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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$150K - $175K *

Join us to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams in delivering complex IT modernization projects for the U.S. Department of State, ensuring technical excellence and alignment with mission objective...

Washington DC, USRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$102K - $136K *

Join a team that's transforming healthcare by developing essential tooling and AI capabilities for engineers. This role spans software development, architecture, and collaboration in an Agile environm...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$87K - $131K *

Advance systems management by enhancing ERP and HRIS platforms to support business growth, engaging with stakeholders, and ensuring smooth transitions with new releases in a global medical device envi...

Minnesota, USRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$130K - $155K *

Unlock potential by driving innovative AI solutions through hands-on engineering and client collaboration. Transform complex business challenges into reliable, production-ready software while enhancin...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$256K - $333K *

Drive innovation as a Senior AI/ML Engineer, transforming concepts into scalable systems. Lead technical decisions, mentor peers, and develop hands-on solutions in a collaborative environment focused...

San Jose, CARemote

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$85K *

Transform communities through innovative civil engineering design. As a key technical lead, you'll drive impactful projects across various sectors, ensuring high-quality solutions while mentoring fell...

New Hampshire, USRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$150K - $180K *

Pioneer innovative AI solutions by designing autonomous agents that enhance manufacturing workflows. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize data pipelines and drive impactful results in a...

Idaho Falls, IDRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$170K - $222K *

Drive strategic transformation initiatives across Product, GTM, and Operations. Lead cross-functional teams, manage complex portfolios, and deliver measurable results while fostering clarity and accou...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$105K - $125K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of federal technology solutions. As a Technical Lead, you'll guide product development, oversee architecture, and mentor teams while ensuring compliance and secur...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$105K - $125K *

Engage as a Technical Lead, guiding product architecture and sprint execution while mentoring teams and ensuring compliance with VA standards. Drive technical strategy and oversee troubleshooting for...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$95K - $115K *

Champion innovative solutions in a dynamic, remote environment, driving sales strategy and product development for public safety agencies. Collaborate with teams to deliver impactful presentations and...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$108K - $130K *

Unlock the potential of industrial data by developing and deploying AI solutions that drive operational excellence. Collaborate with clients to translate business needs into technical solutions, ensur...

Chesterfield, VARemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$84K - $129K *

Engineer underground transmission lines up to 500kV, overseeing design, cost analysis, and project coordination. Collaborate with teams to ensure compliance with standards and specifications while man...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$95K - $115K *

Empower your software engineering skills by driving the development of essential features within a collaborative, agile team environment while maintaining the integrity of a diverse codebase...

Massachusetts, USRemote

Reposted today

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

$87K - $135K *

Drive your career forward by leading systems engineering for a cloud-based enterprise system. Engage in architecture development, integration, and modernization efforts while ensuring security and ope...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$225K - $260K *

Lead the charge in defining product strategy and ecosystem roadmaps for FOCUS, driving impactful initiatives across the open source landscape while managing complex stakeholder relationships and foste...

Myrtle Point, ORRemote

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$159K - $254K *

Shape the future of pay solutions by driving innovative projects in back-end systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance functionality and reliability, ensuring accurate payroll for re...

United StatesRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$146K - $190K *

Shape healthcare innovation by building full-stack systems that enhance user experience, drive outcomes, and leverage AI solutions while collaborating across teams to understand business needs and exe...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$100K - $167K *

Drive efficiency at the intersection of product development and customer engagement by building integrations and automations that empower teams with timely, relevant product knowledge and streamline w...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

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

$120K - $145K *

Join a team that's redefining power delivery solutions by engaging with customers to translate complex power architecture into innovative connector and cable designs, ensuring alignment between engine...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$106K - $198K *

Shape mission-critical systems by collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to develop, integrate, and validate advanced capabilities. Drive technical planning and risk management while enhancing sys...

Lower Peach Tree, ALRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$141K - $224K *

Join a team that's leading field engineering efforts for satellite communications systems. You'll oversee installation, integration, and operational readiness while managing dispersed teams to ensure...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$218K - $256K *

Lead the charge in shaping IT strategy and operations for a remote-first SaaS company. Drive service delivery, enhance employee technology experiences, and build a high-performing IT organization whil...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$100K - $120K *

Transform the recruitment landscape by owning full-cycle hiring for GTM and R&D teams. Engage with stakeholders, shape strategies, and drive hiring velocity while ensuring a positive candidate experie...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$123K - $159K *

Partner with us to lead civil engineering efforts for major EPC transmission and substation projects, ensuring technical integrity and compliance while supporting the owner's project team throughout a...

Houston, TXRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

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.