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 - $192K *

Partner with us to drive alignment and execution across teams, enhancing Agile delivery and continuous improvement within a dynamic retail environment. Leverage your expertise to facilitate large-scal...

Columbus, GARemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$192K - $202K *

Lead the charge in architecting and integrating complex systems for a scalable retail platform. Drive multi-quarter projects, collaborate across teams, and mentor junior engineers while ensuring high...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$160K - $190K *

Join a team that's redefining enterprise solutions by bridging business strategy and technical execution. As a key engineer, you'll lead integration projects, mentor talent, and drive innovation acros...

CanadaRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$95K - $115K *

Join a dynamic team to elevate software quality through innovative testing strategies, ensuring robust performance and scalability. Collaborate cross-functionally to drive testing initiatives and enha...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$95K - $110K *

Discover a dynamic role where you'll enhance customer search experiences and backend systems. Collaborate across teams to deliver intuitive, AI-powered solutions while ensuring performance and reliabi...

RemoteRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$120K - $145K *

Drive innovation by designing and optimizing scalable data solutions for enterprise investment data management, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance analytics and reporting capabilitie...

RemoteRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$165K - $210K *

Drive the technical vision for complex systems, leading cross-team initiatives and enhancing engineering standards. Own reliability and scalability of core infrastructure while mentoring engineers and...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in designing and implementing complex operational workflows that enhance service delivery and client experience. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement...

Johnson City, TNRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$106K - $198K *

Lead the charge in developing mission-critical Command & Control solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define system requirements and create innovative architectures that meet diverse...

Colorado, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in managing a skilled data engineering team, ensuring quality workflows and establishing data standards. Drive innovative solutions for efficient data ingestion and delivery across ent...

Harrisburg, PARemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$173K - $270K *

Lead technical enablement for strategic customers, solving complex database migration and performance challenges while shaping product direction and best practices for distributed architectures...

Seattle, WARemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$125K - $150K *

Manage and execute the full SDLC for a cutting-edge application platform, leveraging AI tools and leading a small team. Design architecture, oversee database management, and ensure security compliance...

Troy, MIRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Legal & Accounting

$110K - $130K *

Innovate data-driven strategies by leading Business Intelligence initiatives, enhancing data flow, and collaborating across teams to unlock growth opportunities and inform decision-making through acti...

Carmel, INRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Transportation

$120K - $145K *

Elevate security standards by leading bug bounty programs, conducting audits, and enhancing software supply chain security. Collaborate across teams to build innovative tools that protect users and en...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$80K - $120K *

Contribute to power system studies for high-voltage substations, ensuring reliability and compliance. Collaborate with engineers, support project documentation, and drive continuous improvement initia...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$120K - $145K *

Innovate with us as a Senior Software Engineer, driving core feature development and automation across the stack. Collaborate with diverse teams to enhance scalability and performance in a dynamic, mi...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$100K - $120K *

Lead the charge in resolving critical network outages by engaging with customers, troubleshooting Ciena products, and collaborating with teams to enhance recovery outcomes and document root cause anal...

CanadaRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$80K - $95K *

Join a team that's dedicated to transforming land development projects. Leverage your expertise in client relations and project management to drive successful outcomes in a dynamic environment focused...

California, USRemote

6 days ago

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

$100K - $165K *

Pioneer innovative hydropower solutions as a Senior Structural Engineer, leading multi-disciplinary teams on diverse projects from design to completion, ensuring high-quality engineering and project s...

Vancouver, BCRemote

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$77K - $124K *

Join a team that's transforming data center solutions. As an Application Engineer, you'll shape technical strategies, collaborate with key industry players, and ensure seamless project execution in a...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$95K - $115K *

Elevate your career by managing financial performance for diverse projects. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive insights, optimize cash flow, and enhance decision-making in a dynamic, pro...

Langley, BCRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$110K - $130K *

Shape the future of construction by ensuring project compliance and safety. Collaborate with teams to monitor performance, resolve issues, and uphold quality standards while fostering strong relations...

Overland Park, KSRemote

2 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$110K - $130K *

Join a dynamic team to develop and customize software solutions, leveraging your expertise in Java, AWS, and agile methodologies. Collaborate on innovative projects that meet client needs while enhanc...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$177K - $364K *

Drive the technical vision for configuration ecosystems, ensuring robust, scalable solutions across services. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance infrastructure and streamline operation...

San Francisco, CARemote

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$77K - $118K *

Elevate your drafting career by collaborating in a dynamic team, utilizing advanced CAD tools, and gaining hands-on experience in 3D design. Contribute to innovative projects that shape the future of...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks 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.