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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1
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$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

$135K - $160K *

Elevate your career by driving strategic programs that enhance our Extensibility platform. Collaborate across teams to shape product roadmaps and ensure successful launches while addressing complex cu...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$110K - $130K *

Optimize program delivery by leading complex projects from proposal to execution. Drive cross-functional collaboration, manage budgets, and ensure customer commitments are met while mentoring junior p...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$144K - $288K *

Lead the development and optimization of innovative, AI-driven digital solutions across cloud platforms, guiding teams in delivering scalable, secure applications that enhance healthcare experiences t...

Buffalo Grove, ILRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $350K *

Elevate your career by driving the development of advanced AI models, overseeing pretraining processes, and optimizing training systems to ensure successful outcomes in a collaborative, innovative env...

San Francisco, CARemote

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $150K *

Join a team that's transforming utilities through strategic consulting on SCADA, EMS, and grid modernization. Drive innovation, assess technologies, and guide implementation for enhanced operational e...

Florida, USRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$125K - $150K *

Drive innovation in backend development and blockchain infrastructure, shaping the future of global payments. Collaborate across teams to enhance user experiences and scale solutions to millions while...

New York, NYRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$192K - $251K *

Champion innovative design solutions as a Lead Product Designer, driving strategic initiatives and enhancing user experiences for Jira. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to shape the future of w...

San Francisco, CARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$115K - $145K *

Optimize software development by owning complex features, leveraging AI tools, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality, scalable solutions that meet business needs and te...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$206K - $242K *

Transform external attack capabilities by developing scalable workflows and automating reconnaissance processes. Drive innovation in offensive security, mentor teammates, and contribute to a high-impa...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$130K - $160K *

Drive the future of structural engineering by leading complex capital projects, mentoring junior staff, and ensuring technical excellence across diverse markets, particularly in healthcare. Collaborat...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$205K - $282K *

Join us in shaping the future of audio technology as a Chief Product Engineer, overseeing product engineering strategies, licensing, and R&D integration for consumer audio innovations. Drive technical...

United StatesRemote

1 month ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$229K - $258K *

Empower a dynamic engineering team to deliver innovative security tools. Own product development from roadmap to rollout, fostering collaboration and driving results in a fast-paced environment focuse...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$123K - $166K *

Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing cloud platform reliability and security. As a Platform Engineer, you'll leverage your expertise in Kubernetes and CI/CD to build and maintain robust infrastru...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Lead the design and development of our enterprise data platform, driving initiatives for data ingestion, storage, and transformation. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance data governance...

CanadaRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$121K - $161K *

Transform your career by leading the design and implementation of Veeva Vault RIM, ensuring optimal performance and compliance while collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance user experienc...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$140K - $160K *

Accelerate innovation by merging creative technology with AI capabilities, driving impactful solutions that enhance workflows and empower teams. Collaborate across disciplines to transform emerging te...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$99K - $164K *

Champion innovative data solutions to enhance actuarial processes and decision-making. Lead a technical team driving advanced analytics and cloud-based strategies, implementing scalable data solutions...

Alpharetta, GARemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$145K - $175K *

Elevate your career by leading product marketing for AI governance solutions. Drive impactful narratives, engage with analysts, and create high-quality content to enhance visibility and credibility in...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$135K - $160K *

Shape the future of enterprise architecture by leading strategic initiatives, translating business goals into scalable solutions, and guiding cross-functional teams in integrating complex healthcare a...

Texas, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$180K - $220K *

Drive the strategy and roadmap for enterprise-scale Computer Vision solutions, collaborating with internal teams to define requirements and ensure successful adoption of AI models across product portf...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$135K - $160K *

Elevate your career as a technical leader, architecting scalable systems and driving DevOps initiatives. Collaborate with engineering teams to enhance product reliability and mentor engineers while en...

Nye, MTRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$125K - $150K *

Shape the future of money movement by leading innovative software solutions that enhance payroll systems for thousands of businesses. Collaborate across teams to build effective, scalable systems that...

RemoteRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$100K - $120K *

Design and develop robust C++ applications for Windows, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance code quality and performance while providing effective solutions to challenges...

Montreal-ouest, QCRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Join a dynamic team as a Full Stack Developer, driving technology modernization and digital transformation initiatives. Collaborate across disciplines to design, develop, and support secure enterprise...

Sterling, VARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information 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.