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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
$140K - $165K *
Create innovative solutions as a Software Engineer, shaping a greenfield platform. Collaborate with teams to automate processes, build data infrastructure, and deliver impactful tools while enjoying a...
Yesterday
$120K - $145K *
Drive the design and development of innovative software solutions while mentoring junior engineers. Leverage extensive technical expertise to enhance system architecture and ensure high-quality delive...
1 week ago
Senior Software Engineer, AI Automation
$134K - $199K *
Drive innovation by leading the design and delivery of AI agents and workflows that enhance operational efficiency. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to transform complex challenges into scalabl...
1 week ago
Senior Software Engineer, AI Automation
$130K - $195K *
Join a dynamic AI Automation team to design and deliver production-grade AI agents and workflows, enhancing operational efficiency across the organization while solving complex business challenges wit...
1 week ago
Staff Software Engineer - ML/AI
$148K - $254K *
Transform connected systems by designing and deploying advanced anomaly detection models. Lead a team to build robust pipelines, ensuring real-time analysis and integration across AI and engineering t...
2 weeks ago
$171K - $190K *
Unlock potential by leading the design and implementation of scalable data platforms. Drive innovation in cloud data architecture and pipeline automation, collaborating across teams to deliver impactf...
3 weeks ago
$101K - $174K *
Elevate your career by joining a dynamic team to design, deploy, and optimize a secure cloud-native platform. Collaborate across functions to enhance delivery pipelines and ensure reliability in a fas...
6 days ago
$92K - $158K *
Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing a secure PaaS for federal applications. You'll troubleshoot complex issues, support tenant operations, and collaborate on platform improvements, ensuring reli...
6 days ago
Senior Open Source Design Engineer
$175K - $200K *
Build innovative interfaces that enhance AI development and observability. You'll design and prototype user experiences that empower AI teams to understand and improve their applications through effec...
Reposted 4 days ago
Lead Software Engineer, Plan Intelligence
$155K - $207K *
Lead the design and development of innovative software solutions, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality applications. Drive technical excellence and mentor engineers while...
3 weeks ago
$103K - $138K *
Unlock potential by designing and automating secure, scalable AWS cloud platforms. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance infrastructure reliability and streamline software delivery throug...
3 weeks ago
Associate Director, Strategy & Operations
$179K - $248K *
Lead the charge in operationalizing strategy and driving cross-division initiatives. Collaborate with senior stakeholders to enhance efficiency and client satisfaction in a fast-paced corporate travel...
4 weeks ago
Senior Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE)
$170K - $205K *
Join a dynamic team to lead AI agent deployments in healthcare. Leverage your software engineering expertise and client-facing skills to drive technical delivery, influence product development, and en...
2 weeks ago
Plant Process Simulation Engineer II
$115K - $150K *
Join a team that's dedicated to advancing clean energy by developing and owning plant process simulation models. Collaborate across disciplines to enhance design, operations, and plant dynamics for in...
1 week ago
$120K - $140K *
Innovate cloud solutions by designing and automating infrastructure in Cloud.gov and Azure. Collaborate with teams to enhance performance and security, driving impactful results for clients while shap...
Reposted 6 days ago
Senior Preconstruction Manager
$110K - $130K *
Champion preconstruction initiatives for large-scale commercial projects, ensuring accurate estimates, client satisfaction, and alignment with company goals through effective communication and relatio...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Director of Product Design, Engage
$195K - $208K *
Reimagine user experiences by leading design for core product features, ensuring seamless integration and customer delight. Collaborate across teams to enhance engagement and trust, shaping the future...
3 weeks ago
Senior Special Structural Analysis Engineer 2 - Nuclear
$84K - $129K *
Drive innovative structural engineering solutions for nuclear facilities, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to enhance safety and efficiency. Guide junior engineers while leveraging advanced...
6 days ago
$150K - $180K *
Join a team that's leading the modernization of a legacy system. Drive architectural decisions, enhance engineering practices, and foster a culture of innovation while ensuring reliable delivery and c...
3 weeks ago
National Manager I, Power Generation & Transmission
$110K - $130K *
Lead the growth of national Power Generation and Transmission accounts. Develop strategic relationships, identify opportunities, and drive revenue through collaboration with internal teams and clients...
4 weeks ago
$90K - $108K *
Drive successful project execution by managing customer projects from quotation to completion. Collaborate with teams and stakeholders to ensure timely delivery, quality standards, and customer satisf...
1 week ago
Director of Engineering, TorcOS
$226K - $271K *
Transform the future of autonomous driving by leading the TorcOS engineering team. Drive the development of foundational embedded software platforms, ensuring high-quality, scalable solutions through...
Today
$135K - $160K *
Unlock your potential as a Lead Data Software Engineer, driving innovative data solutions and leading cross-functional teams to enhance our data infrastructure and ensure scalability and performance a...
3 weeks ago
$100K - $120K *
Lead the charge in managing complex projects that drive strategic goals. Oversee project lifecycles, ensuring timely delivery, compliance, and stakeholder engagement while fostering collaboration acro...
3 weeks ago
Sr Staff Software Engineer- Access Security - Veza
$171K - $300K *
Take ownership of architecting and developing AI-driven backend solutions for Access Security, enhancing identity intelligence and risk detection while collaborating with cross-functional teams to del...
2 weeks ago
What is a Principal Engineer?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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.