing services and applications with enterprise grade security to protect sensitive data from threats* Highly experienced with mentoring and coaching engineers* Track record of architecting and solving complex engineering problems at scale with outstanding business and technology results* Experience in supply chain and/or complex ecommerce domains is preferred* Domain experience with inventory management, warehouse management systems (WMS), or RFID-based tracking systems is a strong plus **Pay Range Details**The pay range(s) below has been provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different for other locations. Pay offers are dependent on the location, as well as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.$191,000.00 - $297,000.00 Annual**We’ve got you covered...**Our employees are our most important asset and that’s reflected in our benefits. Nordstrom is proud to offer a variety of benefits to support employees and their families, including:* Medical/Vision, Dental, Retirement and Paid Time Away* Life Insurance and Disability* Merchandise Discount and EAP ResourcesThis position may be eligible for performance-based incentives/bonuses. Benefits include 401k, medical/vision/dental/life/disability insurance options, PTO accruals, Holidays, and more. Eligibility requirements may apply based on location, job level, classification, and length of employment. Learn more in the Nordstrom Benefits Overview by copying and pasting the following URL into your browser: https://careers.nordstrom.com/pdfs/Ben\_Overview\_17-19.pdf**A few more important points...**The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive. There may be additional duties, responsibilities and qualifications for this job. For Los Angeles or San Francisco applicants: Nordstrom is required to inform you that we conduct background checks after conditional offer and consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with legal requirements per Los Angeles, Cal. Muni. Code 189.04 and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For additional state and location specific notices, please refer to the Legal Notices document within the FAQ section of the Nordstrom Careers site. Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation should contact the nearest Nordstrom location, which can be identified at www.nordstrom.com. Please be mindful that there may be legal notices and requirements related to this job posting that are specific to your state. Review the Career Site FAQ’s for relevant information and guidelines.Current Nordstrom employees: To apply, log into Workday, click the Careers button and then click Find Jobs.Nordstrom keeps job postings open for at least one day after the posting date. 2026 Nordstrom, Inc #J-18808-Ljbffr

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