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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
$110K - $130K *
Drive safety excellence by leading program development, compliance, and mentorship. Collaborate across teams to identify risks, conduct assessments, and enhance safety culture in diverse operational e...
1 week ago
$88K - $105K *
Transform your career by providing mechanical engineering expertise for hypersonic weapons systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure operational readiness and lifecycle sustainment of...
Yesterday
Senior Frontend Engineer I - eCommerce
$145K - $170K *
Join a dynamic eCommerce team to enhance the online booking experience. Lead complex features in a Next.js and TypeScript application, impacting conversion and patient trust across multiple countries...
3 weeks ago
Senior Project Manager-Corporate Office MEP Infrastructure & Renovations Construction
$110K - $130K *
Join a dynamic team as a Senior Project Manager, leading national infrastructure projects for financial services clients. Drive strategic objectives while managing multiple projects from initiation to...
2 weeks ago
Senior Project Manager-Corporate Office MEP Infrastructure & Renovations Construction
$110K - $130K *
Lead the charge in managing complex infrastructure projects for financial services clients. Oversee planning, execution, and completion of renovations and upgrades, ensuring alignment with strategic o...
2 weeks ago
Senior Project Manager-Corporate Office MEP Infrastructure & Renovations Construction
$110K - $130K *
Transform project delivery by leading national infrastructure renovations for financial services clients. Manage multiple projects from initiation to completion, ensuring alignment with strategic obje...
2 weeks ago
$100K - $120K *
Accelerate your career by partnering with leaders to develop innovative solutions, guide engineering best practices, and ensure high-quality infrastructure. Collaborate with teams to achieve technical...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$134K - $175K *
Innovate solutions in healthcare by building impactful full-stack applications. Collaborate cross-functionally to understand problems and deliver user-focused tools, embodying ownership from conceptio...
Reposted today
Project Manager (Remote) - Data Center Construction Projects
$120K - $150K *
Transform complex data center projects by leading design and construction efforts. Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery while managing multiple initiatives acros...
6 days ago
$145K - $180K *
Transform infrastructure operations by leading technical strategy and architecture. Collaborate with executives and teams to design secure, scalable solutions across data centers and cloud environment...
Yesterday
Staff/Principal Design Systems Lead
$150K - $180K *
Drive the evolution of our design system by building foundational infrastructure that empowers designers, engineers, and AI agents to create cohesive, high-quality experiences while leading a growing...
1 week ago
Principal Archaeologist- Principal Investigator
$100K - $131K *
Join a team that's redefining cultural resource management by leading complex projects, mentoring staff, and driving business growth while ensuring compliance with federal regulations and delivering h...
4 weeks ago
Senior Partner Solutions Engineer, Technical Partnerships
$120K - $145K *
Drive your career with a pivotal role managing technical partnerships, scoping integrations, and ensuring successful collaboration between engineering teams and partners. Shape strategic conversations...
3 weeks ago
$143K - $286K *
Innovate with us as a technical leader, driving scalable platform solutions and AI integration. Collaborate across teams to enhance reporting accuracy and deliver high-quality outputs that support str...
2 weeks ago
$128K - $165K *
Lead reliability initiatives across complex systems, driving automation and observability. Collaborate with teams to enhance operational outcomes, manage incidents, and mentor engineers, ensuring comp...
3 weeks ago
Vice President of Business Development, Navy & Marine Corps
$200K - $240K *
Drive strategic growth initiatives for Navy & Marine Corps, leading business development efforts and fostering partnerships to enhance tactical networking solutions across diverse operational domains...
2 weeks ago
Mission Engineer II - Grand Rapids
$95K - $115K *
Drive impactful solutions as a Mission Engineer II, collaborating with public safety agencies to transform operational challenges into effective technical solutions using Axon tools and AI. Your exper...
3 days ago
Sr. Software Engineer II (Tech Lead)
$114K - $191K *
Lead the charge in shaping high-impact SaaS solutions by driving technical strategy and empowering a high-performing engineering team. Collaborate across disciplines to foster innovation in a fast-pac...
Reposted 4 days ago
Lead Product Engineer - (AIOps for Observability) - Remote
$100K - $170K *
Transform your career by leading the development of AI-powered observability solutions that enhance operational efficiency and system resilience across multi-cloud environments. Drive innovation in au...
Reposted 1 week ago
Senior Software Development Engineer
$156K - $262K *
Drive innovation by architecting and developing full stack web applications, mentoring engineers, and ensuring high-quality solutions that enhance user experiences and operational efficiency across di...
Today
Senior Platform Engineer, MarTech
$145K - $165K *
Lead the charge in enhancing marketing technology platforms to optimize customer engagement and journey orchestration. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver reliable solutions and improve...
3 weeks ago
Substation Physical Project Designer - Grid
$85K - $129K *
Lead the charge in substation design by preparing detailed drawings and overseeing project teams. Engage with clients and contractors to ensure compliance with standards while mentoring designers and...
4 weeks ago
Senior Full-Stack Software Engineer
$120K - $145K *
Champion the development of impactful software solutions, collaborating across teams to enhance educational tools. Take ownership of code quality and performance, while mentoring peers and leveraging...
2 weeks ago
Portfolio Manager, Technology Product Management
$161K - $242K *
Lead the charge in driving the cardiology portfolio's growth and modernization. Own strategy, adoption, cloud migration, and pricing while collaborating across teams to enhance patient outcomes and op...
4 weeks ago
Senior Workforce Solutions Engineer
$104K - $153K *
Unlock your potential by leading the technical delivery of workforce applications. Collaborate with teams to enhance productivity through automation, AI, and integrations, ensuring secure and efficien...
2 weeks ago
What is a Principal Engineer?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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.