Principal Engineer Jobs

Discover Principal Engineer opportunities at companies seeking experienced technical leaders. Principal Engineers shape architecture, guide complex engineering work, and help teams deliver reliable, scalable products and systems. Browse vetted roles on Ladders, where listed jobs pay $100,000 or more.

What Does a Principal Engineer Do?

A Principal Engineer is a senior individual contributor who influences technical direction across teams or an organization. Depending on the employer and discipline, the role may involve setting architecture standards, evaluating technologies, solving high-impact engineering problems, mentoring engineers, and partnering with product and business leaders. Principal Engineers often lead through expertise and influence rather than direct people management.

Skills and Qualifications

Employers commonly seek deep experience in a relevant engineering specialty, a record of delivering complex projects, and strong system-design and problem-solving skills. Communication, technical judgment, collaboration, and the ability to align stakeholders around a sound approach are also important. Requirements vary by industry and role; some positions emphasize software architecture, while others focus on infrastructure, hardware, data, security, or other engineering domains.

Principal Engineer Salary and Career Outlook

Compensation depends on factors such as location, industry, scope, and experience. Ladders focuses on vetted professional opportunities paying $100,000 or more, helping experienced candidates explore senior engineering roles. Review each listing for details about compensation, responsibilities, and qualifications.

Find Principal Engineer Jobs on Ladders

Search Principal Engineer jobs to compare opportunities and identify roles that match your expertise and career goals. Explore openings across companies and engineering disciplines, and use each job description to assess technical scope, team influence, and the experience required.

Remote
caret down
Compensation
caret down
Position Level
caret down
Time Posted
caret down
Industries
caret down
More
1
caret down

Sort By: Relevance

$175K - $210K *

Innovate and lead the technical vision for large-scale product systems, driving cross-functional initiatives and engineering excellence while mentoring teams to enhance growth and impact across multip...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$180K - $240K *

Transform the future of distributed systems by designing and building robust platform components. Collaborate with teams to ensure reliability and scalability in mission-critical environments, driving...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$275K - $325K *

Join a team that's redefining financing products through innovative engineering. Lead complex initiatives, modernize systems, and leverage AI tools to enhance software development while ensuring data...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$110K - $130K *

Unlock potential by leading electrical design projects from concept to completion, ensuring compliance with standards and codes. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality, constr...

Fort Worth, TXRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$108K - $130K *

Transform electrical engineering projects by leading design and analysis from inception to completion. Collaborate with teams to deliver innovative solutions while ensuring compliance with standards a...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's redefining electrical design for power systems. You'll manage projects from scoping to construction, ensuring compliance with standards while delivering high-quality designs and sup...

Reno, NVRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$110K - $130K *

Drive the future of electrical design by leading medium- and low-voltage projects, ensuring compliance with standards and codes while delivering high-quality, constructible packages. Collaborate acros...

Lake Mary, FLRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$96K - $115K *

Lead the charge in designing and developing aerospace wire harnesses, ensuring compliance with industry standards while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative solutions...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$203K - $366K *

Innovate and lead a high-performing software development team to deliver scalable enterprise Time and Pay solutions. Collaborate with HR and Finance to drive strategy and enhance operational efficienc...

Cambridge, MARemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Shape the future of AI evaluation by leading rigorous methodologies, collaborating with engineers, and mentoring teams to ensure accurate assessments that drive product innovation and market standards...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $148K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of AEC software by leading engineering talent and enhancing workflows. Drive innovation in Autodesk Revit add-ins and tools while fostering a collaborative enviro...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$125K - $187K *

Transform energy efficiency initiatives by leading a skilled engineering team. Drive project execution, mentor talent, and enhance program delivery across multiple states, ensuring impactful cost savi...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's driving high-impact commercial data center projects from inception to completion, ensuring alignment with strategic goals, timelines, and budgets while fostering collaboration among...

Quanah, TXRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in managing high-impact commercial data center projects, ensuring alignment with client goals, timelines, and budgets while fostering collaboration among stakeholders and driving opera...

Texas, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$125K - $150K *

Elevate your career by driving data engineering excellence in Palantir Foundry, transforming legacy systems into robust pipelines and applications while collaborating with cross-functional teams to de...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Join a dynamic team as you lead engineers in delivering high-quality technology. Drive performance, resource planning, and best practices across the SDLC while fostering a culture of collaboration and...

Livonia, MIRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in shaping the future of utility substation engineering by developing a high-performing team, driving business growth, and delivering integrated solutions for electric utility clients...

Austin, TXRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$225K - $265K *

Shape the future of secure administration by leading a dynamic engineering team focused on backend services, user access, and account management. Drive innovation while ensuring operational excellence...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$180K - $225K *

Transform the claims process by building robust event-driven systems. As a key player, you'll design, implement, and maintain backend services, ensuring reliability and efficiency while mentoring fell...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$150K - $180K *

Join a dynamic team to drive technical vision and operational excellence in cloud-native platforms. Lead engineering efforts, champion security practices, and empower talent while ensuring system stab...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $140K *

Transform your career by leading complex design change projects from inception to execution. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, manage substantial budgets, and drive innovation in a fast-paced e...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$95K - $115K *

Empower your career by bridging sales and engineering as a key technical resource. You'll scope, quote, and support customer needs for low and medium-voltage switchgear solutions, ensuring alignment w...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$160K - $230K *

Transform mission-critical applications by collaborating with AI engineers to enhance performance, scalability, and security. Drive technical excellence and mentor peers while navigating dynamic feder...

Reston, VARemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Optimize your career by leading the design and implementation of secure cloud infrastructure for federal spectrum management systems, ensuring reliability and compliance while mentoring junior enginee...

Washington, DCRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$80K - $95K *

Join a dynamic team as a Product Engineer, driving innovative designs and technical solutions for mass production. Collaborate across departments to ensure product excellence and mentor junior enginee...

Wayne, NERemote

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What is a Principal Engineer?question toggle

    A Principal Engineer is a senior technical individual contributor who helps set engineering direction, addresses complex problems, and influences architecture and practices across teams or an organization.

  • What does a Principal Engineer do?question toggle

    Responsibilities vary, but may include designing systems, establishing technical standards, guiding high-impact projects, mentoring engineers, and collaborating with product and business stakeholders.

  • How is a Principal Engineer different from an Engineering Manager?question toggle

    A Principal Engineer typically leads through technical expertise and influence, while an Engineering Manager generally focuses on people management, team operations, and delivery. Some organizations combine or vary these responsibilities.

  • What qualifications are commonly required for Principal Engineer jobs?question toggle

    Employers often look for extensive experience in a relevant engineering discipline, a history of delivering complex projects, strong system-design skills, and effective communication and collaboration.

  • How much do Principal Engineers earn?question toggle

    Pay varies by location, industry, specialization, and role scope. Ladders features vetted professional job listings paying $100,000 or more; check individual listings for compensation details.