Principal Software Engineer

Microsoft

Confirmed live today High trust

Hybrid

Quick summary

Work type: Hybrid
Location: —
Salary: $165,600–$296,400 / yr
Posted: 3 days ago
Freshness: Confirmed live today
Closes: Apr 21, 2027

Market check

Salary context

Above market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $195k

This role $231k

$124k $315k

below market most similar roles pay here above market

This role pays more than 83% of similar roles. Most pay $169,550–$220,800 — the blue band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $231k versus about $195k 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 694 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $119,800–$234,700 across 651 roles with salary data.

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At a glance

TL;DR · Principal Software Engineer

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The Principal Software Engineer joins the Microsoft Entra ID team to evolve the backend directory store platform. This role focuses on designing and developing large-scale distributed software services and solutions that power critical authentication, authorization, and directory services. You will perform system design with well-defined interfaces, drive modern engineering practices through code reviews, and ensure components are modular, secure, and reliable. Day-to-day tasks include troubleshooting automation, optimizing live site reliability, and improving test coverage. The role requires proficiency in languages such as C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python. You will apply innovative algorithms to solve high-performance problems within a cloud-first environment, specifically addressing the technical challenges of managing billions of identities and requests across heterogeneous environments for a global user base.

What does a Software Engineer earn?

Median $197400 from 2576 postings across 150 companies.

See salary data

Skills

C C++ C# Java JavaScript Python Azure AWS GCP Distributed Systems CI/CD System Design Monitoring Telemetry Live Site Operations Incident Response

What you'll do

Design and develop large-scale distributed software services and solutions.
Drive modern software engineering practices through rigorous design and code reviews.
Perform system design with well-defined interfaces across multiple components.
Develop modular, secure, and reliable components that are actively monitored and reusable.
Improve test coverage and implement integration tests to resolve problem areas.
Troubleshoot and optimize automation, reliability, and monitoring for Live Site.
Lead projects from initial conception through to final delivery.

What we're looking for

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field and 8+ years of technical engineering experience with coding in languages like C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python.
Ability to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire and every two years thereafter.
Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements.
Master's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field and 12+ years of technical engineering experience (preferred).
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field and 15+ years of technical engineering experience (preferred).
5+ years of experience designing, building, and operating scalable, highly available cloud services or distributed systems on platforms such as Azure, AWS, or GCP (preferred).
3+ years of experience building systems with emphasis on reliability, durability, and operational efficiency, including live site operations and incident response (preferred).
Experience leading projects from conception to delivery, including design and code review (preferred).

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