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.
Senior Staff Software Engineer - Monetization
$281K - $374K *
Shape the future of monetization platforms by defining technical strategies and building scalable systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver impactful solutions in an AI-first environ...
Today
$150K - $180K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of audit technology by leading deployments, writing production code, and building a strong engineering team to deliver innovative AI solutions for enterprise cust...
2 weeks ago
Program Manager of Technical Development
$140K - $185K *
Drive technical excellence by developing standards and processes for commissioning, ensuring consistent execution across projects. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance workforce capabili...
1 week ago
Lead Nuclear Field Services Engineer
$91K - $152K *
Champion the execution of complex nuclear projects, providing technical leadership and supervision for PWR and BWR reactor maintenance. Collaborate with teams to ensure safety, quality, and customer s...
4 days ago
Technical Director-Train Control/ATS
$157K - $283K *
Transform transit operations by leading complex Automatic Train Supervision initiatives. Drive collaboration across technical and operational teams, ensuring system performance and reliability for maj...
2 weeks ago
$186K - $252K *
Shape the future of AI in cybersecurity by designing and delivering advanced LLM and agentic AI systems. Collaborate across teams to establish best practices, mentor engineers, and translate customer...
6 days ago
M0 Labs - Issuance Engineering Lead
$150K - $180K *
Engineer and lead a high-performing team to develop smart contracts and backend systems for stablecoin issuance across EVM and non-EVM chains, ensuring efficiency, safety, and precision in a fast-pace...
1 week ago
Senior Principal, Distribution Optimization
$170K - $220K *
Lead the charge in optimizing distribution networks to enhance efficiency, service performance, and cost-effectiveness. Drive strategic initiatives, evaluate operating models, and implement transforma...
2 weeks ago
Principal Consultant - Education Cloud Architect
$125K - $150K *
Drive transformative Salesforce solutions in higher education as a trusted advisor. Lead architecture design, align technology with institutional goals, and ensure successful delivery of Education Clo...
3 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Lead the charge in managing a large-scale FHWA communications program, ensuring effective contract leadership, quality management, and stakeholder engagement across a multidisciplinary team to deliver...
4 weeks ago
$150K - $180K *
Lead and architect innovative AI-driven financial solutions, collaborating with elite engineers to design, implement, and optimize cutting-edge tools for global clients in a dynamic, startup environme...
3 weeks ago
$150K - $180K *
Innovate cutting-edge AI financial solutions by architecting and deploying advanced chat interfaces and reporting systems. Collaborate with elite engineers to enhance investment workflows for global c...
3 weeks ago
$150K - $180K *
Elevate software solutions by architecting AI-driven financial tools, collaborating with elite engineers to enhance investment workflows, and ensuring high standards in quality and security within a d...
3 weeks ago
$85K - $110K *
Lead the charge in developing innovative AI solutions, managing small-scale projects, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance agentic workflows and maintain high-quality documentation...
Reposted yesterday
Senior Project Manager - Accela & Municipal Permitting Systems
$148K - $178K *
Transform municipal services by leading complex projects and optimizing the Accela Civic Platform. Drive innovation in permitting and development processes while ensuring compliance and enhancing cust...
3 weeks ago
$120K - $150K *
Champion innovative engineering solutions for diverse government projects, leveraging 15+ years of leadership experience to drive strategic initiatives and operational excellence in military and feder...
5 days ago
$95K - $115K *
Shape the future of electrical engineering by collaborating with design teams, ensuring technical compliance, and enhancing performance across diverse projects. Join us to tackle innovative challenges...
2 days ago
Manager, Cloud Security Engineering
$125K - $150K *
Lead the charge in cloud security engineering by managing a team of experts to design and implement robust security controls across AWS, Azure, and GCP, ensuring compliance and operational excellence...
5 days ago
Go-To-Market Engineer (Adobe - Solutions Lead Architect)
$163K - $220K *
Transform customer experiences by leveraging your deep Adobe expertise to drive innovative solutions, engage stakeholders, and influence growth strategies across diverse industries in a highly visible...
6 days ago
$110K - $160K *
Lead day-to-day reliability for our SRE-DevOps team, ensuring production AWS environments are secure and well-documented. Collaborate on automation, incident response, and compliance while working ind...
3 weeks ago
Power Systems Software Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Innovate the future of power systems by designing automated tools for transmission planning. Collaborate with engineers to enhance workflows, ensuring reliable results that utilities and developers tr...
2 weeks ago
Substation Physical Design Engineer
$90K - $110K *
Shape the future of electrical power systems by designing innovative substation layouts and construction packages. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure compliance with industry standards...
3 weeks ago
Principal Electrical Expert Global Design Standards
$160K - $235K *
Help us drive innovation in electrical engineering for data center projects, leading complex design, mentoring teams, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Collaborate across functions to o...
Reposted 4 weeks ago
Systems Engineer - Design & Development - Hybrid
$124K - $138K *
Transform mission-critical outcomes as a Senior Systems Engineer with expertise in MBSE and digital engineering. Drive program milestones, mentor junior engineers, and lead complex systems engineering...
Reposted yesterday
$100K - $195K *
Take ownership of designing automated systems and robotic equipment for remote operations in radiological environments. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure effective integration and perf...
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.