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

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$142K - $274K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer to lead the design and development of distributed data infrastructure, APIs and personalization pipelines that drive Copilot's intelligence. You will ...

Oracle Corporation

Principal Software Engineer

Seattle, WA

$153K - $206K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (IC4) who operates as an AI native builder. This is not a traditional software engineering role centered on manual coding. Engineers on ...

Oracle

Principal Software Engineer

Seattle, WA

$153K - $206K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (IC4) who operates as an AI native builder. This is not a traditional software engineering role centered on manual coding. Engineers on ...

Ardenir, Inc

Principal Software Engineer

Seattle, WA

$135K - $195K/yr

The Role As Ardenir's Principal Engineer, you'll own how we build software. We've adopted an AI-forward approach in which agents write our code. When a person has to review a line by hand, we treat ...

Ardenir, Inc

Principal Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$135K - $195K/yr

The Role As Ardenir's Principal Engineer, you'll own how we build software. We've adopted an AI-forward approach in which agents write our code. When a person has to review a line by hand, we treat ...

Walmart

(USA) Principal, Software Engineer

Bellevue, WA · On-site +1

$143K - $286K/yr

As a Principal Software Engineer, youwillbe responsible fordesigning,developingandimproving coreservices andalgorithms forDisplay Adsoptimization, includingbudgeting,pacing,biddingandauction.You ...

Ardenir, Inc

Principal Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$153K - $206K/yr

The Role As Ardenir's Principal Engineer, you'll own how we build software. We've adopted an AI-forward approach in which agents write our code. When a person has to review a line by hand, we treat ...

Ardenir, Inc

Principal Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$153K - $206K/yr

The Role As Ardenir's Principal Engineer, you'll own how we build software. We've adopted an AI-forward approach in which agents write our code. When a person has to review a line by hand, we treat ...

Oracle

Principal Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$153K - $206K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (IC4) who operates as an AI native builder. This is not a traditional software engineering role centered on manual coding. Engineers on ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$188K - $304K/yr

Overview Software engineers on the Edge Web Platform team build foundational technologies that ... As a principal engineer on the Rendering team, you will shape the core primitives of the web ...

Walmart

Principal, Software Engineer

Bellevue, WA

$152K - $204K/yr

As a Principal Engineer, you will act as a hands-on technical leader and architect for the ... Option 2: 7 years' experience in software engineering or related area. Preferred Qualifications.

Oracle

Principal Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · Hybrid

$153K - $206K/yr

Career Level - IC4 As a Principal Software Engineer, you will lead the software design and development for major components of Oracle's Cloud Infrastructure. You should be both a rock-solid coder and ...

Oracle

Principal Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · Hybrid

$153K - $206K/yr

Career Level - IC4 As a Principal Software Engineer, you will lead the software design and development for major components of Oracle's Cloud Infrastructure. You should be both a rock-solid coder and ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$151K - $202K/yr

As a Principal Software Engineer , you will design and develop core debugging technologies, including the Windows debugger and its underlying engine (WinDbg and DbgEng), kernel-mode debugging ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$151K - $202K/yr

As a Principal Software Engineer , you will set the technical direction for and architect core components of the Agentic support platform that Microsoft support relies on daily. You own complex ...

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Showing results 1-20

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

Principal Software Engineer information

See Bothell, WA salary details

$68.5K

$182.3K

$261.7K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Bothell, WA is $182,316.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $152,900.00 and $205,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Principal Software Engineers?

Principal Software Engineers are highly experienced technical leaders responsible for designing, developing, and overseeing complex software systems. They set technical direction, mentor engineering teams, and often collaborate with stakeholders to align technology solutions with business goals. In addition to coding, they play a key role in establishing best practices, reviewing architectural decisions, and ensuring high-quality software delivery. Their expertise and leadership are critical in driving innovation and maintaining technical excellence within an organization.

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 engineers make $300,000 a year?

Principal Software Engineers and senior technical leaders in high-demand industries such as technology, finance, and cloud computing often earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills in areas like distributed systems or machine learning, and relevant certifications. Compensation can include base salary, bonuses, and stock options, particularly at large tech companies or startups with significant funding.

