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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$110K - $140K *

Provide technical leadership in electrical and controls engineering for industrial projects, ensuring high-quality design and integration of systems while collaborating with clients and teams to drive...

Atlanta, GARemote

3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$180K - $250K *

Tackle systemic challenges by building tools and practices that enhance performance, scalability, and decision-making across engineering teams, fostering collaboration and driving solutions that bridg...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$161K - $190K *

Join us to define and evolve the architecture of a cutting-edge digital platform, guiding engineering decisions and establishing shared services for scalable, secure, and reliable solutions that empow...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$190K - $215K *

Transform cloud-based engineering strategies as you lead teams in creating innovative AI-powered automation solutions, ensuring quality and scalability while promoting a dynamic and collaborative cult...

Lehi, UTRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$111K - $150K *

Elevate your career by leading the design and integration of advanced electrical control systems. Collaborate with engineering teams to enhance efficiency and mentor junior members while ensuring proj...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$164K - $240K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of private cloud architecture by designing, deploying, and optimizing solutions. Leverage your expertise to drive standards, mentor teams, and cultivate robust cli...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$116K - $165K *

Drive engineering excellence by leading the design and integration of marine vessels. Collaborate across teams to ensure compliance and quality in hull structure, propulsion, and auxiliary systems, wh...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$157K - $185K *

Elevate our data engineering capabilities by leading complex challenges, designing scalable architectures, and mentoring teams to ensure excellence in delivery and innovation across the organization...

Nashville, TNRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$157K - $185K *

Join as a Principal Data Engineer to tackle complex data challenges. Lead the design and implementation of scalable data architectures while mentoring teams and establishing engineering standards acro...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$284K - $385K *

Shape the future of technology by tackling complex challenges and driving AI adoption. Collaborate across teams to define long-term strategies, enhance customer experiences, and influence product dire...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$160K - $200K *

Lead the charge in defining long-term technical strategies that drive AI adoption and enhance customer experiences. Collaborate across teams to tackle complex challenges, ensuring high engineering sta...

CanadaRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$119K - $143K *

Elevate public infrastructure by leading critical capital projects, overseeing design and delivery from concept to completion. Collaborate with teams to ensure timely, cost-effective outcomes while ma...

Pasco, WARemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$110K - $177K *

Lead the charge in software development across a cross-functional team while ensuring quality and technical excellence. Balance hands-on coding with team leadership to deliver high-value applications...

Ohio, USRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$135K - $160K *

Engage with engineers to enhance developer workflows and tools. Own the product lifecycle from discovery to adoption, ensuring high-quality internal software that meets user needs and drives efficienc...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$107K - $204K *

Lead the charge in data analytics innovation, leveraging machine learning and Python to enhance decision-making and optimize engineering processes. Collaborate with teams to drive impactful solutions...

Connecticut, USRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Champion the development of innovative modeling capabilities to enhance our advanced simulation framework, collaborating with engineers to integrate numerical methods and apply machine learning for mo...

Seattle, WARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

$217K - $264K *

Lead and optimize the engineering team to enhance customer onboarding and lifecycle management, ensuring robust risk management and compliance across products while fostering a high-performing, inclus...

RemoteRemote

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$194K - $285K *

Lead the end-to-end application lifecycle by shaping product strategy and improving customer workflows, ensuring reliable and secure software deployment across diverse environments while collaborating...

Milpitas, CARemote

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$120K - $145K *

Lead a dynamic team of software engineers to enhance data import systems, ensuring efficient document processing and integration. Drive technical direction, improve engineering practices, and foster a...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$110K - $130K *

Empower mining projects by leading instrumentation and controls engineering efforts. Collaborate with clients and teams to deliver innovative solutions, ensuring compliance and excellence in design, a...

Denver, CORemote

1 week ago

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

$112K - $150K *

Optimize customer interactions by providing top-tier technical support and training, managing complex installations, and leading sales efforts. Collaborate across departments to enhance product perfor...

Phoenix, AZRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$95K - $115K *

Lead the charge in architectural excellence by mentoring a dynamic team, ensuring project success from design to documentation while navigating complex challenges and fostering client relationships...

San Francisco, CARemote

Reposted yesterday

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

$157K - $174K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of combat vehicle software. Lead architectural design and technical direction for mission-critical systems, integrating advanced technologies in a collaborative...

RemoteRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$135K - $160K *

Transform product security by leading strategy, conducting threat modeling, and collaborating across teams to ensure secure design and compliance. Drive innovation in security practices while mentorin...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$124K - $238K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of spacecraft systems engineering. Leverage your expertise to lead cross-functional teams in developing complex spacecraft designs, ensuring compliance, and drivi...

Palo Alto, CARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

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.