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.

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$95K - $115K *

Join a team that's committed to designing and developing innovative full stack applications, collaborating across functions to deliver effective technical solutions and enhance business processes in a...

Sterling, VARemote

1 month ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Pioneer the development of secure platform capabilities for enterprise clients, collaborating across teams to define product scope, manage complex requirements, and ensure successful delivery in highl...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$200K - $275K *

Partner with us to drive technical solutions for enterprise clients, showcasing product value through demos and proof-of-concept activities. Collaborate with sales and technical teams to enhance custo...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$118K - $180K *

Champion the development of Advanced Deposition Materials by leading New Product Introductions from concept to high volume manufacturing, ensuring cross-functional alignment and delivering quality pro...

Connecticut, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$118K - $180K *

Champion innovative product development by leading cross-functional teams to drive New Product Introductions in Advanced Deposition Materials, ensuring alignment with business goals and customer needs...

Texas, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $150K *

Drive the technical direction and hands-on leadership of a diverse Business Systems Development team, focusing on Salesforce and integration development to deliver scalable business solutions across o...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

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

$212K - $265K *

Drive transformative software engineering across EPM products, lead modernization, build innovative SaaS capabilities, and enhance operational excellence in a high-impact role overseeing global teams...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$190K - $275K *

Elevate technical excellence as the Chief Engineer, guiding multidisciplinary teams to ensure mission success through robust architecture, requirements management, and strategic decision-making in com...

Huntsville, ALRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$100K - $125K *

Lead innovative design solutions as a Senior Design Engineer, transforming client needs into actionable broadcast system designs. Collaborate with global teams, mentor junior engineers, and ensure pro...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$207K - $300K *

Elevate the technical landscape by defining the roadmap for the RemoteCompose rendering stack, collaborating across teams to enhance Android platform integration and performance while mentoring engine...

Mountain View, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$80K - $95K *

Partner with us to deliver tailored solutions and in-depth demos, supporting a dynamic sales pipeline. Leverage your technical expertise to drive customer success and collaborate with teams to enhance...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$142K - $196K *

Unlock potential by leading innovative software solutions that enhance healthcare efficiency and resilience. Collaborate with diverse teams to design and deliver optimal cloud-native applications whil...

Georgia, USRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$172K - $188K *

Lead the charge in clinical data programming by designing, building, and maintaining data collection systems. Collaborate with teams to ensure data integrity and support clinical development through a...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$162K - $219K *

Champion the development of system integrity and speed across engineering teams, ensuring gameplay features are tested thoroughly and efficiently. Build the testing infrastructure that enhances qualit...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$98K - $188K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of reactor physics and technology. Contribute to computational methods development, numerical analysis, and thermal-hydraulic modeling while supporting software d...

RemoteRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$110K - $130K *

Transform numerical capabilities by developing innovative algorithms and solutions, engaging in model building, and collaborating with software teams to enhance product performance and deliver impactf...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$99K - $149K *

Shape the future of digital recruitment by leading the implementation of innovative solutions. Collaborate with clients to optimize career sites, ensuring seamless integration and enhanced user experi...

Seattle, WARemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$247K - $321K *

Accelerate progress at a high-growth SaaS organization by leading the Product & Technology PMO, driving execution excellence across R&D initiatives and fostering strategic alignment to scale operation...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$199K - $348K *

Transform complex agentic AI escalations into stable outcomes by diagnosing root causes, creating robust architectures, and enhancing team technical excellence while ensuring customer confidence and s...

San Diego, CARemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$155K - $175K *

Unlock potential by leading the architecture and deployment of AI and workflow platforms, driving innovation across client engagements while collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance operat...

Chicago, ILRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$129K - $152K *

Shape the future of market strategy by identifying and prioritizing expansion opportunities, analyzing demand, and guiding investment decisions across the Infrastructure Products portfolio to drive gr...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$131K - $164K *

Join a team that's redefining restaurant technology by building robust mobile applications. As a Senior Software Engineer II, you'll lead feature delivery, optimize performance, and collaborate across...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$129K - $217K *

Join a team that shapes innovative web and mobile applications while mentoring peers and advocating for best practices in a collaborative environment. Lead projects from design to delivery and impact...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

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

$200K - $235K *

Lead and innovate in our modeling group, managing a team of engineers to develop next-gen technology while ensuring seamless integration with AI and existing systems; collaborate closely with stakehol...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$150K - $180K *

Lead and architect innovative AI-driven financial solutions, collaborating with elite engineers to design, implement, and optimize cutting-edge tools for global clients in a dynamic, startup environme...

New York, NYRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

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.