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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$152K - $205K *

Join a team that's dedicated to data reliability and transparency. As a Senior Data Engineer, you'll design and manage data pipelines and models that support finance, compliance, and product teams, en...

RemoteRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$100K - $120K *

Pioneer innovative commissioning processes while collaborating with diverse teams. Oversee project execution, ensuring compliance with ASHRAE, CSA, and LEED standards. Drive technical excellence acros...

Atlanta, GARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$200K - $280K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of AI in biology by leading a team to design benchmarks and enhance model performance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovation and ensure quali...

San Francisco, CARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$166K - $230K *

Innovate and enhance the machine learning infrastructure to empower rapid model deployment and automation. Collaborate across teams to streamline operations and drive impactful solutions in ML and fin...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$90K - $130K *

Empower innovation by developing full stack solutions that enhance user experiences and optimize backend systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable applications that meet evo...

CanadaRemote

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$183K - $289K *

Lead design for an innovative AI-native Strategic Portfolio Management suite. Collaborate with product and engineering leaders to establish design vision and manage a growing team of designers while a...

Mountain View, CARemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$162K - $290K *

Shape the technical direction of a geospatial platform, building scalable systems and APIs that enhance location-aware experiences across products, while collaborating with teams to drive innovation a...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$135K - $160K *

Lead the evolution of our GTM Systems Architecture, enhancing Salesforce and its tech stack for AI-native workflows. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to build a trusted data foundation and driv...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$145K - $175K *

Unlock potential by leading enterprise architecture initiatives within defined domains, focusing on Order Management or Customer & Commercial Management. Shape target architecture, create roadmaps, an...

Georgia, USRemote

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $163K *

Empower your career by leading the design of high voltage transmission lines. Utilize advanced engineering techniques and collaborate with multi-discipline teams to deliver innovative solutions and en...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$90K - $97K *

Elevate your career by leveraging your expertise in PCB design and documentation. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions in high-frequency and digital signal processin...

Pittsfield, MARemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$120K - $150K *

Unlock potential by pioneering advanced GTM systems that enhance revenue operations. As a key engineer, you’ll design and optimize data platforms, streamline automation workflows, and ensure seamless...

New York, NYRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$130K - $135K *

Drive project success by managing all phases from initiation to completion, ensuring timely delivery and budget adherence. Lead cross-functional teams, maintain client communication, and uphold qualit...

Huntsville, ALRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$90K - $100K *

Unlock potential by delivering innovative robotic solutions, ensuring seamless integration and operational success for customers. Collaborate, troubleshoot, and enhance system performance while provid...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$160K - $200K *

Design and build innovative web applications and APIs, taking ownership of projects from architecture to deployment. Collaborate with a dynamic team to leverage AI tools and deliver impactful solution...

New York, NYRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$125K - $150K *

Unlock potential by enhancing application security across web apps and APIs. Collaborate with engineering teams to assess risks, conduct reviews, and drive secure software practices throughout the dev...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Elevate your career by partnering with clients to enhance their security posture. Utilize your technical know-how and communication skills to identify risks, develop tailored solutions, and ensure rob...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$100K - $120K *

Transform your career by managing custom automation projects from design to delivery. Lead cross-functional teams, ensure customer satisfaction, and drive financial results while navigating complex pr...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$140K - $160K *

Grow your career with a dynamic team focused on project management excellence. Lead initiatives, manage stakeholder expectations, and drive project success through effective planning and execution in...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$120K - $145K *

Join a team that's advancing oncology solutions by managing global clinical trials. Lead project execution from protocol development to study closeout, ensuring quality and compliance while fostering...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$200K - $240K *

Join a dynamic team as you provide technical expertise, drive enterprise opportunities, and architect innovative solutions that meet client needs while showcasing the value of our cutting-edge product...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$220K - $286K *

Engineer advanced RF power amplifier platforms for cellular and WiFi applications. Lead R&D efforts, develop novel architectures, and collaborate across teams to drive high-performance solutions for n...

Arlington Heights, ILRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$90K - $110K *

Empower your career by driving project delivery and managing Agile teams. Utilize AI tools to enhance decision-making, anticipate risks, and ensure timely outcomes. Collaborate with stakeholders to ma...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$120K - $135K *

Elevate our proposal management efforts by leading strategic submissions, fostering collaboration among teams, and enhancing our pursuit capabilities to secure high-value projects that improve infrast...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$120K - $150K *

Transform business growth by generating leads and fostering client relationships across Chemicals, O&G, Power, Metals, and Advanced Facilities sectors, driving profitability and strategic sales initia...

Baton Rouge, LARemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

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.