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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
$135K - $160K *
Lead a dynamic engineering pod, ensuring high-quality code delivery while fostering team growth and collaboration. Stay hands-on with development, manage performance, and drive innovation in a fast-pa...
1 week ago
Principal Engineer - Database Platform Engineering & SRE
$152K - $223K *
Drive operational transformation and cloud readiness by leading database modernization initiatives, improving reliability and engineering excellence through automation and best practices while mentori...
Reposted 5 days ago
$125K - $150K *
Transform business workflows by developing and maintaining applications that enhance productivity and information sharing across teams. Collaborate with IT and business units to deliver innovative sol...
Reposted yesterday
Senior Software Engineer, Containers
$157K - $184K *
Engineer and elevate our core product by developing innovative features, tools, and infrastructure while collaborating closely with a dedicated team to maintain high-quality standards and drive techni...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Principal Embedded Software Engineer
$130K - $155K *
Lead the charge in creating cutting-edge embedded software solutions for autonomous mobile robotics. Drive technical excellence, oversee collaborative engineering efforts, and ensure high reliability...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Principal Engineer - R&D Digital
$140K - $241K *
Lead the charge in advancing robotic-enabled joint solutions by guiding technical direction, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring successful commercialization of innovative medical d...
Today
Principal Analog Design Engineer
$130K - $155K *
Join a dynamic team to shape the future of high-speed analog design, focusing on innovative circuit architectures for next-gen AI technologies. Collaborate on cutting-edge projects that drive performa...
Yesterday
$150K - $180K *
Join the Platform Engineering Team to design and implement innovative solutions across infrastructure, data, and security platforms, leveraging modern technologies to enhance efficiency and security i...
3 weeks ago
$135K - $160K *
Join a team that's redefining CRM platforms by architecting innovative, AI-driven solutions. This high-impact role requires visionary leadership to optimize data processing and enhance user experience...
1 week ago
$95K - $115K *
Drive field engineering excellence by installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting cutting-edge hardware systems. Collaborate with teams to enhance product design and ensure reliable operations in dyn...
4 weeks ago
Fire Alarm Engineering Manager
$110K - $130K *
Elevate your career by leading a dynamic engineering team in fire alarm design. Drive innovative solutions, optimize project performance, and collaborate across departments to ensure compliance and qu...
2 weeks ago
$93K - $125K *
Join a dynamic team as a technical resource, enhancing enterprise applications and infrastructure services. Drive operational excellence, support cross-functional initiatives, and ensure reliable, sec...
2 weeks ago
$112K - $150K *
Shape the future of communication technology by providing expert technical support and training to diverse clients. Collaborate with sales and engineering teams to deliver innovative solutions while m...
2 weeks ago
Senior Infrastructure Engineer
$120K - $145K *
Lead the charge in designing and evolving scalable cloud infrastructure, driving architectural strategy, and enhancing operational culture while collaborating with cross-functional teams to meet ambit...
6 days ago
$100K - $120K *
Drive the development and integration of advanced nuclear energy systems by applying systems engineering methods to translate objectives into clear, verifiable requirements and solutions, while collab...
1 week ago
Front-End Lead Software Engineer, Reuters
$118K - $219K *
Elevate front-end engineering for a global content platform, driving architectural decisions and fostering a quality culture. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance user experience and per...
3 days ago
$169K - $304K *
Drive innovative IAM architecture solutions, collaborating globally to enhance cloud asset control and ensure operational excellence through strategic design and cross-functional teamwork...
1 week ago
Sr. Design-Build Project Manager
$125K - $150K *
Lead and manage design-build projects, ensuring timely completion within budget while meeting client objectives and contractual obligations. Oversee scope development, financial performance, and compl...
Reposted today
Senior Electrical Application Engineer
$125K - $160K *
Elevate your career by owning electrical application engineering for prefabricated platforms. Collaborate across disciplines to deliver scalable solutions, ensuring design integrity and execution read...
3 weeks ago
Lead Mechanical Engineer 1 - Nuclear
$118K - $180K *
Join a team that's redefining nuclear power engineering by designing innovative systems and leading projects that enhance plant operations and safety. Collaborate with clients and drive impactful modi...
2 weeks ago
Lead Mechanical Engineer 1 - Nuclear
$118K - $180K *
Lead engineering projects in nuclear power systems design, focusing on modifications, analyses, and vendor evaluations. Collaborate with clients and teams to deliver innovative solutions that enhance...
2 weeks ago
$150K - $180K *
Empower engineering teams to innovate and deliver high-quality SaaS products. Lead technical direction, enhance system architecture, and foster collaboration across teams to drive user-centric solutio...
2 weeks ago
Research Engineer - Data and Evaluation
$150K - $350K *
Transform the landscape of reinforcement learning by designing evaluations and environments that enhance model training and performance. Collaborate with researchers to identify and address model fail...
2 weeks ago
Engineering Manager, Governance & Access
$150K - $180K *
Empower our team to build innovative security and governance solutions, shaping access management for both human and agent users. Lead a small, dynamic group as we define architectural foundations and...
3 weeks ago
$145K - $222K *
Deliver impactful leadership by managing multi-discipline nuclear projects, ensuring alignment across teams, and guiding successful execution from design to closeout while maintaining client relations...
5 days ago
What is a Principal Engineer?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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.