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 Product Security Engineer
$159K - $219K *
Advance security initiatives by designing, implementing, and embedding robust security practices across AI-driven product development. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to safeguard applications...
4 weeks ago
$200K - $275K *
Join a team that's scaling innovative distributed systems across our platform, shaping technical frameworks, and driving organizational growth while collaborating with talented engineers in a dynamic...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$150K - $180K *
Join a team that's transforming enterprise production shipping by driving innovative strategies, enhancing multi-DC platforms, and ensuring customer success across diverse industries, while operating...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$100K - $120K *
Drive the design and development of key applications using event-driven design, Spring Boot, microservices, and modern front-end technologies, while collaborating with cross-functional teams to delive...
4 weeks ago
$80K - $95K *
Lead the charge in delivering outstanding technical support and case management for complex escalated issues, ensuring customer success and trust while collaborating with teams to provide timely, high...
Reposted 4 weeks ago
Senior Data Engineer - Data Infra (Canada)
$110K - $130K *
Shape data strategy by building and scaling ingestion pipelines and infrastructure to empower teams with reliable, self-serve data products and support AI-ready workflows, directly impacting company-w...
4 weeks ago
Senior Manager, Software Engineering
$132K - $264K *
Drive payment platform innovation by leading engineering teams to enhance architecture, operational efficiency, and compliance in complex systems while mentoring talent and ensuring alignment with bus...
3 weeks ago
Senior Manager, Software Engineering
$143K - $286K *
Lead the charge in developing high-quality software and AI systems, ensuring strategic alignment and operational excellence across teams while championing DevOps practices and cloud optimization effor...
4 weeks ago
Applied AI Engineer, Enterprise
$150K - $180K *
Transform enterprise AI deployments by designing, building, and enhancing systems that drive significant business results while fostering strong partnerships with customers and engineering teams...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Transform enterprise product design by leading user-centric AI solutions, ensuring intuitive interfaces for complex workflows. Collaborate across teams to elevate design standards and enhance user tru...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$132K - $174K *
Empower your career with hands-on technical leadership, driving innovation and excellence in healthcare systems. Lead a talented team, mentoring engineers while architecting scalable, secure solutions...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Frontend Engineer - Endless Commerce
$110K - $130K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of e-commerce by developing high-quality, scalable front-end solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance user experience and drive technical exc...
3 weeks ago
Senior Product Manager, Consumer
$120K - $145K *
Empower consumer experiences by leading product strategy and execution for innovative genomics solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance user satisfaction and drive adoption throug...
Yesterday
Senior Full Stack Engineer - Team Lead
$130K - $155K *
Lead a dynamic engineering team to build and enhance user-facing applications. Drive technical execution across domains, ensuring high-quality delivery while mentoring team members in a fully remote e...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Product Security Engineer
$135K - $160K *
Empower progress in product security by embedding advanced safeguards within every development phase. Collaborate with engineering teams to build AI-enhanced security tooling and enhance proactive ris...
Reposted 4 weeks ago
Distinguished Engineer - AI & Engineering Transformation
$240K - $320K *
Transform AI adoption and engineering efficiency by leading cross-functional initiatives and driving the strategic integration of innovative technologies across products, ensuring measurable outcomes...
3 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer, Android
$159K - $254K *
Join a dynamic team to design and deliver innovative Android system applications, enhancing device management and user experience. Collaborate across functions to build scalable solutions that empower...
1 week ago
Senior Team Lead -3D Modeling & Virtual Simulation
$100K - $120K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of 3D modeling and virtual simulation. Lead daily operations, provide technical direction, and ensure project success while collaborating with Government stakehol...
6 days ago
Principal Enterprise Account Manager - Federal Healthcare
$147K - $251K *
Unlock potential by driving revenue growth within U.S. Federal Government accounts. Engage stakeholders, execute account strategies, and ensure customer satisfaction through adoption and retention of...
2 days ago
Sr. Manager, Solutions Architect SME
$166K - $249K *
Lead the charge in building and mentoring a regional team of product SMEs, driving technical wins across diverse product groups while collaborating with sales leadership to optimize engagement and enh...
6 days ago
$120K - $150K *
Innovate and build across multiple surfaces, enhancing developer tools and agent products. Collaborate closely with a small team to deliver high-quality software solutions that drive enterprise adopti...
2 weeks ago
Senior Strategic Solutions Architect
$175K - $205K *
Transform the future of client technology by leading architectural strategies and integrations in life insurance and annuity environments, ensuring alignment with enterprise goals and delivering scala...
2 weeks ago
$80K - $90K *
Transform your marketing career by driving product strategies and campaigns. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create compelling messaging and targeted programs that enhance customer engageme...
2 days ago
$80K - $90K *
Join a dynamic team to drive product marketing and ABM strategies, enhancing customer engagement and market presence through compelling messaging and targeted campaigns that foster growth and awarenes...
2 days ago
Engineering Manager - Secure Access
$140K - $170K *
Advance your career by leading a dynamic team in developing secure access solutions. Drive technical direction, manage project delivery, and mentor engineers while balancing customer reliability with...
1 week 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.