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, you will define the multi-year technical vision, architecture, and engineering roadmap for lab automation, productized test collateral, and OEM self-assessment. You will lead platform adoption by creating reference patterns across diverse hardware, silicon, firmware, drivers, and Windows configurations while driving design reviews for station control, distributed orchestration, security, telemetry, and partner integration. You will resolve high-severity technical problems through deep Windows debugging, kernel analysis, and driver diagnostics. The role involves setting standards for reliability, observability, and test determinism while establishing guardrails for AI-assisted test authoring and anomaly detection. You will utilize C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python to build developer infrastructure and validation products. You must collaborate with data science leaders to define trustworthy schemas and ensure high quality bars across complex distributed systems.
What does a Software Engineer earn in Washington?
Median $202800 from 326 postings across 28 companies.
Define and communicate the multi-year technical vision, architecture, and engineering roadmap for lab automation and test collateral.
Create reference patterns to ensure platform compatibility across diverse hardware, silicon, firmware, and Windows configurations.
Lead architecture and design reviews for station control, distributed orchestration, security, telemetry, and partner integration.
Resolve high-severity technical problems through deep Windows debugging, kernel analysis, and cross-layer root-cause investigation.
Establish engineering standards for reliability, security, privacy, observability, and test determinism.
Partner with data teams to define trustworthy schemas, quality bars, and decision-ready reporting.
Set the strategy and guardrails for AI-assisted test authoring, anomaly detection, and developer workflows.
Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership to improve design quality and debugging depth.
What we're looking for
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).
6+ years of technical engineering experience coding in languages such as C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python.
Demonstrated technical leadership of a complex platform, distributed system, developer infrastructure, or validation product used by multiple teams or external partners.
Experience productizing and operating packaged test collateral, lab automation, or self-service validation capabilities at scale.
Experience defining architecture and operational standards for device orchestration, telemetry, logging, tracing, result aggregation, security, and reliability.
Recent hands-on use of generative AI models and agents for software engineering, test authoring, diagnosis, process acceleration, and developer productivity.
Proven ability to influence senior technical stakeholders, resolve ambiguity, and communicate complex decisions clearly across organizations.
Track record of mentoring engineers and strengthening engineering culture through both direct contribution and leadership.
C
C++
C#
Java
JavaScript
Python
Azure Virtual Desktop
Windows 365
client-engineering
Test Automation
Performance Measurement
Observability
Monitoring
Diagnostics
C
C++
C#
Java
JavaScript
Python
Windows
Generative AI
Telemetry
Logging
Tracing
Device Orchestration
Firmware
System Internals
Test Automation
Data Engineering
C++
C#
JavaScript
TypeScript
Python
Java
C
Windows
Web Technologies
Architecture
Performance Engineering
Telemetry
AI
Recommendation Systems
Client-side Architecture