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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$88K - $105K *

Transform the future of automation solutions by engineering real-time controls and information systems across manufacturing environments. Collaborate with a dynamic team to enhance operational efficie...

Philadelphia, PARemote

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$95K - $115K *

Join a team that's innovating real-time automation solutions across industries. As a Systems Engineer, you'll develop and implement cutting-edge controls, mentor peers, and enhance operational efficie...

Raleigh, NCRemote

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$90K - $110K *

Optimize real-time automation solutions across manufacturing and enterprise levels. Collaborate with engineering teams to design, implement, and enhance systems using diverse programming and design to...

Richmond, VARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$135K - $160K *

Unlock your potential as a Principal Software Developer, driving the design and deployment of cutting-edge AI platforms. Collaborate across the full stack to create intelligent applications that enhan...

Virginia, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$131K - $205K *

Engage in the design and evaluation of electric power generation projects. Provide technical support and owner’s engineering services, focusing on thermal power systems. Collaborate on project develop...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$120K - $145K *

Transform the engineering landscape by owning architecture, deployment, and incident management. Collaborate with teams to prioritize features, enhance payment systems, and integrate AI, all while ens...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$128K - $188K *

Drive your career with impactful technical sales in the medical device sector. Lead customer engagements, identify new business opportunities, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance pr...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$135K - $160K *

Join us to develop and enhance algorithms for cutting-edge AI solutions. Collaborate with engineers and architects to transform innovative ideas into production-ready code, ensuring high-quality stand...

Cary, NCRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $160K *

Create impactful solutions as a Senior Product Engineer, owning projects from concept to delivery. Collaborate with a dynamic team, leveraging AI tools to enhance development while mentoring peers and...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$179K - $341K *

Architect and lead the mobile app development for a consumer rewards platform. Create engaging UI/UX, integrate backend systems, and manage virtual economies while mentoring engineering talent and ens...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Innovate robust SaaS platforms by collaborating with cross-functional teams, building and enhancing features, and delivering customer-centric solutions throughout the development lifecycle...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$133K - $146K *

Analyze and enhance quality processes in a dynamic environment, ensuring compliance with industry standards while collaborating cross-functionally to resolve issues and drive continuous improvement in...

Maryland, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Lead innovative product development in power connectors and cable assemblies, driving technical excellence and cross-functional collaboration to deliver high-quality solutions that meet market demands...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$80K - $155K *

Join a team that's redefining energy solutions by designing innovative fluid and power systems. As a Process Engineer, you'll drive the development and optimization of cutting-edge technologies in a f...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$140K - $252K *

Unlock potential by leading test strategies for hypervisor performance and VM quality. Collaborate with teams to design automated benchmarks and validate deployment safety, ensuring high standards acr...

Ottawa, ONRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Join a team that's transforming established businesses by leading software engineering efforts. Drive modernization, coach teams, and implement innovative solutions while delivering high-quality softw...

CanadaRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$135K - $160K *

Take ownership of software engineering initiatives within established companies. Lead teams, modernize development processes, and enhance code quality while delivering impactful software solutions. Co...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$164K - $200K *

Shape the future of software integration by leading a team to develop a robust ERP connector framework, ensuring data integrity and seamless communication between systems while driving architectural d...

Minneapolis, MNRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $195K *

Engineer innovative solutions for Arista's EOS software, enhancing data center networks. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, implement, and debug features, ensuring high-quality softwar...

Vancouver, BCRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$94K - $143K *

Lead the charge in developing structural designs using advanced modeling software. Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to create detailed drawings and resolve design challenges, ensuring timely...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$95K - $115K *

Lead solar resource assessments and performance analytics for utility-scale projects. Engage with clients, optimize energy yield, and enhance methodologies while ensuring operational excellence in sol...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$118K - $180K *

Unlock potential by leading structural engineering reviews for renewable energy projects. Collaborate with multi-discipline teams to optimize design, support financing, and deliver actionable insights...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$176K - $220K *

Drive impactful platform engineering initiatives, leveraging deep expertise to architect scalable solutions and guide clients through complex technical landscapes while fostering collaboration and inn...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$117K - $168K *

Join us to deliver exceptional technical support for HPS systems globally. Collaborate with a dynamic team to resolve customer inquiries, enhance satisfaction, and maintain expertise in process contro...

Houston, TXRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$300K - $500K *

Champion innovation by architecting and developing high-performance, real-time trading web apps. Leverage your expertise to enhance user experience and drive product evolution in a dynamic, collaborat...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

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.