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.
$110K - $130K *
Transform enterprise endpoint capabilities by designing, securing, and automating solutions for diverse users. Collaborate with cybersecurity and support teams to ensure effective deployment and lifec...
1 week ago
Principal Analog Design Engineer
$130K - $155K *
Empower innovation as you design high-speed analog circuits for next-gen AI technologies. Join a dynamic team to architect critical functions and drive advancements in optical transceivers, enhancing...
Yesterday
Principal Analog Design Engineer
$130K - $155K *
Engineer high-speed analog circuits for next-gen AI technologies. Collaborate with a diverse team to design and verify critical components, ensuring performance and reliability in cutting-edge optical...
Yesterday
Principal Analog Design Engineer
$130K - $155K *
Join a dynamic team to design high-speed analog circuits for next-gen AI technologies. Leverage your expertise in mixed-signal designs, circuit architecture, and system verification to drive innovatio...
Yesterday
Senior Software Engineer | Cloud
$160K - $180K *
Shape the future of cloud technology by leading the design and operation of secure, scalable services. Drive architectural decisions, mentor engineers, and collaborate across teams to enhance our clou...
3 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer, Behavior Planning
$135K - $160K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of autonomous driving by designing and implementing advanced behavior planning systems. Collaborate with experts to tackle complex challenges in dynamic environme...
1 week ago
Principal Engineer - FPGA/ASIC Design
$130K - $155K *
Innovate cutting-edge FPGA/ASIC designs while collaborating with a global team. Engage in all project phases, from architecture to testing, tackling complex challenges in engine control systems with a...
Today
$110K - $130K *
Transform the future of marketing by designing and deploying AI-driven growth systems. This hands-on role merges engineering and marketing to enhance customer engagement and streamline operations thro...
5 days ago
$90K - $100K *
Transform software delivery by managing cross-functional teams, aligning sprints, and optimizing project timelines. Drive clarity in processes and foster collaboration to ensure successful product exe...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$123K - $164K *
Lead the charge in electrical engineering for data center projects, ensuring technical quality and scalable standards. Operate autonomously to tackle complex challenges while mentoring junior engineer...
4 days ago
$185K - $225K *
Launch innovative full-stack solutions, owning features from backend to UI. Collaborate with a remote team to enhance agent workflows and ensure secure, reliable experiences in a regulated financial e...
3 weeks ago
Principal TA Systems Architect
$128K - $205K *
Elevate your career by owning the TA tech stack, driving integrations, and enhancing system efficiency. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize processes and lead vendor relationships, all...
Reposted 4 days ago
$113K - $191K *
Empower innovation in safety technology by developing AI-driven solutions that enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency. Collaborate across teams to deliver scalable, impactful products...
Reposted today
Senior/Staff Platform Engineer, Enterprise Deployments
$135K - $160K *
Champion customer success by leading enterprise deployments and integrations. Drive technical direction and enhance automation for cloud services, ensuring seamless operations and improved customer ex...
Yesterday
Software Engineer - Special Projects and Innovation
$99K - $120K *
Join a team that's redefining innovation in software engineering for critical facilities. You'll design and deliver cutting-edge applications and data solutions, driving projects from concept to deplo...
5 days ago
$109K - $164K *
Drive advanced digital forensics and incident response initiatives while mentoring a skilled engineering team. Leverage deep technical knowledge to enhance operational capabilities and ensure exceptio...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer - External Products
$125K - $150K *
Deliver scalable backend services and APIs for scholarly content, enhancing search and discovery systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize performance and reliability while integrat...
3 days ago
Principal Software Architect (Graph Architect)
$150K - $180K *
Lead the architectural vision for scalable Identity Resolution platforms, driving innovation in enterprise applications and data processing. Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure robust, high-p...
3 weeks ago
Principal AI Software Engineer
$150K - $180K *
Lead the charge in designing and deploying AI systems that enhance productivity and customer experience across multiple departments, driving innovation and efficiency through advanced AI capabilities...
2 weeks ago
$74K - $95K *
Elevate project delivery by leveraging VDC expertise in design analysis, coordination, and BIM technologies. Collaborate with teams to optimize processes throughout the design-build cycle, ensuring su...
2 weeks ago
Software Engineer II, Engineering
$125K - $145K *
Lead the charge in building impactful software features that enhance educators' management of English Learner programs, taking ownership from design to operation in a full-stack environment utilizing...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Senior Engineering Consultant - Civil/Construction
$110K - $130K *
Champion client success by leading complex commercial real estate projects, managing multi-site portfolios, and providing senior technical expertise to multidisciplinary teams, ensuring effective deli...
Reposted 1 week ago
Staff Engineer Cloud Scalability
$174K - $220K *
Pioneer significant enhancements in cloud infrastructure, optimizing capacity and performance. Drive cross-functional collaboration to ensure scalability and reliability while shaping best practices...
Reposted today
Instrumentation & Electrical Project Engineer - Natural Gas
$90K - $120K *
Champion innovative engineering solutions for gas transmission projects, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance design quality and operational performance while ensuring compliance with...
3 weeks ago
Software Engineer, Design Systems
$130K - $170K *
Lead the evolution of our design system by building accessible, reusable components and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance user experiences and streamline adoption across products...
4 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.