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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$180K - $240K *

Unlock innovative solutions as you build full-stack applications for federal partners, focusing on user experience, security, and seamless integrations. Collaborate with engineers and product teams to...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$66K - $106K *

Shape the future by collaborating with stakeholders to analyze and document system requirements, ensuring clarity and consistency across products while enhancing functionality and user experience in a...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Join our team to validate and enhance data migration processes through comprehensive testing, ensuring quality and performance in a dynamic Agile environment. Your expertise will drive successful syst...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$160K - $230K *

Deliver advanced electrical engineering solutions for hyperscale data centers. Lead design teams, oversee project execution, and ensure compliance with industry standards while fostering client relati...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$110K - $150K *

Transform your career by architecting scalable software solutions that empower users globally. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance platform functionality and performance while driving i...

Calgary, ABRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Legal & Accounting

$90K - $110K *

Innovate and enhance software solutions in a dynamic SaaS environment. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, develop, and maintain high-quality applications while driving continuous impro...

Puerto Rico, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $252K *

Drive innovation in credentialing by developing secure, high-quality software systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance user experience and streamline processes, ensuring medical pro...

Salt Lake City, UTRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$125K - $140K *

Elevate your career by designing and managing AWS environments, automating CI/CD, and ensuring robust application delivery. Collaborate with cross-functional teams for end-to-end ownership and enhance...

United StatesRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$114K - $195K *

Transform infrastructure reliability by leading innovative projects, architecting scalable solutions, and collaborating cross-functionally. Drive technical excellence and mentor teams while ensuring o...

Minneapolis, MNRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$170K - $234K *

Drive the architecture and development of audio signal processing technology, leading complex engineering efforts and ensuring high-quality, reusable DSP components across multiple product lines...

Framingham, MARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$110K - $130K *

Shape the future of cloud security solutions by leading technical sales pursuits, collaborating with clients and internal teams to deliver tailored compliance strategies and drive successful implement...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$137K - $183K *

Empower your career by leading capital projects in commissioning. Collaborate with diverse teams to ensure successful startup and adherence to safety standards while traveling extensively to drive pro...

Green Bay, WIRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$137K - $183K *

Lead the commissioning process for capital projects in the pulp and paper industry. Collaborate with diverse teams, oversee testing procedures, and ensure safety compliance while traveling extensively...

Atlanta, GARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$220K - $265K *

Lead the charge in building a high-performing mobile engineering team, driving technical execution and culture. Oversee multi-persona mobile experiences, architecture, and release operations, shaping...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$115K - $194K *

Engage with the developer community as you advocate for our platform, creating compelling content, conducting demos, and gathering feedback to enhance product features, all while building relationship...

RemoteRemote

Reposted today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$93K - $126K *

Elevate your career by supporting diverse system studies in renewable energy projects. Collaborate in a dynamic environment, delivering technical expertise and leveraging advanced tools to ensure safe...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$215K - $315K *

Lead the charge in building secure, compliant infrastructure for our DaaS platform. Drive engineering excellence while collaborating with cross-functional teams to meet the needs of regulated customer...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$190K - $267K *

Champion innovation by leading cross-functional teams to design and deliver scalable, high-performance infrastructure solutions that enhance reliability and efficiency across diverse applications and...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$110K - $130K *

Advance the design and implementation of electrical distribution systems for autonomous vehicles, ensuring robust architectures and seamless integration across teams from concept to production...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Transportation

$130K - $155K *

Lead cross-functional teams to drive enterprise modernization through AI solutions. Oversee complex implementations, ensuring alignment across technical and business stakeholders while delivering meas...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$144K - $170K *

Join a team that's leading the charge in renewable energy construction. Oversee multiple utility-scale projects, ensuring timely and cost-effective execution while managing contractors and stakeholder...

Charlottesville, VARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of energy through innovative electrical design for utility-scale projects. Collaborate with engineers on solar, wind, and battery systems, ensuring quality and ef...

Austin, TXRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$166K - $242K *

Deliver secure, reliable backend systems that enhance user experiences across products. Own projects from design to deployment, collaborating with cross-functional teams to balance security and usabil...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$140K - $200K *

Inspire growth by leading a dynamic machinery team, driving business development, and delivering innovative solutions that enhance client relationships and project success while ensuring high-quality...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$80K - $95K *

Optimize energy solutions by leading technical projects, conducting site surveys, and collaborating with teams to deliver innovative, cost-effective strategies that enhance facility performance and su...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 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.