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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$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...

CanadaRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$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...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$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...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$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...

Maryland, USRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$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...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$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...

CanadaRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$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...

Bellevue, WARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$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...

Sunnyvale, CARemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$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...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$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...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$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...

Los Angeles, CARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$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...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$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...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$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...

Bellevue, WARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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...

Leavenworth, KSRemote

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$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...

RemoteRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$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...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$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...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$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...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

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

$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...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

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

$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...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   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.