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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$115K - $150K *

Join a team that's shaping innovative mechanical solutions for prefabricated platforms. Leverage your expertise in HVAC to lead the development and ensure alignment with customer and operational goals...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $150K *

Drive your career with a dynamic team focused on building innovative products that delight users. As a Product Manager, you'll lead impactful projects, collaborate closely with engineers, and shape th...

RemoteRemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$260K - $310K *

Transform the engineering landscape by leading dual teams in the Clinical Division, driving technical excellence and career growth, while effectively managing product delivery and leveraging AI capabi...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$120K - $150K *

Join a team that's redefining the customer experience in utilities by building a seamless, AI-driven self-service platform. You'll lead initiatives to enhance digital interactions, ensuring a proactiv...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$217K - $303K *

Innovate the future of iOS development by architecting scalable solutions for Reddit's mobile app. Lead technical direction, mentor engineers, and enhance developer efficiency to support 100M+ DAUs wh...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$100K - $140K *

Join a team that's modernizing healthcare data access by refactoring SQL Server databases. As a Senior Software Developer, you'll enhance workflows, optimize performance, and ensure secure, efficient...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in designing impactful product experiences from concept to delivery. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create user-friendly, AI-enhanced solutions that drive efficiency in ins...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $160K *

Unlock the potential of global quoting processes by owning the end-to-end CPQ workflow. Drive innovation and efficiency through Salesforce integrations, leading implementation projects while enhancing...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Drive impactful software solutions by embedding with clients, transforming ambiguous needs into deployable features across secure environments. Collaborate closely with users and stakeholders to deliv...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$156K - $215K *

Shape the future of enterprise Quality Engineering by leading automation tools and onboarding initiatives. Drive best practices, enhance tool adoption, and optimize testing solutions to improve delive...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$120K - $140K *

Drive innovative software solutions as a Senior Back-End Software Engineer, collaborating across domains to enhance systems and API architecture. Engage with diverse teams to deliver quality software...

RemoteRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in engineering excellence, overseeing a team of 60 while driving AI initiatives and enhancing operational strategies. Collaborate with product leadership to elevate engineering practic...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$150K - $180K *

Elevate cloud solutions by designing, deploying, and managing scalable Azure infrastructures. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure optimal performance, security, and compliance while driv...

Texas, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Join us to empower enterprise customers with innovative sourcing solutions, manage complex RFPs, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive procurement success while leveraging cutting-edge...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$100K - $120K *

Explore opportunities to partner with engineers and stakeholders, translating technical discussions into actionable deliverables while supporting CI/CD initiatives and repository governance with a foc...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$137K - $245K *

Shape the future of physical operations by driving AI-powered product innovation. Collaborate across teams to identify customer needs, prototype solutions, and deliver impactful products that enhance...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$137K - $245K *

Lead the charge in driving strategic initiatives and product innovation within the Telematics Business Unit, enhancing core offerings and exploring new market opportunities through hands-on collaborat...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$114K - $167K *

Drive impactful SAP BRIM projects by leading cross-functional teams, managing client relationships, and ensuring project alignment with business goals. Foster innovation and quality while optimizing r...

RemoteRemote

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $130K *

Accelerate your career by managing a portfolio of mid-market accounts, ensuring customer success through strategic engagement, relationship building, and AI-driven insights. Drive measurable outcomes...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$135K - $205K *

Lead the charge in delivering client-focused mainframe solutions. Oversee diverse projects, manage teams, and leverage strategic insights to enhance hardware and software lifecycle management while fo...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Shape the future of user-generated content by leading product strategy and execution. Drive improvements in quality, trust, and customer activation while collaborating across teams to enhance the cont...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$200K - $322K *

Lead the charge in optimizing infrastructure programs that power our cutting-edge EDA ecosystem. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless execution and strategic planning, driving op...

Santa Clara, CARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$95K - $115K *

Take ownership of impactful projects, designing and implementing robust backend systems with a high-performing team. Collaborate, innovate, and contribute to a culture of speed, quality, and continuou...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Legal & Accounting

$140K - $165K *

Empower teams by leading complex, cross-functional programs that enhance cloud infrastructure. Drive execution through ambiguity, ensuring high-impact delivery while collaborating with engineering and...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Lead a high-performance engineering team, driving strategy and innovation for Corporate Payments services while aligning technology with business goals. Foster collaboration and continuous improvement...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

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.