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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$120K - $145K *

Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary engineering team to deliver innovative design solutions for power utility projects across North America, ensuring quality, compliance, and continuous improvement w...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$106K - $198K *

Create innovative data solutions by delivering full-stack capabilities across the data lifecycle. Collaborate with teams to design, implement, and optimize data processing pipelines that ensure accura...

Stratford, CTRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Lead the configuration and support of Infor M3 non-finance modules, driving business process analysis and continuous improvement. Collaborate with teams to ensure effective implementation and user tra...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Lead multidisciplinary teams in delivering complex infrastructure projects. Manage all phases from planning to operational readiness, ensuring quality and client satisfaction while fostering team deve...

Philadelphia, PARemote

6 days ago

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

$160K - $190K *

Engage with a dynamic team to represent technical positions in standards communities, author specifications, and build credibility through implementation. This role offers growth opportunities, aiming...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$90K - $130K *

Drive project execution from planning to closeout, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives. Lead safety initiatives and manage resources effectively while cultivating client relationships and fos...

Newark, NJRemote

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$95K - $115K *

Drive innovative energy solutions by developing Energy Conservation Measures and Facility Improvements. Collaborate with teams to ensure project success through effective communication, analysis, and...

Illinois, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$90K - $130K *

Empower project success by managing earthwork construction initiatives, ensuring compliance and efficiency from planning to execution. Drive collaborative safety practices and foster relationships to...

Newark, NJRemote

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$80K - $95K *

Lead the development of innovative packaging solutions, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure sustainability and cost-effectiveness while meeting diverse product needs and strategic goal...

Jacksonville, FLRemote

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$64K - $102K *

Elevate network performance by deploying and optimizing voice solutions, ensuring 99.999% uptime. Collaborate on network planning and security, while providing expert support and documentation for com...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$110K - $130K *

Innovate in custom laser design and integration, driving product development from concept to production. Collaborate across teams to enhance VCSEL technology, ensuring quality and manufacturability in...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$224K - $431K *

Develop scalable software solutions to manage complex cloud infrastructure, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance NVIDIA's accelerated compute cloud services and ensure high code qualit...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$100K - $135K *

Shape the future of digital services by developing user-centric applications and enhancing software engineering practices. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver impactful solutions for fe...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$205K - $285K *

Transform the on-premises CI/CD landscape by enhancing reliability, simplifying installations, and driving technical strategy. Collaborate with teams to build tools that empower engineers and ensure s...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$145K - $175K *

Engineer cutting-edge PLL designs for high-speed interconnects, driving innovation in AI technology. Collaborate on advanced transceiver systems, tackling complex challenges in analog/mixed-signal des...

Irvine, CARemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Unlock your potential by designing cutting-edge PLLs for next-gen AI technologies. Collaborate on high-speed interconnect solutions, tackling complex challenges in analog/mixed-signal design while dri...

Vancouver, BCRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Engineer cutting-edge PLL designs for high-speed interconnects, driving innovation in AI technology. Collaborate on advanced transceiver systems, tackling complex challenges in analog/mixed-signal des...

San Jose, CARemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Join a dynamic team to architect and design cutting-edge PLLs for next-gen AI technologies, focusing on high-speed interconnects and optical transceivers. Leverage your expertise in analog design to d...

Ottawa, ONRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$86K - $144K *

Unlock potential by leading the design and development of scalable generative AI services, ensuring architectural integrity and mentoring teams. Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to drive...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$80K - $120K *

Manage third-party vendors to ensure successful C-Band ground clearing across multiple sites. Oversee project planning, financial tracking, and compliance documentation to meet FCC requirements and de...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Staffing

$120K - $150K *

Innovate as you guide Fortune 500 clients in leveraging AI solutions. Collaborate with sales teams, deliver dynamic presentations, and serve as trusted technical advisor to modernize legacy systems an...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$96K - $145K *

Accelerate your career by supporting critical mainframe applications, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance system performance and resolve complex issues, while driving continuous impro...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$90K - $189K *

Contribute to critical government missions as a Release Train Engineer, facilitating Agile Release Train events, coaching teams, and driving continuous improvement to deliver value using cutting-edge...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$140K - $190K *

Architect and drive the development of a cloud-native data enrichment service, ensuring performance and scalability. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement best practices while mentoring...

CanadaRemote

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$140K - $190K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of SaaS architecture. As a Staff Software Engineer, you'll design scalable solutions, mentor peers, and enhance developer experience, driving impactful modernizat...

CanadaRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 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.