This role pays more than
66%
of similar roles. Most pay
$174,600–$225,000
— the shaded band above.
At the midpoint, this role pays about
$209k
versus about
$200k
for comparable roles.
Based on 240 similar postings.
Employer
About Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is a global technology leader producing software, hardware, and cloud services including Windows, Office 365, Azure cloud platform, Xbox gaming, and Surface devices. Industry: Software & Cloud Computing
Microsoft currently has
598 open roles
on FindRole.
Listed pay typically runs
$119,800–$234,700
across 586 roles with salary data.
As a Principal Software Engineer on the Windows App team, you will shape how the product integrates across various technical domains including Identity, Security, Management, Graphics, and Networking. You will serve as a product-minded engineering leader responsible for establishing a coherent technical vision, making architectural trade-offs, and aligning multiple teams to deliver a cohesive experience for Cloud PCs and virtual desktops. Your daily work involves translating customer needs into requirements, managing dependencies across organizational boundaries, and setting engineering excellence standards for approximately 80 developers. You will oversee code quality, test automation, and performance measurement while acting as the Directly Responsible Individual for critical initiatives. The role requires expertise in client-engineering and proficiency in languages such as C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python to solve complex problems related to remote Windows experiences and reliable software delivery.
What does a Software Engineer earn in Washington?
Median $202800 from 326 postings across 28 companies.
Translate customer needs into clear engineering requirements and measurable experience outcomes.
Identify and align dependencies across multiple teams to produce end-to-end architectural designs.
Establish engineering excellence standards for code quality, security, and technical debt management.
Mentor engineers and technical leaders to ensure the production of maintainable and extensible code.
Coordinate execution by linking architecture and dependencies to project plans, milestones, and release criteria.
Serve as the primary lead for critical initiatives to resolve reliability, performance, and experience regressions.
Advance engineering systems for automated testing, monitoring, observability, and release quality across teams.
What we're looking for
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field (or equivalent experience).
6+ years of technical engineering experience coding in languages such as C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python.
Ability to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check.
Experience leading architecture, design, and delivery of complex client applications or services across multiple teams (preferred).
Experience designing and developing desktop and/or mobile application architectures (preferred).
Demonstrated ability to create clarity from ambiguity and drive decisions across organizational boundaries while influencing without direct authority (preferred).
Passion for delivering exceptional end-user experiences with a focus on customer-centric outcomes (preferred).
C++
C#
Win32
WinRT
COM
Windows Services
RPC
Azure Virtual Desktop
Windows 365
Microsoft Entra ID
MSAL
Web Account Manager
WinUI
XAML
WebView2
MSIX
RDP
Python
Java
JavaScript