Principal Software Engineer Jobs

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.

What Does a Principal Software Engineer Do?

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.

Skills and Qualifications

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.

Career Opportunities and Compensation

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.

Find Your Next Principal Software Engineer Role

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.

Remote
caret down
Compensation
caret down
Position Level
caret down
Time Posted
caret down
Industries
caret down
More
1
caret down

$148K - $190K *

Join us to lead user experience design on our innovative learning platform. You'll own the design end-to-end, establishing a design system, shaping navigation, and enhancing the student experience thr...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$135K - $160K *

Transform data solutions by architecting enterprise-grade pipelines, leading a high-performing team, and embedding best practices to create scalable, robust data environments for analysis and insights...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Drive user-centered design initiatives by leading research, mapping journeys, and prototyping solutions. Collaborate with teams to validate usability and outcomes while maintaining design practices an...

RemoteRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$88K - $180K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of AI-native software development. Drive engineering excellence by orchestrating autonomous agents and maintaining high-quality standards in a FedRAMP-authorized e...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$132K - $251K *

Champion innovation in software development as a DevSecOps Software Lead, driving the design and implementation of advanced pipelines. Collaborate with teams to enhance efficiency and foster a culture...

Annapolis, MDRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$140K - $165K *

Transform complex military software solutions by driving product strategy, aligning teams, and engaging stakeholders. Leverage your expertise to enhance operational intelligence and deliver impactful...

Ontario, CARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Optimize onboarding excellence by designing impactful programs that accelerate new sales hires' productivity and ramp times in a high-growth tech environment. Collaborate across teams to ensure practi...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$160K - $175K *

Shape the future of user experiences by designing intuitive interfaces that empower women in their health journeys. Collaborate across teams to create impactful solutions that merge user insights with...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Unlock potential by driving innovative AI solutions through hands-on engineering and client collaboration. Transform complex business challenges into reliable, production-ready software while enhancin...

CanadaRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$200K - $230K *

Lead a team that operationalizes advanced AI security solutions for enterprises, ensuring integration and compliance across environments. Collaborate with stakeholders to translate requirements into e...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Transform your career with a pivotal role in physical design, leading complex SoC implementations, optimizing performance, and driving cross-functional collaboration to ensure successful tapeout readi...

San Jose, CARemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in shaping the future of energy through advanced power system modeling and compliance assessments. Collaborate with a dynamic team to conduct studies, ensure project quality, and drive...

Austin, TXRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$120K - $140K *

Unlock your potential as you innovate automated testing solutions for AWS infrastructures and CI/CD pipelines. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance deployment confidence and streamline v...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Transform AI agent systems by owning technical decisions and delivery from design to production. Collaborate with stakeholders, develop workflows, and ensure reliability while mentoring engineers and...

Georgia, USRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$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...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$150K - $220K *

Lead the evolution of a high-impact VS Code extension, driving technical direction and performance optimization while mentoring a skilled engineering team. Own feature delivery and collaborate cross-f...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Elevate talent acquisition at a dynamic tech company by leading comprehensive recruiting strategies, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and enhancing candidate experiences to drive sustainable...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$140K - $195K *

Pioneer AI-driven solutions in capital markets and legal disclosure. Lead product strategy and execution for a cloud-based platform, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, tr...

RemoteRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$180K - $220K *

Empower developers as you lead a small team building tools, APIs, and integrations for a platform that enhances creator engagement. Balance hands-on engineering and management while driving technical...

United StatesRemote

1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$150K - $180K *

Manage the lifecycle of accelerator clusters, ensuring efficient capacity, reliability, and security. Collaborate across teams to enhance infrastructure, automate processes, and lead initiatives that...

Palo Alto, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$125K - $150K *

Engage with enterprise clients to translate complex challenges into actionable AI solutions. Collaborate with Sales and Delivery teams to drive scalable programs, influence revenue, and ensure success...

Austin, TXRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $178K *

Unlock your potential by leading innovative AI-driven bot solutions, enhancing customer experiences through advanced digital applications. Collaborate with teams to design, develop, and deliver cuttin...

Ontario, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Lead a talented team in crafting a high-quality, scalable object storage product that enhances the developer experience, balancing technical execution with product thinking to drive meaningful improve...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$180K - $195K *

Unlock your potential as you collaborate to develop enterprise Android applications, enhancing user experience through innovative design, coding, and testing. Join a dynamic team focused on delivering...

Austin, TXRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $130K *

Innovate the future of cloud platforms by leading the design and operation of a secure, scalable infrastructure. Drive automation and enhance developer experience while collaborating with cross-functi...

Toronto, ONRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Staffing

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Principal Software Engineer do?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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.