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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$105K - $120K *

Join a team that's driving successful ERP and CRM software implementations. Lead projects, coordinate teams, and ensure timely delivery while achieving sales and profit targets. Collaborate with stake...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$110K - $130K *

Champion high-level software testing solutions, ensuring quality and compliance through meticulous test planning, execution, and documentation. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive improve...

Texas, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$180K - $240K *

Champion innovation by building and operating secure infrastructures for federal and partner environments, ensuring seamless deployments and reliable operations across diverse cloud and on-premises pl...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$216K - $318K *

Drive innovation as you lead engineering teams to build and scale Life360's critical platforms. Ensure reliability and security while fostering a culture of accountability and technical excellence for...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$115K - $145K *

Elevate your career by designing and optimizing data pipelines that empower analytics and AI solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure data integrity and governance while mentoring...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Lead and inspire a dynamic team in delivering high-quality Pega projects. Oversee project execution, foster continuous improvement, and ensure alignment with business goals while mentoring team member...

Tempe, AZRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$100K - $120K *

Accelerate your career by leading high-voltage substation design projects, ensuring quality engineering solutions, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to meet project specifications and tim...

Montreal, QCRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$150K - $300K *

Transform enterprise operations by developing AI solutions tailored to customer needs. Engage directly with clients, manage the full technical lifecycle, and drive measurable improvements in AI perfor...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Manage and oversee construction projects, ensuring safety and efficiency while coordinating resources, schedules, and budgets. Collaborate with teams to drive project success from planning through exe...

Tennessee, USRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of power systems engineering. As a key member, you'll design and develop scalable analysis modules, driving innovation in distribution system analysis and optimiz...

Austin, TXRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$110K - $130K *

Advance program execution by leading cross-functional teams to deliver AI initiatives. Collaborate with remote developers, manage Agile processes, and ensure alignment with business goals while drivin...

Pleasant Grove, UTRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$192K - $240K *

Empower innovation as you lead complex AI system design and delivery, influencing architecture and engineering practices. Collaborate across teams to ensure scalable, high-quality solutions with signi...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$95K - $115K *

Innovate in a dynamic full-stack development role, enhancing web applications and cloud solutions. Collaborate with teams to modernize systems, integrate APIs, and improve user experiences while lever...

Homestead, PARemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$202K - $334K *

Lead the charge in developing a high-performing team of Partner Technology Architects, driving partner growth through technical excellence, solution strategy, and AI adoption while ensuring impactful...

Chicago, ILRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$185K - $344K *

Engage in system engineering excellence by designing and maintaining SAP S/4 solutions. Collaborate across teams to optimize business processes and ensure robust integration, delivering scalable solut...

Three Rivers, TXRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$150K - $180K *

Engineer complex physical designs for next-gen AI data center chips, driving multi-million-gate blocks to meet performance, power, and area targets. Collaborate with RTL teams, enhance methodologies...

Vancouver, BCRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$132K - $193K *

Join a dynamic team to design and implement custom integrations, enhancing customer experiences with AI-driven solutions. Collaborate closely with clients to solve complex technical challenges and dri...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$115K - $175K *

Lead the creative program management efforts, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality projects across various marketing initiatives. Drive process improvements and foster collaboration within a dynam...

Seattle, WARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$172K - $193K *

Lead the charge in managing development teams to deliver strategic legal applications, ensuring alignment with ROI goals. Drive innovation through effective mentoring, process implementation, and cros...

Seattle, WARemote

3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Legal & Accounting

$135K - $160K *

Join us to lead the deployment of AI-driven ERP solutions, enhancing SAP S/4HANA capabilities. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure scalable, reliable, and secure automation across critic...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in executing complex electrical construction projects, ensuring safety, budget adherence, and client satisfaction while managing cross-functional teams and financial performance from s...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$120K - $195K *

Drive the development and execution of strategic projects for radioisotope production facilities. You will lead cross-functional teams to ensure operational readiness, regulatory compliance, and succe...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$126K - $221K *

Pioneer impactful technology enablement by bridging engineering and sales. Drive hands-on lab environments, coach teams on demo excellence, and develop frameworks that accelerate customer value and te...

New York, NYRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$130K - $160K *

Lead the end-to-end customer onboarding process, managing cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery and value realization. Collaborate with customers to provide expert guidance and drive succes...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$110K - $130K *

Transform fire protection engineering for large-scale data centers by establishing design criteria, reviewing complex systems, and ensuring compliance from design through operational handover, while c...

United StatesRemote

6 days 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.