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 engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Principal Software Engineers at large technology companies or in specialized fields such as machine learning, cloud computing, or cybersecurity can earn $500,000 or more annually, often including bonuses and stock options. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills, and leadership responsibilities within high-demand environments.

What Is 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 do principal software engineers get paid?

Principal software engineers typically earn between $120,000 and $180,000 annually, with total compensation often including bonuses and stock options. Salaries vary based on experience, location, industry, and company size, with some earning over $200,000 in high-demand markets.

Can you make $500,000 as a software engineer?

Principal Software Engineers at senior levels in large companies or with specialized skills such as machine learning or cloud architecture can earn $500,000 or more annually, often including bonuses and stock options. However, such high compensation is typically reserved for experienced professionals in high-cost-of-living areas or executive-level roles, and not common for entry- or mid-level positions.
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What are popular job titles related to Principal Software Engineer jobs in Bothell, WA? For Principal Software Engineer jobs in Bothell, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
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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 July 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $182,316 per year, or $87.7 per hour.
Principal Software Engineer | Data Science

Principal Software Engineer | Data Science

ExtraHop

Seattle, WA

$153K - $206K/yr

Other

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

Position Summary

ExtraHop is at the forefront of innovation in the cybersecurity space, delivering cutting-edge solutions to protect organizations against evolving threats. Our Network Detection and Response (NDR) products empower businesses to detect, respond to, and mitigate cyber risks in real time.

We seek a Principal Software Engineer to join our product development organization and serve as a technical anchor on our NDR platform. In this role, you will drive the architecture and execution of complex, high-impact engineering initiatives that define the future of our products. You will operate with significant autonomy, influence engineering direction across teams, and mentor engineers at multiple levels while delivering software that addresses the most sophisticated challenges in network security.

Key Responsibilities

  • Design, write, and maintain robust, high-performance software to deploy AI/ML models that analyze network traffic for anomalous or malicious behaviors.
  • Design and develop autonomous AI agent architectures and multi-agent workflows. 
  • Collaborate with data scientists, threat researchers, and cloud teams to build high-performance services, pipelines, and tooling that accelerate ML experimentation and production workflows. 
  • Drive engineering excellence across teams through code reviews, design reviews, and the establishment of standards, patterns, and best practices.
  • Lead cross-functional technical initiatives and represent engineering in conversations with senior leadership and external stakeholders.
  • Contribute to product strategy by bringing deep technical insight to roadmap discussions, build-vs-buy decisions, and competitive differentiation.
  • Lead by example. Provide technical mentorship to software engineers on the team, fostering a culture of continuous learning, optimization, and rigorous engineering discipline. 

Required Qualifications

  • Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 8+ years of professional software engineering experience, with at least 2 years in Principal, Lead, or Staff capacity shipping enterprise-grade software. 
  • Expert-level programming skills in Python and Go, with an emphasis on writing production-quality, well-tested, and modular code.
  • Experience in machine learning, statistics, or a related quantitative discipline.
  • Experience building or operating production AI/ML systems, including model lifecycle management, data/training pipelines, and monitoring.
  • Expertise in applying machine learning or data science techniques to cybersecurity use cases such as anomaly detection, behavioral analysis, or threat classification.
  • Advanced understanding of threat detection methodologies, intrusion prevention systems, and incident response workflows.

Preferred Qualifications

  • A strong fundamental understanding of network telemetry and protocols.
  • Prior experience working in the cybersecurity domain. Familiarity with threat actor techniques and common network attack vectors.
  • Familiarity with machine learning applications in cybersecurity.
  • Understanding of threat detection, intrusion prevention, and incident response strategies.
  • Deep experience with cloud services on AWS or Azure.
  • Deep experience with containerization and orchestration technologies including Docker and Kubernetes at production scale.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence technical and non-technical audiences at the executive level.

The salary range for this role is $175,000 - $195,000 + bonus + benefits 

Apply