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 - $130K *

Elevate your career by leading the design and implementation of complex software solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive technical decisions and mentor engineers, ensuring scalable...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$120K - $130K *

Drive the design and implementation of complex software solutions, providing technical leadership and mentorship. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance system architecture and ensure high...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$130K - $160K *

Lead engineering efforts by writing production code and mentoring a team. Drive modernization initiatives through Java microservices while managing performance and growth of engineers. Collaborate wit...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$320K - $405K *

Transform the future of data center engineering by resolving on-site technical issues, collaborating with contractors, and ensuring project success through effective problem-solving and communication...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$103K - $138K *

Lead the charge in ensuring quality assurance for Field Engineering projects, acting as the key liaison among internal teams and customers. Oversee inspections, audits, and corrective actions to meet...

Virginia, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$103K - $138K *

Lead the charge in deploying and managing complex network installations, ensuring quality control and effective project execution while collaborating with internal teams and subcontractors to meet ope...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$103K - $138K *

Engineer and oversee site implementations, ensuring quality control and effective project management for network installations. Collaborate with teams to troubleshoot and maintain operational standard...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$170K - $175K *

Champion innovative structural design for mission-critical data centers, focusing on prefabricated and modular construction. Lead technical strategy, establish design standards, and ensure safety and...

Denver, CORemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$202K - $318K *

Elevate your career by leading a multi-team engineering organization focused on building a world-class security product. Drive innovation, strategy, and delivery excellence while fostering a high-perf...

Seattle, WARemote

4 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $150K *

Drive your career with innovative AI-driven automation solutions that enhance IT operations and user experience. Collaborate across teams to minimize manual tasks, improve efficiency, and implement in...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$95K - $115K *

Join a team that's driving innovation in the AEC industry. As a key member of our VDC group, you'll support design-build projects through advanced BIM technologies, ensuring efficiency and collaborati...

Canton, OHRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$180K - $200K *

Lead complex technical initiatives, ensuring scalable, secure solutions while mentoring engineers and driving high standards across the software development lifecycle in a remote, collaborative enviro...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Media

$180K - $200K *

Shape the future of technology as a senior technical leader, driving complex initiatives and mentoring engineers. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable, secure cloud-native solut...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Media

$130K - $160K *

Transform your career by leading complex high-voltage protection and control projects, mentoring engineers, and driving technical governance across utilities. Collaborate on innovative solutions that...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$150K - $180K *

Contribute to high voltage substation projects by providing technical governance, mentoring engineers, and solving complex protection and control challenges from design to completion...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$160K - $187K *

Grow your career with a hands-on Engineering Manager role leading a dynamic team to enhance an AI-powered healthcare hiring platform, ensuring quality, reliability, and innovation across multiple tech...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$88K - $154K *

Join a team that's redefining bridge engineering by delivering innovative designs and solutions. Collaborate on diverse projects, ensuring structural reliability and efficiency while enhancing your ex...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

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

$88K - $105K *

Design innovative Civil systems for mission-critical environments, ensuring compliance and safety. Collaborate with multi-discipline teams to deliver reliable infrastructure solutions that enhance ope...

Texas, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Lead the execution of complex projects, ensuring adherence to policies, quality standards, and financial targets. Drive team development and process improvements while managing stakeholder relations a...

Austin, TXRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$138K - $165K *

Empower progress at the forefront of semiconductor technology by managing process transfers and product qualifications with cross-functional teams to ensure exceptional yield and reliability standards...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$171K - $268K *

Discover your potential as a Principal Engineer/System Architect, driving innovative networking solutions and leading a collaborative team to define complex architecture while engaging with partners t...

New Hampshire, USRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$100K - $125K *

Lead innovative design solutions as a Senior Design Engineer, transforming client needs into actionable broadcast system designs. Collaborate with global teams, mentor junior engineers, and ensure pro...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$128K - $153K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of technology by delivering impactful software solutions. Collaborate on innovative projects, optimize data operations, and enhance user experiences while support...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$167K - $223K *

Champion innovative cloud financial strategies by leading data-driven architecture within a dynamic multi-cloud ecosystem, enhancing accountability, performance, and cost efficiency to drive business...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$130K - $155K *

Engineer innovative mechanical solutions by translating architectural concepts into practical designs. Collaborate across engineering disciplines while leading HVAC standards and ensuring effective ex...

Fort Worth, TXRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 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.