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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$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...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$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...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$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...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$141K - $224K *

Lead the design and modernization of mission-critical SATCOM systems, ensuring seamless integration and lifecycle support. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance system performance and ope...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$150K - $180K *

Join a team that's redefining construction technology by architecting scalable, reliable systems that integrate cutting-edge AI and computer vision. Collaborate across disciplines to drive innovation...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Drive complex project implementations by leading cross-functional teams, managing deliverables, and ensuring compliance. Leverage Salesforce expertise to optimize processes and foster client relations...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$95K - $115K *

Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing application performance through expert Dynatrace monitoring. Collaborate with IT professionals to analyze, troubleshoot, and optimize application performance...

St. Louis, MORemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

$130K - $219K *

Drive the vision for Samsara device installations, enhancing user experiences and ensuring rapid, accurate setups. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize the install process, making impac...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$134K - $223K *

Join a team that's dedicated to maximizing enterprise value through strategic consulting and technical expertise. Leverage your Sprinklr knowledge to drive customer success and innovation while foster...

Texas, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$75K - $150K *

Join us as a Product Owner/Application Lead, driving Salesforce solutions for government clients. Collaborate with architects and developers to deliver high-quality applications, ensuring client satis...

Mclean, VARemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Transform the architecture of diverse security platforms, guiding teams through complex design challenges while ensuring scalable, secure, and maintainable systems across multiple product areas in a h...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$83K *

Join us to support the EVA Remote Observation Camera project by providing design, testing, and verification expertise. Collaborate with teams to troubleshoot hardware and ensure project success in a d...

Houston, TXRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$98K - $150K *

Join a team that's dedicated to delivering precise mechanical cost estimates, evaluating project risks, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders to ensure successful project execution while mentori...

Texas, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in establishing a robust project management portfolio, optimizing planning and execution processes at the Space Weather Prediction Center. Drive continuous improvement and support lead...

Boulder, CORemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$145K - $175K *

Pioneer innovative cloud architectures and drive scalable solutions for a cloud-native platform. Collaborate with engineering leaders to enhance reliability, security, and performance while mentoring...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$100K - $120K *

Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing integration features across modern and legacy systems. You'll design APIs, deliver high-quality integrations, and collaborate with experienced engineers to dr...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$184K - $314K *

Elevate executive recruiting by leading VP-level searches, advising C-suite leaders, and shaping talent strategies. Drive high-impact hiring decisions while managing multiple confidential searches in...

RemoteRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$245K - $260K *

Lead technical strategies for U.S. Navy accounts, enhancing digital performance and visibility. Collaborate with sales teams to deliver tailored solutions, addressing complex challenges in observabili...

Abell, MDRemote

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$125K - $160K *

Join a team that's redefining data solutions by leading technical sales efforts, collaborating with Account Managers, and driving customer success through innovative data architecture and tailored dem...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$85K - $150K *

Drive transformation by guiding government clients through human-centered design, focusing on stakeholder engagement and change management to foster adaptability and mitigate resistance in evolving wo...

Mclean, VARemote

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$85K - $150K *

Help us guide government clients through transformative change by leveraging human-centered design and change management strategies. Collaborate with stakeholders to enhance user experiences and drive...

Mclean, VARemote

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Join a team that's redefining Risk and Security strategies by providing senior technical expertise, co-creating innovative solutions, and driving partner engagement to enhance commercial success and m...

Columbus, OHRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Help us drive the future of automation by owning AI agents that onboard applications and ensure self-healing workflows. You'll enhance existing systems, prioritize security, and collaborate across tea...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $130K *

Join a dynamic team to design and optimize scalable data solutions that enhance healthcare technology platforms. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure data integrity and drive informed dec...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$125K - $150K *

Lead the design and delivery of scalable banking features, ensuring reliability and security in real-time money movement. Mentor engineers and collaborate with cross-functional teams to create high-qu...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise 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.