Explore Principal Software Engineer jobs for experienced technologists ready to shape architecture, guide engineering teams, and solve complex technical challenges. Ladders features vetted professional opportunities with salaries of $100,000 or more, helping you find senior roles that match your expertise and career goals.
Principal Software Engineers provide technical leadership across products, platforms, or engineering organizations. They design scalable systems, establish engineering standards, evaluate architectural tradeoffs, and partner with product, security, and operations teams. Depending on the organization, the role may involve mentoring engineers and influencing roadmaps without direct people-management responsibilities.
Employers commonly seek deep software development experience, strong system design and architecture skills, and expertise in one or more programming languages or technology domains. Successful candidates communicate clearly, make sound decisions amid ambiguity, and build alignment across teams. Experience with cloud infrastructure, distributed systems, reliability, security, or data platforms may be valuable depending on the role.
Principal-level positions are available across industries, including technology, finance, healthcare, retail, and business services. Compensation varies by employer, location, scope, and specialization. Browse Ladders for vetted opportunities paying $100,000 or more, and review each listing for its stated salary range, responsibilities, and requirements.
Use Ladders to discover senior engineering opportunities aligned with your experience. Compare roles by industry, location, and technical focus, then tailor your application to highlight measurable impact, architectural leadership, and the systems you have helped deliver.
Principal Data Platform Engineer
$160K - $185K *
Shape the future of data engineering by leading the architecture and evolution of a robust enterprise data platform, ensuring reliability and integration across analytics, reporting, and AI capabiliti...
2 weeks ago
Senior Data & AI Platform Engineer
$125K - $150K *
Join a dynamic team to design and build a robust data platform that enhances product performance and supports AI initiatives, ensuring data integrity and accessibility for internal and customer-facing...
2 weeks ago
Principal Experience Designer - Visual Design & Design Systems
$190K - $315K *
Shape the future of visual design for an enterprise design system, leading the evolution of its visual language and guiding teams to create consistent, high-quality experiences across products and maj...
3 days ago
Senior Data Engineer - Databricks
$125K - $165K *
Innovate with a team to design and implement robust data platforms using Databricks. You'll lead data migrations, enhance workflows, and tackle complex data challenges for improved enterprise performa...
4 weeks ago
$180K - $220K *
Elevate the future of engineering by shaping strategy and leading a high-performing team through rapid change. Collaborate with executives to drive innovation and ensure alignment, while fostering a c...
1 week ago
$100K - $125K *
Unlock your potential as you design and enhance cutting-edge cloud solutions for diverse web and mobile platforms. Collaborate across teams to translate product vision into robust software while drivi...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$215K - $235K *
Innovate security architecture and engineering solutions to enhance our brokerage platform. Lead complex initiatives, mentor engineers, and ensure compliance while securing AWS, Kubernetes, and corpor...
Yesterday
$105K - $120K *
Join a team that's driving successful ERP and CRM software implementations. Lead projects, coordinate teams, and ensure timely delivery while achieving sales and profit targets. Collaborate with stake...
1 week ago
$95K - $115K *
Build robust software solutions by developing application and test code, while steering implementation decisions in a collaborative Agile environment. Contribute to complex architectures using modern...
4 weeks ago
$125K - $150K *
Join our dynamic team as you lead Methods and Insights, driving engineering excellence through effective people management, operational delivery, and innovative system building. Empower engineers to t...
6 days ago
Senior Product Manager, Switchyard
$168K - $327K *
Lead the charge in shaping adaptive inference solutions, driving product strategy and integration for innovative AI applications. Collaborate with engineering and research teams to enhance developer e...
2 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Engage partners by driving technical enablement and solution design. Collaborate across teams to empower resellers and integrators, ensuring successful adoption and growth of innovative solutions thro...
2 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Grow your career with a dynamic role focused on developing responsive applications and secure APIs. Collaborate across teams to implement integrations and optimize performance while leveraging modern...
Today
Principal Product Manager, Data Solutions & Ecosystem
$135K - $160K *
Transform the Data Solutions landscape by leading product strategy, driving API integrations, and enhancing partner capabilities to maximize G2 data's market impact and customer value through innovati...
3 weeks ago
$160K - $190K *
Lead the charge in defining and executing enterprise AI architecture strategy, ensuring scalable, ethical AI integration across platforms. Drive innovation through Generative and Agentic AI, aligning...
Yesterday
Staff Software Engineer, Android Design System
$217K - $303K *
Lead the charge in evolving a cohesive design system for Android, enhancing UI architecture and performance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to build reusable components and improve accessibil...
1 week ago
$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...
2 weeks ago
Senior Product Manager (Modeling & Simulation)
$125K - $150K *
Lead product strategy and execution for a suite of wargaming tools, collaborating with users and engineers to transform complex technical capabilities into impactful solutions in high-stakes environme...
1 week ago
Principal Structural Engineer, Global
$170K - $175K *
Champion innovative structural design for mission-critical data centers, focusing on prefabricated and modular construction. Lead technical strategy, establish design standards, and ensure safety and...
2 weeks ago
Lead Engineer - Payments Platform
$206K - $260K *
Drive the future of financial technology by designing scalable payment solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance operational excellence and deliver impactful services that support...
6 days ago
Senior Software Engineer - Integrations
$125K - $150K *
Transform your career by leading the design and implementation of critical integrations that enhance system connectivity and performance. Collaborate across teams to deliver high-quality solutions tha...
2 weeks ago
$115K - $175K *
Join a strategic team as you oversee complex web projects, drive digital initiatives, and promote best practices, all while collaborating across functions. Make a real-world impact while shaping the f...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer, Ad Tech
$120K - $145K *
Drive the development of scalable software platforms, leveraging AI tools and modern methodologies to enhance performance and quality. Collaborate cross-functionally to build impactful solutions that...
3 days ago
Principal, Security Operations
$110K - $130K *
Engage in advanced security operations as a Senior Security Analyst, leading incident response, enhancing detection capabilities, and driving process improvements to protect critical assets in a dynam...
1 week ago
$111K - $125K *
Elevate your career by leading impactful engineering projects, ensuring quality and budget adherence while leveraging advanced AI tools. Collaborate with a dynamic team to shape sustainable built envi...
3 weeks ago
What does a Principal Software Engineer do?
A Principal Software Engineer leads technical direction across significant systems or teams, making architecture decisions, solving complex engineering problems, and helping establish standards. The role is often an individual-contributor position, though responsibilities differ by company.
What qualifications are needed for Principal Software Engineer jobs?
Employers typically look for extensive software engineering experience, advanced system design skills, proficiency in relevant technologies, and a record of delivering reliable, scalable systems. Communication, mentoring, and cross-functional influence are also commonly important.
How much do Principal Software Engineers earn?
Pay varies based on location, industry, employer, specialization, and role scope. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more; check individual listings for compensation details.
Are Principal Software Engineer roles management positions?
Not necessarily. Many Principal Software Engineers are senior individual contributors who influence technical strategy and mentor colleagues without managing direct reports. Some companies combine technical leadership with management duties.
Where can I find Principal Software Engineer jobs paying $100,000 or more?
Browse Principal Software Engineer listings on Ladders to explore vetted opportunities with salaries of $100,000 or more and compare roles by their requirements, responsibilities, and location.