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.

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$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...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$115K - $130K *

Join a team that's dedicated to developing innovative web and cloud applications. In this role, you'll lead projects, mentor junior engineers, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver hi...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$88K - $154K *

Optimize and integrate the manufacturing process for hazardous materials, taking ownership from design through commissioning. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure safety and efficiency i...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$118K - $180K *

Lead a team in tackling complex electrical engineering projects, ensuring successful delivery through effective coordination, technical oversight, and client engagement. Drive innovation and mentor te...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$125K - $150K *

Take ownership of a fully distributed engineering team, driving delivery, quality, and growth while fostering a culture of communication and continuous improvement. Collaborate with cross-functional p...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$125K - $150K *

Lead a distributed engineering team to deliver high-quality software solutions. Foster a culture of ownership and continuous improvement while collaborating with cross-functional partners to drive bus...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$174K - $273K *

Transform your career by leading innovative full stack solutions that bridge frontend and backend systems. Drive growth engineering initiatives while mentoring teams and ensuring operational excellenc...

San Francisco, CARemote

3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$95K - $115K *

Empower your career by joining a dynamic team to lead complex civil engineering projects. Collaborate with multidisciplinary experts to design and implement innovative transportation solutions that en...

Los Angeles, CARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$120K - $145K *

Transform the claims process by owning backend services in Python and TypeScript. Design event-driven systems that enhance reliability and efficiency, ensuring seamless integration of AI agents while...

Chicago, ILRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$135K - $160K *

Innovate the future of digital experiences by leading architectural strategies and solving complex technical challenges across multiple teams. Drive impactful solutions that enhance customer engagemen...

Las Vegas, NVRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$135K - $160K *

Join a dynamic team to shape the future of software engineering by leading architectural decisions, driving product modernization, and enhancing operational excellence while mentoring others and foste...

Nashville, TNRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$100K - $120K *

Join a team that's revolutionizing pharmacy operations with AI. As a Software Engineer, you'll independently ship impactful features and fixes, collaborating closely with experienced engineers in a fa...

Orlando, FLRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$225K - $265K *

Drive the development of seamless integrations for security platforms, leading a team to deliver high-quality, reliable products that enhance customer security stacks and ensure compatibility with evo...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Lead a talented team in crafting a high-quality, scalable object storage product that enhances the developer experience, balancing technical execution with product thinking to drive meaningful improve...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$206K - $242K *

Transform external attack capabilities by developing scalable workflows and automating reconnaissance processes. Drive innovation in offensive security, mentor teammates, and contribute to a high-impa...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Shape the future of embedded systems engineering by leading a high-performance team, defining technical roadmaps, and integrating AI-driven workflows to deliver innovative, reliable solutions across d...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$187K - $234K *

Empower the Integrations team to scale impact by leading third-party integrations, creating reusable capabilities, and fostering a collaborative culture that drives effective delivery and continuous i...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$215K - $269K *

Transform your career by architecting scalable systems in a dynamic engineering environment. As a technical leader, you will guide innovative solutions across multiple teams, ensuring high-performance...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$130K - $155K *

Lead the charge in designing and building impactful backend services and APIs that enhance customer experiences across multiple products, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams in a dynamic...

CanadaRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$157K - $184K *

Drive impactful backend services and APIs for customer-facing platforms, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance product features in a fast-paced, product-driven environment. Embrace qual...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$130K - $155K *

Join a team that's redefining retail technology by leading a high-performing engineering group focused on modernizing and automating store platforms for a global audience, ensuring reliability and sca...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$110K - $135K *

Unlock excellence in PCB design and manufacturing by leading DFM initiatives, developing complex multilayer layouts, and shaping best practices across engineering teams to enhance product performance...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $145K *

Partner with us to drive customer success by implementing and expanding Teleport solutions. Leverage your expertise to enhance adoption, troubleshoot issues, and deliver tailored training, ensuring cl...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$145K - $181K *

Transform the renewable energy landscape by leading generator modeling efforts throughout project lifecycles. Collaborate with diverse teams to ensure compliance and efficiency in modeling processes...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in delivering tailored, technical solutions that drive sales success. Collaborate with teams to enhance demos, manage proposal responses, and ensure seamless implementation transitions...

Atlanta, GARemote

Reposted 4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

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.