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.
$155K - $258K *
Shape the future of AI in healthcare by leading architectural design and technical strategy for LLM-powered systems. Mentor engineers, ensure compliance, and drive innovation in a highly regulated env...
1 week ago
$86K - $136K *
Join a team that's enhancing digital experiences through quality engineering. Leverage your expertise in software testing and automation to drive quality across complex solutions while collaborating w...
Today
$104K - $155K *
Lead the charge in customer-focused project management, ensuring effective delivery of technical solutions while coordinating with diverse stakeholders and fostering strong relationships for successfu...
Reposted 1 week ago
Senior Forward Deployed AI Architect (GenAI, AWS)
$180K - $200K *
Lead transformative AI projects by embedding within client teams, delivering production-ready solutions that drive real business impact. Collaborate closely with stakeholders to understand needs and s...
4 days ago
$140K - $165K *
Contribute to governance, risk, and compliance initiatives, leading audit remediation for SOC 2, TISAX, and DORA. Drive proactive risk management and maintain stakeholder confidence through transparen...
5 days ago
Manager, Customer Success Engineering
$124K - $210K *
Drive customer success by leading a team of engineers to enhance GitLab adoption, develop scalable enablement programs, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve measurable business outco...
2 weeks ago
Lead Software Development Engineer
$133K - $190K *
Drive innovation as you lead the design and deployment of scalable AI-native platforms, blending advanced technologies with enterprise systems. Collaborate across teams to ensure high performance and...
2 weeks ago
Lead Software Development Engineer
$133K - $190K *
Join a team that's driving Mergers & Acquisitions success by leading Dynamics 365 configuration and customization efforts. Collaborate with stakeholders to optimize business processes and ensure seaml...
3 weeks ago
Sr. Staff Software Engineer, Cribl AI
$250K - $300K *
Shape the future of observability data by integrating cutting-edge AI into core products. Collaborate with engineers to solve real customer challenges while innovating and refining user experiences ac...
Reposted today
$110K - $130K *
Empower your career by bridging RF cyber-research and software implementation. Lead multidisciplinary teams to define system architectures and convert findings into actionable solutions for cutting-ed...
1 week ago
Senior Software Engineer, Compute Platform
$165K - $225K *
Champion the development of a GPU-accelerated compute platform, enhancing AI training and research capabilities. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design orchestration systems that optimize r...
5 days ago
$150K - $250K *
Accelerate progress at the forefront of AI technology by building and operating a secure, production-grade platform. Collaborate with business teams to transform AI capabilities into measurable value...
Reposted 1 week ago
Infrastructure Solutions Engineer
$136K - $170K *
Drive impactful infrastructure solutions by collaborating with engineering teams to resolve blockers, execute migrations, and develop tooling. Leverage your expertise to enhance platform adoption and...
2 weeks ago
$100K - $120K *
Take ownership of diverse projects, leading cross-functional teams to ensure successful execution, from planning to closure. Drive innovation and efficiency while managing budgets and stakeholder comm...
2 weeks ago
$110K - $184K *
Deliver innovative Salesforce solutions by leading engineering efforts, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and mentoring engineers to enhance platform capabilities and meet business needs effe...
3 days ago
Senior Principal Product Manager
$264K - $345K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of AI-driven collaboration. Lead innovative strategies and elevate product management by integrating AI in core offerings to enhance user experiences and drive im...
Reposted 1 week ago
Lead Software Engineer (Remote)
$126K - $157K *
Drive your career forward by leading complex software projects, collaborating with diverse teams, and leveraging cutting-edge technologies to deliver high-quality solutions that meet client needs and...
1 week ago
$145K - $175K *
Join a dynamic team as a Senior Data Architect, where you'll shape enterprise data architecture, drive data lifecycle strategies, and ensure governance while collaborating with engineering teams to en...
1 week ago
Senior Supplier Development Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Elevate supplier performance and innovation by leading development initiatives, mentoring a skilled team, and collaborating with stakeholders to ensure quality and operational excellence in a dynamic...
Yesterday
Senior Supplier Development Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Lead the charge in optimizing supplier performance and innovation. Drive a team to enhance supplier capabilities, ensuring high-quality product delivery while fostering strategic relationships and con...
1 week ago
Senior Supplier Development Engineer
$97K - $122K *
Advance your career by leading supplier development initiatives that enhance performance and innovation. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality products while driving continuo...
1 week ago
$200K - $225K *
Lead and innovate at the intersection of product and engineering, guiding a dynamic team to deliver exceptional customer experiences while driving strategic product direction and execution...
Yesterday
$215K - $235K *
Innovate security architecture and engineering solutions to enhance our brokerage platform. Lead complex initiatives, mentor engineers, and ensure compliance while securing AWS, Kubernetes, and corpor...
1 week ago
Staff Project Engineer, Construction - May 2027 Graduate
$72K - $93K *
Support project execution by assisting managers with schedules, client relations, and deliverables. Collaborate with teams to ensure project success while gaining hands-on experience and mentorship in...
Today
$195K - $257K *
Join a team that's enhancing blockchain infrastructure to enable scalable microservices and APIs. Collaborate across teams to drive innovation in payment systems and blockchain technology while ensuri...
Reposted 4 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.