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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$140K - $150K *

Transform integrations as a Senior Developer, focusing on reliable APIs that connect with customers and partners. Collaborate across teams to engineer secure, scalable solutions, tackling production c...

Seattle, WARemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Legal & Accounting

$129K - $210K *

Tackle complex engineering challenges by leading a talented team, shaping innovative reporting solutions for GRC insights while driving quality and collaboration across cross-functional teams to meet...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$160K - $200K *

Lead the technical direction for AI agent quality, defining metrics and evaluation systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance agent performance and ensure quality in production enviro...

RemoteRemote

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$130K - $155K *

Engineer scalable AI platform solutions, collaborating across teams to enhance infrastructure for secure model access and observability. Drive technical roadmaps and mentor junior engineers while ensu...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$100K - $120K *

Drive innovative structural design solutions for utility projects, ensuring quality and compliance. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams while mentoring junior engineers in a fast-paced environmen...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$120K - $170K *

Lead the development of scalable systems, balancing individual contributions with technical guidance. Collaborate across teams to tackle complex engineering challenges in security and AI, while evolvi...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$95K - $115K *

Deliver innovative warehousing solutions while optimizing processes and pricing strategies. Leverage extensive engineering experience to enhance product storage efficiency and support operational audi...

Tennessee, USRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Transportation

$115K - $194K *

Lead the technical strategy for strategic partnerships, transforming partner needs into integrations and influencing product design. Collaborate with R&D to evaluate AI models and enhance GitLab's off...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$136K - $160K *

Elevate operations through AI-driven automation to enhance incident management, streamline ticket resolution, and optimize service health with self-healing observability, all while collaborating acros...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$85K - $100K *

Lead the charge in managing complex underground storage tank projects, coordinating with diverse stakeholders to ensure compliance, safety, and timely completion across multiple sites while overseeing...

United StatesRemote

1 month ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$160K - $225K *

Architect innovative solutions that drive Member Growth's systems evolution. Lead technical direction, tackle complex challenges, and elevate team performance through clear communication and strategic...

Playa Vista, CARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$121K - $145K *

Lead the design and development of high-performance web applications, integrating with backend services to enhance customer experiences and streamline operations across various platforms, focusing on...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$120K - $193K *

Engage in architecting and designing digital products, leading teams to implement innovative software solutions while ensuring accountability for product success and performance metrics...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$182K - $240K *

Pioneer a high-impact Corporate Systems strategy, leading a dedicated Product Management team to transform internal platforms. Drive cross-functional initiatives in Finance, People, and Sales to deliv...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $155K *

Drive the design and development of robotics middleware and frameworks on embedded Linux. Engage in cross-functional collaboration, technical design, and system-level troubleshooting to enhance softwa...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Transportation

$94K - $161K *

Manage product development from concept to release, focusing on technical solutions. Engage with clients to define requirements, drive innovation, and ensure products meet business needs while collabo...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$160K - $200K *

Elevate transformation efforts by guiding a strategic portfolio in AI-native engineering. Drive operational excellence and innovation across programs, ensuring delivery success and client satisfaction...

New York, NYRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$160K - $200K *

Lead a strategic portfolio within a large-scale transformation, ensuring delivery excellence across multiple programs and managed services while driving innovation through AI-native practices and oper...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $155K *

Champion product strategy for a leading mobile game, driving growth through LiveOps. Lead a cross-functional team to enhance player engagement, retention, and monetization while balancing immediate pe...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$140K - $165K *

Drive product strategy for a leading mobile game, enhancing player engagement and monetization. Lead a cross-functional team to prioritize and execute LiveOps initiatives, leveraging data to inform de...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$106K - $115K *

Unlock your potential as you contribute to scalable software solutions, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance assessment systems. Gain hands-on experience in modern development practice...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

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

$165K - $220K *

Champion innovative browser technologies by designing experiments, investigating performance, and implementing engine-level changes. Collaborate closely with a small team to enhance browser behavior a...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$195K - $260K *

Lead the charge in browser engine innovation by designing experiments, implementing changes, and collaborating across disciplines to enhance performance and correctness in web technologies...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$90K - $101K *

Optimize our marketing web platform by spearheading the integration of Contentstack and Next.js. Utilize your advanced front-end skills to maintain diverse CMS and enhance development workflows throug...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$150K - $170K *

Innovate with AI to enhance HR software. Design and develop scalable web services, lead initiatives, and mentor engineers while focusing on user experience and collaboration in a dynamic environment...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise 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.