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.
$90K - $110K *
Transform structural engineering solutions by designing and analyzing systems for mission-critical environments. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure safety, compliance, and efficiency in...
1 week ago
Senior Infrastructure Engineer
$135K - $160K *
Join a team that's transforming cloud infrastructure for institutional investors. You'll deploy and manage AI solutions across various cloud environments, ensuring security and compliance while collab...
3 weeks ago
$168K - $214K *
Join a dynamic team to build innovative on-vehicle communication frameworks and enhance autonomous vehicle safety through advanced software solutions and monitoring systems...
5 days ago
Staff Application Security Engineer
$182K - $215K *
Join our team to oversee application security, manage vulnerability pipelines, and collaborate with engineering teams to enhance security practices. Drive incident response and advocate for security a...
1 month ago
$150K - $200K *
Lead and develop a high-performing engineering team, driving real-time financial infrastructure projects while fostering individual growth and establishing engineering standards for scalable practices...
1 week ago
$83K - $155K *
Explore a dynamic role combining application engineering with hands-on field support. Collaborate with customers and teams to troubleshoot and optimize solutions, ensuring successful installations and...
2 weeks ago
$190K - $220K *
Partner with us to tackle complex engineering challenges, leveraging deep expertise in TypeScript, Postgres, and AWS. Collaborate closely with our VP of Engineering to innovate and deliver impactful p...
Reposted today
Software Engineering Manager, Billing
$150K - $180K *
Champion the evolution of our billing systems by leading a dynamic engineering team. Drive strategy, ensure accuracy, and collaborate across departments to enhance customer trust as we scale our usage...
2 weeks ago
Principal Engineer - AV Simulation and Evaluation
$272K - $431K *
Drive your career with a Principal Software Engineer role focused on architecting core platform systems for Physical AI, enhancing Autonomous Driving and Robotics through innovative data architecture...
Yesterday
$126K - $167K *
Shape the future of mission-critical facilities by leading electrical design projects. Collaborate with design and project management teams to deliver innovative solutions, ensuring compliance with co...
2 weeks ago
Manager of Product Engineering
$132K - $165K *
Drive the development and enhancement of innovative products and platforms, leading a dynamic engineering team to deliver secure, scalable solutions while fostering collaboration and technical excelle...
4 days ago
Principal Analog Layout Design Engineer/Lead
$150K - $180K *
Shape the future of advanced optical communication systems by leading the layout design of complex analog and mixed-signal IP blocks. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure first-pass silic...
5 days ago
$110K - $140K *
Empower progress at the forefront of telecommunications by leveraging your structural engineering expertise to enhance infrastructure resilience and mentor emerging talent in a dynamic environment...
4 weeks ago
Integration Engineering Architect
$150K - $180K *
Optimize integration solutions by developing APIs and microservices, ensuring seamless connectivity across systems. Collaborate with stakeholders to translate requirements into functional designs whil...
3 days ago
Engineering Manager, AI Engineering
$184K - $205K *
Empower our Data/AI team by leading engineering efforts to enhance machine learning and data architecture, driving innovation within a collaborative and high-performance environment focused on effecti...
Reposted today
Senior Software Safety Engineer
$135K - $175K *
Engineer your career with a Senior Software Safety Engineer role focused on developing safety-critical autonomous systems. Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to enhance software safety process...
3 weeks ago
Engineering Manager - Protection and Controls
$120K - $145K *
Lead the charge in shaping the future of power systems by managing protection design and coordination analyses for transmission systems, ensuring safety and reliability while guiding a skilled team in...
Today
Senior Engineering Manager (RD165)
$135K - $160K *
Empower a talented engineering team to develop innovative airgap-native software solutions. Drive product success in National Defense by ensuring seamless integration with UDS, fostering collaboration...
3 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Transform the e-commerce landscape by leading backend architecture and integrations on Adobe Commerce. Drive performance optimization, mentor developers, and ensure operational reliability while colla...
6 days ago
$80K - $95K *
Engineer innovative civil designs for utility-scale solar and battery projects. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to create site layouts, grading, and drainage plans, ensuring compliance and ef...
1 week ago
Senior Technical Program Manager
$115K - $275K *
Manage the delivery of GPU clusters for AI workloads by coordinating teams across engineering, networking, and operations. Develop strategies, manage risks, and ensure timely, quality launches to scal...
Reposted 1 week ago
Director of Engineering - Global, Remote
$150K - $180K *
Lead and scale a dynamic engineering organization, driving execution and innovation while mentoring managers and aligning cross-functional priorities to deliver impactful solutions...
Today
Senior Engineering Manager, Data Platform
$225K - $265K *
Unlock potential by leading a transformative data engineering team focused on building robust, high-performance data platforms. Drive innovation, foster a culture of learning, and ensure impactful out...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$120K - $216K *
Champion the development of high-performance REST APIs, leading architectural decisions and mentoring engineers. Collaborate across teams to enhance system performance and establish best practices in...
3 weeks ago
$72K - $100K *
Join our dynamic team as a Sr. Credit Analyst, owning the underwriting cycle from application review to decision-making. Leverage your analytical skills to enhance credit processes and contribute to a...
2 weeks 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.