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 - $200K *

Drive impactful design and development of front-end features, owning the code from concept to production. Collaborate with teams to establish design systems and set direction for user-centric products...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$145K - $175K *

Shape the future of software engineering by leading modernization efforts, solving complex technical challenges, and mentoring teams. Collaborate across product boundaries to enhance system architectu...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$150K - $200K *

Transform your career by leading innovative software solutions, guiding AI-driven development, and ensuring high-quality deliverables. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to shape the technical la...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$165K - $185K *

Unlock your potential by leading the design and implementation of innovative digital solutions for Veteran healthcare services. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance enterprise applicatio...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$263K - $395K *

Transform the technical landscape by defining and delivering innovative solutions, mentoring engineers, and shaping strategic initiatives to enhance system architecture and performance across the orga...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$239K - $298K *

Discover a pivotal role in shaping the future of our engineering function. Lead a small team to enhance our GTM engine, integrating product and marketing efforts while driving innovation in technology...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$120K - $145K *

Unlock potential by leading power systems engineering for transmission protection. Drive compliance, enhance reliability, and guide teams in innovative solutions to shape the future of energy with adv...

Austin, TXRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$110K - $150K *

Join a dynamic team as you lead complex engineering projects in power generation, focusing on excitation systems. Collaborate with clients and internal teams to deliver innovative solutions while enjo...

Warrenville, ILRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$225K - $265K *

Lead and mentor a diverse team of backend engineers in EDR remediation, transforming insights into actionable product capabilities while managing scope and fostering collaboration across engineering t...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$137K - $231K *

Empower your career by shaping design systems that enhance user experience. Collaborate with teams to build high-quality, interactive UI across platforms, ensuring accessibility and performance while...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$151K - $195K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of design engineering by developing innovative systems that enhance user experience across web and mobile platforms. Your expertise will drive quality and perform...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Shape the future of passenger rail by leading mechanical systems integration and validation. Collaborate with suppliers and clients to ensure compliance and deliver manufacturable designs for refurbis...

Montreal, QCRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Transportation

$153K - $166K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of AI governance in software development. As a Senior Engineer, you'll design policies and tools that ensure safe, effective use of AI coding agents, empowering d...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

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

$135K - $187K *

Grow your career with a dynamic team focused on crafting scalable software solutions. Collaborate cross-functionally to design impactful APIs and lead innovations that drive efficiency and elevate cus...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Champion customer success by leading the migration to our next-gen platform. Drive adoption, ensure seamless onboarding, and collaborate cross-functionally to enhance product value and performance for...

Atlanta, GARemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$170K - $250K *

Lead the charge in building high-throughput systems as you manage a team of engineers. Drive technical excellence and team growth while collaborating across functions to deliver innovative solutions i...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$250K - $290K *

Elevate your career by leading a high-performing engineering team, driving strategy and innovation in web3 technologies. Shape the future of decentralized systems while ensuring top-tier security and...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$163K - $217K *

Lead the charge in establishing global technical standards for utility and power systems. As a strategic authority, you'll guide complex engineering decisions and mentor teams across diverse projects...

RemoteRemote

4 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Business Services

$120K - $145K *

Engage in technical leadership and project management to develop industry standards and reports. Collaborate with working groups to drive best practices and support continuous improvement initiatives...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Empower innovation by architecting next-gen AI-driven CRM solutions. Lead a dynamic team to optimize data processing, enhance automation, and deliver exceptional user experiences while driving market...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$87K - $135K *

Lead complex civil engineering projects, overseeing planning, design, and maintenance of municipal systems. Collaborate with teams and stakeholders to ensure project success while developing entry-lev...

Durham, NCRemote

4 days ago

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

$255K - $295K *

Lead the technical direction for foundational services, guiding architecture and execution across teams to enhance platform capabilities for customer and partner experiences. Mentor engineers and infl...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Unlock potential by leading frontend architecture for scalable, high-performance systems. Collaborate across teams to enhance user experiences and drive technical excellence in a dynamic, enterprise-l...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $130K *

Transform your career by designing and delivering complex full-stack solutions using Java, Spring Boot, and Angular. Collaborate with teams to enhance engineering quality and lead technical initiative...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 days ago

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

$150K - $180K *

Champion the architecture of Enterprise AI, guiding a senior remote team in building robust solutions across AI gateways, Kubernetes, and multi-service systems while mentoring engineers and engaging w...

Austin, TXRemote

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.