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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Bothell, WA (NOW HIRING)

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$188K - $304K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer to help shape the next generation of intelligent data services and agent-enabled platforms. In this role, you will lead the architecture, development ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$188K - $304K/yr

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will lead the architecture and delivery of product capabilities across React, Azure Functions, Microsoft Teams, GitHub, Azure AI Foundry, secure identity, data ...

SpaceX

Principal Software Engineer (Platform Team)

Redmond, WA · On-site

$200K - $285K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER (PLATFORM TEAM) The Platform Team builds the foundational tooling and security infrastructure that empowers every team at SpaceX to harness AI effectively. This team ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$142K - $274K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer to help shape the future of intelligent cybersecurity solutions within the Defender Experts organization. Microsoft's mission is to empower every ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$220K - $331K/yr

The Microsoft Store team is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to grow the Windows developer ecosystem and increase the number of high-quality applications on Windows and in the Microsoft Store.

Hasbro

Principal Software Engineer

Renton, WA · On-site

$151K - $203K/yr

We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer who can guide product ideas through every stage with agentic AI - from defining the problem with business partners, to developing the system, to deploying ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$151K - $202K/yr

The Windows Shell & Services team is looking for a Principal Software Engineer to lead the technical vision, architecture, and delivery of next-generation Windows Search experiences. In this role ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$188K - $304K/yr

Overview The Data Management Platform (DMP) in Bing Ads, part of Microsoft AI (MAI) is hiring for a Principal Software Engineer in Redmond, WA or Mountain view, CA. The Data Management Platform (DMP ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$188K - $304K/yr

We are looking for Principal Software Engineer to join the team! Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$220K - $331K/yr

We are seeking a highly experienced and technically visionary Principal Software Engineer to shape the architecture and development of the next-generation agent runtime and features. This role is ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$188K - $304K/yr

We are hiring a Principal Software Engineer to set the technical direction for securing AI at Microsoft - both securing the agents we ship and using agents to secure our customers. It is a problem ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$188K - $304K/yr

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will set the technical vision and architecture for the platform and experiences that power billing, cost management, and FinOps across Microsoft Security. You ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$142K - $274K/yr

The Principal Software Engineer within OCTO will build AI-based systems to accelerate the deployment of OpenAI technology across Microsoft. They will collaborate with key technical teams, both at ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$151K - $202K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer to provide technical leadership across complex, multi-team initiatives. You will establish architectural direction, identify foundational investments ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$151K - $202K/yr

They are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to serve as a senior technical architect, responsible for the architectural vision and strategy of the Copilot Discover platform, ensuring it is robust ...

Walmart

Principal, Software Engineer

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$152K - $204K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a Principal Software Engineer on the Marketplace Platform team, you will play a pivotal role in driving the architecture, design and maintenance of advanced frameworks that elevate Walmart ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$188K - $304K/yr

We are seeking an experienced Principal Software Engineer to join our Core Infrastructure Services organization within Intune, to build cloud services that operate at high scale and availability ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$188K - $304K/yr

We are looking for a passionate Principal Software Engineer with experiences working with all service aspects of high throughput and multi-tenant services, ability to design components carefully ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$188K - $304K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer . The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in developer platforms and large-scale engineering infrastructure, with ability and passion to drive AI ...

Gradial

Principal Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$160K - $250K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsPrincipal Software Engineer JobsPrincipal Software Engineer Jobs in Bothell, WA

Principal Software Engineer information

See Bothell, WA salary details

$67.6K

$179.9K

$258.2K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Bothell, WA is $179,909.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $150,900.00 and $202,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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.

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.

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.

How much does a principal software engineer get paid?

A principal software engineer typically earns between $120,000 and $180,000 annually in the United States, with salaries varying based on experience, location, and company size. They often have advanced skills in software architecture, leadership, and technical expertise in programming languages and tools.
More about Principal Software Engineer jobs

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

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

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

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

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

Principal Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Bothell, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 80% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $179,909 per year, or $86.5 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer

Microsoft

Redmond, WA • On-site

$188K - $304K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 5 days ago

Microsoft rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 132 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

79th of 244 rated software companies

Job description

Overview
The Microsoft Substrate Data Plane team powers the foundational services that enable Microsoft 365 experiences at planetary scale. Our platform processes and serves billions of signals, messages, documents, and interactions across Exchange, Teams, Copilot, and emerging AI-powered experiences. We build highly available, low-latency, massively distributed services that form the backbone of Microsoft's productivity cloud.
We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer to help shape the next generation of intelligent data services and agent-enabled platforms. In this role, you will lead the architecture, development, and operation of large-scale distributed systems that support Copilot, AI agents, search, retrieval, indexing, and data processing workloads across Microsoft 365.
Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
Responsibilities
  • Design, build, and operate large-scale, highly available cloud services that power Microsoft 365 experiences for billions of requests and millions of users worldwide.
  • Drive architecture, development, and delivery of distributed systems focused on scalability, reliability, performance, security, and operational excellence.
  • Develop platform capabilities that enable AI-powered experiences, including agent orchestration, tool execution, data access, grounding, and workflow automation.
  • Partner with product teams, service owners, and platform engineers to deliver intelligent, end-to-end experiences across Microsoft 365.
  • Leverage telemetry, automation, and AI-assisted diagnostics to improve service health, accelerate incident mitigation, and enhance engineering productivity.
  • Lead complex technical initiatives across teams, influence long-term platform strategy, and drive engineering best practices.
  • Mentor engineers and foster a culture of innovation, ownership, and continuous improvement.

Embody our culture and values
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 6+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
    • OR equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
    • OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 12+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
    • OR equivalent experience.
  • Experience with modern AI-driven software development practices, tools, and feedback loops, leveraging AI to accelerate engineering velocity, enhance developer productivity, and improve software quality.

Software Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $188,000 - $304,200 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.

What Microsoft employees say

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About Microsoft

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 100 datacenters and 1 million servers. Our foundation is built upon and managed by a team of subject matter experts working to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide. With environmental sustainability and optimization at the forefront of our datacenter design and operations, we continue to grow and evolve as we meet the ever-changing business demands that hold Microsoft as a world-class cloud provider.

Industry

Computer and computer peripheral equipment and software wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Redmond, WA, US

Year founded

1975

Social media

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