Principal Software Engineering Manager at Microsoft Corporation
Redmond, WA
$165,600–$296,400from the description
Jul 14, 2026
Redmond, WA
Jul 21, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
A management role leading engineering teams building a Kubernetes-based compute platform that standardizes service delivery across Microsoft's cloud infrastructure. The work centers on developing a geo-scale application platform with built-in security, high availability, and automated deployment capabilities. The position suits an experienced engineering manager with a strong background in cloud systems and large-scale distributed infrastructure.
Principal level · 8+ years · Remote · Bachelor's required · Full-time
“or” means any one of them counts — you don't need all of them.
We read this from the posting text with AI. Skim the description below before ruling yourself out.
How this req sits in the market our data
Roughly 12,900 people nationally plausibly meet what this posting asks for (computer and information systems managers). range 7,800–19,400
Applicant volume Heavy — This req sits in a large pool with little in its requirements to thin it, and auto-apply tools fire at everything in the occupation. Applying early and leading with the rare skills below is what gets read.
Most people in this occupation already list these. Still required — just not what gets you shortlisted.
What the occupation pays Median $178,991 (middle half $141,096–$225,584). This posting is about at that midpoint.
Estimated from BLS employment for this occupation and area, per-skill prevalence across our listing corpus, and published wage benchmarks — as of Jul 28, 2026. It is a model, not a headcount.
Why we read it this way (10)
This is a people-management role (Principal Software Engineering Manager) with direct team leadership, mentoring, and coaching responsibilities — classified as 11-3021. However, the JD also emphasizes hands-on technical leadership, coding, and architecture work on a Kubernetes-based platform, making 15-1252 a plausible runner-up.
The required qualifications gate on a Bachelor's degree in CS or related field AND 8+ years of engineering experience, OR equivalent experience. Because equivalent experience is explicitly accepted, the degree requirement is set to Bachelors (the stated minimum when a degree is pursued), but the 'or equivalent' path means this is not a strict gate for all candidates.
Coding languages (C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, Python) are listed in the required qualifications with 'including, but not limited to' language, indicating any one of these satisfies the requirement; they are captured as a single skill with alternatives.
Kubernetes and Azure appear only in the role narrative/responsibilities sections, not in a formal required-qualifications block — marked as preferred accordingly.
People management experience (6+ years) and cloud/large-scale systems experience (5+ years) appear only under Preferred Qualifications.
The base pay range of $220,800–$331,200/year applies specifically to the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City metro; the general US range of $165,600–$296,400/year is reported here.
The Microsoft Cloud Background Check is listed as a security screening requirement, but it is an employment/background check rather than a US government security clearance — the clearance requirement is set to None.
The role is explicitly flagged as eligible for fully remote work ('option to work fully remote').
Microsoft's internal level designation is M6, which aligns with Principal-level scope and compensation.
This posting reads as a fully-remote role, so it was scored against the national candidate pool rather than a single metro.
Read the full posting
The employer publishes the full description on their own site — read it there ↗. Or sign in to read it here — it's free, and it also lets you track this application.