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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$115K - $194K *

Unlock your potential as a strategic partner to senior Engineering leaders, driving organizational change and fostering a high-performance culture across global teams in a fast-paced tech environment...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$105K - $115K *

Optimize security measures by leading technical solutions to mitigate information risks. Ensure compliance with corporate policies and oversee incident response, safeguarding all computing platforms a...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$148K - $200K *

Champion innovative electrical design for mission-critical facilities. Lead complex projects, mentor teams, and enhance efficiency through technology. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure project s...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$110K - $130K *

Empower project success by managing financial coordination, stakeholder relationships, and full-lifecycle oversight. Drive effective communication and risk management while adapting to changing priori...

St. Louis, MORemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $170K *

Shape the future of capital projects by leading multi-discipline teams to deliver complex design packages, ensuring quality and client satisfaction across diverse sectors including healthcare and gove...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$85K - $140K *

Join a team that's shaping innovative single-use product solutions through collaboration and technical expertise. Leverage your design skills to support customer needs and drive continuous improvement...

Massachusetts, USRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$168K - $210K *

Lead the transformation of our build and deploy systems while enhancing developer efficiency, safety, and software delivery reliability. Collaborate across teams to drive technical innovation and opti...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$95K - $135K *

Drive technical excellence and team growth by leading software development initiatives, managing resources, and ensuring project alignment with business goals while maintaining security and operationa...

Emeryville, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$120K - $145K *

Solve complex technical challenges in embedded systems and real-time software. Collaborate with global teams to enhance IoT devices and applications, ensuring successful implementation and operation o...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$70K - $117K *

Lead innovative structural engineering solutions for marine vessels, ensuring integrity and compliance with maritime standards. Collaborate with teams to enhance operational safety and performance in...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$105K - $149K *

Transform the future of automation by leading the development of innovative testing strategies and frameworks. Collaborate with teams to ensure high-quality deliverables through effective automation p...

United StatesRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$85K - $117K *

Play a key role in providing advanced technical support for CNC systems, optimizing performance, and collaborating with teams to enhance automation solutions. Engage with customers and partners to res...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $170K *

Deliver exceptional project management for complex HVAC installations, ensuring timely execution and high-quality standards. Collaborate with stakeholders to drive project success and resolve technica...

New York, USRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Transform the future of energy by leading a team of engineers in power system modeling and NERC studies. Drive project success, enhance team capabilities, and support business development while ensuri...

Austin, TXRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$250K - $413K *

Unlock potential by developing scalable, distributed systems that enhance our core backend services, impacting APIs, messaging, and payments. Collaborate with a talented team to solve complex challeng...

Los Gatos, CARemote

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$210K - $294K *

Shape the future of home insurance by leading engineering efforts that integrate AI into policy administration and underwriting, enhancing agent and consumer experiences while ensuring compliance in a...

RemoteRemote

5 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $155K *

Lead the architectural vision for a federal spectrum data platform, optimizing integration and collaboration across teams to enhance federal spectrum management systems and support critical government...

Washington, DCRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$100K - $170K *

Engineer innovative mechanical solutions for DOJ/BOP facilities, providing expert analysis and support for HVAC systems. Collaborate with stakeholders to enhance decision-making through technical docu...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$150K - $180K *

Manage the lifecycle of accelerator clusters, ensuring efficient capacity, reliability, and security. Collaborate across teams to enhance infrastructure, automate processes, and lead initiatives that...

Palo Alto, CARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $115K *

Join a team that's redefining healthcare project management. Lead integrated initiatives, mentor talent, and drive excellence across diverse campaigns while fostering collaboration and innovation in a...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $145K *

Lead the charge in shaping and expanding bridge design services across New England. Provide strategic direction, oversee project delivery, mentor staff, and strengthen client relationships to enhance...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$120K - $195K *

Take ownership of developing and delivering software for packet forwarding engines, collaborating with engineers to design, implement, and test solutions for complex networking systems in a fast-paced...

Vancouver, BCRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$110K - $130K *

Elevate your career by designing and implementing hybrid networks across AWS, OCI, and on-premises environments, ensuring secure connectivity and compliance while troubleshooting complex issues in a f...

Baltimore, MDRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Shape the future of product design by transforming concepts into high-fidelity experiences. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance user interactions through innovative prototyping and AI-a...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Lead a team to design and oversee civil structural projects, ensuring quality and technical excellence across all phases. Collaborate with clients and mentor junior engineers while managing diverse pr...

West Virginia, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

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.