Software Engineering IC5

Microsoft

Confirmed live today High trust

Quick summary

Work type
On-site
Location
Redmond, WA
Salary
$142,800–$274,800 / yr
Posted
1 day ago
Freshness
Confirmed live today
Closes
Apr 26, 2027

Market check

Salary context

Competitive pay

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $216k
This role $209k
$127k $291k
below market most similar roles pay here above market

This role pays less than 58% of similar roles. Most pay $184,875–$246,150 — the blue band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $209k versus about $216k 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 692 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $119,800–$234,700 across 649 roles with salary data.

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At a glance

TL;DR · Software Engineering IC5

The Software Engineering IC5 role involves serving as a Principal Engineer responsible for designing and operating high-throughput, multi-tenant cloud services. You will own the architecture and technical direction for large-scale distributed services, defining system boundaries, data flows, and evolution strategies. Daily responsibilities include establishing reusable engineering patterns, translating product signals into technical roadmaps, and leading the resolution of complex cross-service and LiveSite issues. You must apply technical depth across cloud infrastructure, data, identity, security, and developer platforms to influence decisions across multiple technology layers. The role requires proficiency in coding languages such as C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python. You will solve problems related to system reliability, scalability, observability, and cost efficiency while mentoring engineers and leading rigorous architecture reviews to ensure maintainable solutions.

What does a Software Engineering earn?

Median $178325 from 42 postings across 14 companies.

See salary data

What you'll do

  • Own the architecture and technical direction for large-scale distributed services and system boundaries.
  • Establish reusable engineering patterns to ensure components are modular, secure, and reliable.
  • Evaluate technical trade-offs across distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, data, and security layers.
  • Translate customer needs and operational data into technical strategies and architecture roadmaps.
  • Lead the resolution of complex cross-service issues and identify systemic failure modes.
  • Drive architectural improvements in automation, resiliency, scalability, observability, and cost efficiency.
  • Conduct rigorous architecture reviews and mentor engineers to raise design and code quality.

What we're looking for

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or a related technical field.
  • 8+ years of technical engineering experience designing systems and coding.
  • Proficiency in languages including C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python.
  • Experience designing and operating high-throughput, multi-tenant cloud services.
  • Ability to define end-to-end architectures across service, data, security, reliability, and operational boundaries.
  • Experience establishing reusable engineering patterns for modular, secure, and scalable components.
  • Ability to lead the resolution of complex cross-service and LiveSite issues.
  • Experience mentoring engineers and leading rigorous architecture reviews.

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