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.
Senior Data Ops and Services Programmer
$100K - $115K *
Unlock the potential of our data infrastructure by optimizing databases, leading projects, and collaborating with teams to ensure data integrity and scalability in a dynamic environment...
2 days ago
$100K - $120K *
Unlock your potential as a Technical Project Manager, driving software delivery timelines and ensuring seamless project execution with engineering and product teams. Foster strong stakeholder relation...
Today
Senior Transformation Program Lead, Billing Modernization
$125K - $150K *
Join us in leading a transformative multi-year initiative to modernize billing capabilities. As the Overall Program Lead, you'll unify business and technology teams, ensuring alignment and execution e...
6 days ago
Senior Product Manager, CRM & GTM Systems
$104K - $176K *
Champion the Lead-to-Opportunity domain by driving product strategy, mentoring analysts, and enhancing the GTM tech stack. Influence the roadmap and ensure seamless lead conversion while collaborating...
2 weeks ago
$112K - $120K *
Optimize client success by leading end-to-end implementations for banks and credit unions, ensuring timely launches and measurable value through strategic guidance and cross-functional collaboration...
1 week ago
Senior Director, Dedicated Infrastructure & Platforms
$279K - $349K *
Drive the strategy and execution of dedicated infrastructure engineering, leading a high-performing team to enhance enterprise SaaS offerings, ensure compliance, and deliver exceptional customer exper...
Yesterday
Senior Software Engineer (Remote)
$195K - $225K *
Innovate within a dynamic team to design, develop, and deploy advanced applications for a transformational initiative. Lead technical solutions and mentor engineers while ensuring optimal application...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Champion innovative engineering solutions by leading multi-site projects, enhancing infrastructure, and driving operational improvements to ensure safety and efficiency across facilities...
2 weeks ago
$135K - $160K *
Lead the charge in designing and building a robust Cluster management platform. Collaborate with distributed teams to enhance observability and optimize performance, utilizing Go and modern telemetry...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Staff Backend Software Engineer - Platform Enablement
$209K - $250K *
Engineer scalable backend services and APIs to enhance our global marketplace. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, utilizing modern technologies like Go, Python, and Redis to deliver high-perform...
2 weeks ago
Senior Data Software Engineer/ AWS, Databricks, PySpark
$130K - $155K *
Engineer robust data exchange solutions across regions, ensuring compliance and security. Develop scalable backend services and data pipelines while collaborating globally with cross-functional teams...
3 weeks ago
Member of Technical Staff, Platform Engineer (New Stealth Startup)
$200K - $350K *
Transform complex AI research into scalable, reliable systems. Collaborate across teams to architect and enhance backend services, ensuring robust infrastructure for model training and data collection...
Today
Principal Sales Infrastructure Analyst, Analytics Engineering
$156K - $204K *
Drive data alignment and enhance business processes by designing robust data pipelines and infrastructure. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure data quality and accessibility, enabling ef...
2 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Transform the future of web development by creating seamless end-to-end solutions. This role entails robust client-side and server-side programming while collaborating across diverse teams to drive in...
4 weeks ago
Principal Product Manager, Agentic AI
$280K - $300K *
Pioneer innovative AI solutions in workforce management, leading product development from concept to deployment. Collaborate with engineers and executives to create impactful agentic products that enh...
1 week ago
$131K - $205K *
Shape the future of electric power projects by providing expert development support, technical evaluations, and engineering design reviews. Collaborate with clients to optimize project outcomes while...
6 days ago
$100K - $120K *
Join a team that's dedicated to building and enhancing robust full-stack solutions. You'll take ownership of features from design to deployment, collaborating with engineers to deliver high-quality, s...
3 days ago
Principal Applied Scientist (User Modeling)
$195K - $312K *
Advance user modeling by driving complex AI projects end-to-end, collaborating with cross-functional teams to translate cutting-edge research into impactful solutions for home shopping experiences...
2 days ago
Remote Progress Software Developer
$100K - $123K *
Elevate your career by developing innovative Progress applications that drive global logistics solutions. Collaborate with a dynamic team to deliver high-quality software while supporting major projec...
2 weeks ago
Principal Developer (MES/Ignition)
$120K - $145K *
Innovate cutting-edge software solutions by leveraging advanced programming skills, designing intuitive user interfaces, and ensuring project success through Agile methodologies and technical oversigh...
Yesterday
$85K - $125K *
Engage in high-volume data processing projects using cutting-edge technologies to empower data scientists and analysts in deriving insights from vast data sets. Collaborate effectively to enhance data...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Engineering Manager, Dedicated Infrastructure
$152K - $259K *
Join a team that's redefining infrastructure management by leading a dedicated group focused on high availability, security, and automation. Drive innovation while mentoring talent and enhancing opera...
2 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Champion customer solutions by rapidly prototyping and deploying AI-driven applications. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product capabilities and drive adoption, ensuring impactful...
Yesterday
$140K - $175K *
Explore a unique opportunity to drive innovation in education technology, taking ownership of product features from design to deployment. Work in a dynamic environment focusing on user experience, sec...
4 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Drive your career forward as a Senior Business Analyst, collaborating with cross-functional teams to consolidate payment gateways and enhance the US Payments landscape through innovative solutions and...
2 days 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.