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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$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 2 weeks 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

1 week 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

$96K - $132K *

Drive impactful technical implementations by managing projects and collaborating with diverse teams to ensure successful deployment of solutions, enhancing client satisfaction and operational efficien...

Pennsylvania, USRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$179K - $341K *

Drive innovation in AI security by designing and implementing robust controls for AI applications. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance security measures and mitigate risks in evolving A...

Pennsylvania, USRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$69K - $101K *

Champion the reliability of automated systems by providing expert technical support, troubleshooting complex issues, and collaborating cross-functionally to ensure operational excellence and seamless...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$212K - $265K *

Elevate your career by developing cutting-edge cloud infrastructure that powers seamless operations across teams. Collaborate with talented engineers to enhance reliability, scalability, and efficienc...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$111K - $150K *

Join a team that's advancing constructability practices across major projects. Lead the integration of strategies, mentor teams, and ensure consistent standards while driving continuous improvement in...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Shape the future of quality assurance by leading automated testing initiatives for cloud-based ERP systems, ensuring seamless integration and performance across various business processes and upgrades...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$130K - $165K *

Empower data center development by leading complex projects from site acquisition to construction. Drive client relationships, manage multidisciplinary teams, and ensure successful project delivery wh...

Dallas, TXRemote

Today

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

$125K - $150K *

Deliver innovative engineering solutions across a luxury property portfolio, ensuring optimal maintenance, compliance, and operational excellence. Lead teams, manage vendor relationships, and drive ca...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$104K - $163K *

Shape the future of IT project management by leading cross-functional teams to deliver impactful technology solutions on time and within scope, while enhancing processes and ensuring effective stakeho...

Largo, FLRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$150K - $180K *

Join a team that's transforming multi-cloud infrastructure. As a Staff Software Engineer, you'll design and build a cohesive platform across AWS, GCP, and Azure, leading a multi-component system while...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$146K - $192K *

Shape the future of transmission design by leading projects, mentoring teams, and ensuring compliance with engineering standards. Collaborate with clients to deliver high-quality solutions for transmi...

CanadaRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of energy by optimizing power systems. Leverage your expertise in mathematical optimization and transmission planning to develop innovative solutions for grid cha...

Austin, TXRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$120K - $150K *

Accelerate progress at a large-scale automation project as the executive leader driving end-to-end delivery, ensuring scope, schedule, and quality align with customer expectations and business objecti...

Franklin, TNRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$95K - $115K *

Transform healthcare project management by leading complex construction initiatives. Collaborate with clients to ensure project success from planning to completion, while managing resources, budgets...

Boston, MARemote

Reposted today

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

$120K - $145K *

Lead the charge in shaping network infrastructure standards for data centers. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance and excellence in design, construction, and acceptance of tel...

Texas, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$224K - $356K *

Pioneer the development of advanced evaluation tools for Autonomous Vehicles, enhancing workflows and system performance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable solutions that imp...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$135K - $160K *

Engage in the development and implementation of DFT architecture for ASIC and SoC designs, ensuring seamless integration and high-quality silicon products through collaboration with cross-functional t...

Irvine, CARemote

5 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.