This role pays more than
55%
of similar roles. Most pay
$179,475–$231,000
— the shaded band above.
At the midpoint, this role pays about
$209k
versus about
$205k
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.
The Principal UX Engineering Lead works within a cross-functional environment involving researchers, designers, and engineers to define and scale end-to-end experiences that balance accessibility, performance, and security. This role involves building functional prototypes, developing front-end design solutions, and creating robust design systems including components for responsiveness and micro-interactions. The individual will manage complex product designs by synthesizing user insights into technical requirements while ensuring all work adheres to secure codebases and brand guidelines. Key responsibilities include mentoring team members, overseeing code quality, and advocating for secure-by-design principles across the development lifecycle. Required expertise includes experience with production-ready code, design system architecture, and AI development infrastructure such as MCP servers or generative UI patterns. The role solves complex problems by bridging the gap between design intent and technical implementation for large-scale products.
Develop and lead the creation of functional prototypes that solve complex technical challenges while meeting security requirements.
Build and maintain scalable design systems and secure codebases to ensure consistency across multiple product teams.
Integrate security principles into every stage of the design and engineering process, from initial ideation to final implementation.
Translate complex user needs and business goals into clear, actionable product designs and technical specifications.
Mentor team members and provide technical leadership on engineering fundamentals, code quality, and design best practices.
Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to shepherd end-to-end experiences from concept through to production shipment.
Advocate for and implement accessible, high-performance, and secure user interface components across the organization.
What we're looking for
Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Design, or related field with 4+ years of experience, OR Bachelor's degree with 6+ years of experience.
8 to 14+ years of experience working in product/service design and shipping production code (depending on education level).
At least 6 years of experience shipping production-ready code through a collaborative process.
Experience as a product owner or technical lead for a design system consumed by multiple teams, including versioning and theming architecture.
Experience building AI development infrastructure for design work, such as MCP servers, model-integrated prototyping, or internal platforms.
Experience designing or building AI product surfaces, including assistant, agent, or generative UI patterns.
Experience working in a design and research studio environment across multiple partner engineering organizations.
Expertise in integrating security principles into all stages of the design and engineering lifecycle.
Experience Design
Service Design
Human-Centered Design
Inclusive Design
Accessibility
User Research
Journey Mapping
Service Blueprints
SRE
Automation
APIs
Microservices
AI-enabled Tools
Systems Thinking