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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$135K - $160K *

Shape the future of networking by designing and implementing advanced SDN orchestration systems for high-performance, isolated networking in distributed computing environments, enabling seamless acces...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of platform engineering, driving innovation across cloud, DevOps, and site reliability. This role empowers you to build core services, enhance architecture, and m...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $350K *

Drive the development of cutting-edge AI infrastructure to enhance large-scale reinforcement learning and distributed training systems, optimizing performance and efficiency across various layers and...

San Francisco, CARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Develop and optimize high-performance software systems using Rust, focusing on Linux environments and distributed applications. Collaborate on architecture and enhance software quality through modern...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$179K - $224K *

Join a team that's dedicated to delivering high-quality member-facing systems. As an Engineering Manager, you'll lead a squad through the entire development lifecycle, ensuring accountability, quality...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$125K - $157K *

Join our dynamic team to design and enhance a web portal application, improving user experience and functionality. Collaborate with engineers and product managers to deliver impactful solutions that s...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $120K *

Unlock your potential as a Technical Project Manager, driving software delivery timelines and ensuring seamless project execution with engineering and product teams. Foster strong stakeholder relation...

Toronto, ONRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$225K - $265K *

Lead the charge in developing a high-performing engineering team focused on firewall validation and security. Drive collaboration across technical and product teams while fostering an inclusive enviro...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $130K *

Innovate the future of cloud platforms by leading the design and operation of a secure, scalable infrastructure. Drive automation and enhance developer experience while collaborating with cross-functi...

Toronto, ONRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Staffing

$120K - $170K *

Transform enterprise software systems by leading design and development efforts, ensuring scalable, secure applications that meet federal mission needs while mentoring engineers and driving best pract...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$93K - $156K *

Engage in the end-to-end delivery of complex laboratory projects, ensuring high-quality execution and customer satisfaction. Collaborate with teams and stakeholders while adapting to dynamic environme...

Boston, MARemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$147K - $210K *

Empower your career with a role focused on developing large-scale infrastructure and distributed systems. Collaborate with teams to enhance cloud technologies and deliver critical services for diverse...

Cambridge, MARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $185K *

Lead cross-functional teams to drive excellence in software development for a SaaS platform, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality outcomes while fostering a collaborative engineering culture. Inn...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$110K - $130K *

Elevate mechanical engineering projects by managing design and execution from concept to completion. Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to ensure quality, compliance, and client satisfaction wh...

Georgia, USRemote

6 days ago

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

$99K - $115K *

Lead the charge in designing and coordinating mechanical systems for diverse projects. Ensure compliance, constructability, and alignment with client goals while managing documentation and client comm...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$100K - $120K *

Lead the charge in enhancing fire protection systems for nuclear facilities while collaborating with engineering teams, ensuring compliance with regulations, and supporting modifications that safeguar...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$140K - $190K *

Innovate software solutions in dynamic environments, collaborating with operators and engineers to rapidly prototype and deploy mission-critical capabilities. Leverage your technical expertise to inte...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$244K - $366K *

Drive enterprise scalability and performance as a senior technical leader. Collaborate across teams to enhance system reliability and readiness, ensuring impactful improvements for our largest custome...

Boston, MARemote

Today

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$130K - $164K *

Join a team that's redefining customer engagement by bridging technical expertise and sales strategy. Leverage your skills to translate complex aircraft capabilities into tailored solutions, driving b...

California, USRemote

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$90K - $110K *

Elevate customer experiences by serving as a technical liaison, driving revenue growth through innovative solutions and expert support in the Precision Medicine sector. Collaborate with sales teams to...

New York, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$238K - $322K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of AI in security. Lead the technical vision for LLMs and agentic systems, driving innovation and mentoring talent while optimizing performance across multiple pr...

California, USRemote

6 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$180K - $200K *

Join us as a Principal Architect to drive technical innovation and unify systems across platforms. Collaborate with teams to design cloud-based solutions, mentor engineers, and enhance product deliver...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Elevate your career by leading structural and finite element analyses of turbomachinery components. Collaborate with engineers to develop methodologies, support design evaluations, and enhance analyti...

RemoteRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$160K - $230K *

Champion innovative electrical design for mission-critical facilities, leading complex projects and collaborating with diverse teams to ensure resilient systems and high-quality outcomes in hyperscale...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$125K - $150K *

Drive AI-native software development by architecting systems, guiding AI agents, and ensuring quality. Collaborate closely with users to transform business needs into reliable, efficient solutions whi...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information 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.