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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$110K - $130K *

Elevate client success by managing complex projects, ensuring timely delivery, and maintaining budget integrity. Collaborate with diverse teams to drive engagement and optimize project outcomes from i...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$90K - $100K *

Accelerate progress at a dynamic agency by leading complex client campaigns. Manage project scope, timelines, and budgets while collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality result...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$163K - $224K *

Transform your career by automating and improving infrastructure systems, collaborating with engineering teams, and enhancing operational efficiency as part of a dynamic team focused on self-service s...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$75K - $90K *

Unlock your potential in a dynamic design role focusing on low voltage systems. Collaborate with trade teams to produce innovative installation documentation, ensuring accuracy and quality while manag...

Escondido, CARemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$168K - $285K *

Lead the development of Test & Code Coverage capabilities, transforming complex challenges into actionable strategies. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance software quality and streamlin...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$270K - $365K *

Lead a dynamic engineering organization to transform offensive capabilities into proactive defense. Shape strategy, scale teams, and deliver innovative solutions across multiple pillars, ensuring robu...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$132K - $180K *

Drive impactful GTM systems strategy by optimizing processes and technology. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance customer engineering workflows, ensuring alignment and continuous improv...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $170K *

Shape the future of enterprise infrastructure by leading design, implementation, and optimization of systems. Drive automation, enhance security, and mentor junior staff while collaborating on strateg...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$105K - $234K *

Lead the design and delivery of complex platform capabilities, enhancing reliability and security while mentoring engineers. Collaborate across teams to drive technical excellence and implement AI-ass...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$116K - $122K *

Deliver reliable application packaging solutions for a large federal IT environment. Collaborate with stakeholders to gather requirements and ensure seamless deployment across thousands of endpoints...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

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

$170K - $200K *

Lead the charge in establishing a new Water/Wastewater practice across California, driving strategic growth, client relationships, and project oversight while mentoring a multidisciplinary team to del...

San Jose, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Staffing

$170K - $200K *

Transform the future of water/wastewater engineering by leading practice growth, client development, and strategic initiatives across California. Leverage your expertise to establish a trusted enginee...

Sacramento, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Staffing

$170K - $200K *

Grow your career with a leadership role in expanding a Water/Wastewater practice. Drive strategic development, client relationships, and project oversight while leveraging your expertise to establish...

San Francisco, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Staffing

$100K - $120K *

Drive security excellence by managing identity access, external testing, and compliance processes. Collaborate with teams to enhance AWS security and develop scalable policies, ensuring robust protect...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$110K - $130K *

Join a dynamic team to design and deliver innovative software solutions, tackling complex customer challenges across the full engineering lifecycle. Collaborate closely with clients to translate needs...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

$110K - $130K *

Shape the future of healthcare by leading complex implementations across provider and payor organizations. Drive project success through collaboration, strategic planning, and innovative solutions whi...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$182K - $212K *

Drive innovative solutions in rolling stock engineering, overseeing vehicle projects from concept to completion. Collaborate with experts to ensure quality and compliance in rail vehicle procurement a...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Transportation

$181K - $218K *

Lead a dynamic engineering team in high voltage substation projects, overseeing all phases from design to completion. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure quality, budget, and schedule adherence wh...

Minnesota, USRemote

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$164K - $229K *

Elevate infrastructure reliability and performance by architecting scalable solutions, collaborating across teams, and driving end-to-end software delivery to enhance user experience and system resili...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$90K - $105K *

Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing system reliability and performance for critical defense projects. Leverage your engineering expertise to implement best practices and drive data-driven improv...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$85K - $165K *

Champion safety in innovative nuclear fuel recycling by evaluating hazards, developing safety documents, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Collaborate in a dynamic team to enhance safety measu...

RemoteRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$173K - $303K *

Join a team that's redefining security solutions by leveraging deep expertise to drive customer success. Collaborate with stakeholders, lead engagements, and innovate to enhance risk management practi...

Chicago, ILRemote

Today

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $262K *

Unlock potential by leading the implementation of ServiceNow's Security and Risk solutions. Collaborate with customers and partners to drive business outcomes, provide architectural guidance, and ment...

Atlanta, GARemote

Yesterday

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$173K - $303K *

Transform customer outcomes by architecting innovative Security and Risk solutions. Leverage deep expertise to guide implementations, engage with senior leadership, and drive best practices while ment...

Dallas, TXRemote

Yesterday

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$173K - $303K *

Unlock potential by leading the implementation of ServiceNow's Security and Risk solutions. Collaborate with customers and partners to drive business outcomes, provide architectural guidance, and ment...

San Diego, CARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 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.