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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$232K - $368K *

Partner with us to shape innovative production test solutions for complex networking systems. Collaborate across teams to align strategies, enhance capabilities, and drive efficiency in testing proces...

California, USRemote

5 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $180K *

Champion the search for engineering leaders by guiding full-cycle recruitment, defining role expectations, engaging passive candidates, and advising stakeholders to make strategic hiring decisions in...

RemoteRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$148K - $201K *

Empower application teams by integrating, securing, and deploying software in Kubernetes environments. Collaborate across platforms to enhance CI/CD processes and ensure reliable operations, driving i...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$160K - $180K *

Lead the charge in driving agile execution across product and engineering teams, managing digital product launches and enhancing client value through innovative solutions. Collaborate cross-functional...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$143K - $286K *

Transform the future of technology by driving AI-powered reliability and automation. Own platform scalability and observability while enhancing customer support excellence through innovative solutions...

Bentonville, ARRemote

6 days ago

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

$143K - $286K *

Join a team that's driving innovation in software engineering and reliability. You'll build AI-powered tools, enhance platform observability, and ensure service reliability while collaborating cross-f...

Sunnyvale, CARemote

6 days ago

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

$90K - $180K *

Shape the future of smart entertainment technology by leading the design and integration of scalable software solutions for HDMI-CEC and device interoperability, driving innovation and enhancing custo...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

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

$135K - $160K *

Lead the evolution of our GTM Systems Architecture, enhancing Salesforce and its tech stack for AI-native workflows. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to build a trusted data foundation and driv...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$142K - $186K *

Pioneer a data-driven culture by designing scalable ELT pipelines and analytics models. Collaborate across teams to ensure product data integrity and empower stakeholders with self-service insights, d...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Empower your career as a Platform Engineer, driving innovation in system architecture and cloud technologies. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance platform efficiency and guide junior en...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$198K - $233K *

Empower a team of engineers by architecting a robust AI-driven development pipeline, enhancing workflows across mobile and backend systems, and ensuring reliable, efficient software delivery for milli...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$99K - $158K *

Join a team that's leading innovation in print and packaging processes. Drive complex projects, enhance workflows, and ensure top-tier color management across multiple business units while collaborati...

Chicago, ILRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$120K - $150K *

Elevate your career by leading a dynamic team in transforming cloud and application security. Drive innovative AI-driven DevSecOps strategies while ensuring compliance and fostering collaboration acro...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$80K - $95K *

Unlock technical excellence by providing critical support for product implementations, ensuring seamless installations and troubleshooting for diverse technologies. Collaborate with teams to enhance c...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$150K - $180K *

Unlock potential by managing and expanding relationships with large enterprise clients. Drive strategic account growth and new business development in the SAP ecosystem, ensuring client satisfaction a...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in delivering high voltage engineering projects, overseeing complex substation and interconnection initiatives while ensuring successful execution and fostering collaboration among div...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$110K - $130K *

Innovate by developing scalable applications and data pipelines, leveraging Python and cloud platforms. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to modernize enterprise systems and enhance backend serv...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$177K - $279K *

Unlock potential by architecting customized applications using Conga Products. Lead end-to-end Quote-to-Cash implementations, enhancing operational efficiency and driving business transformation in co...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$200K - $335K *

Drive strategy and execution for Ads Delivery & Optimization, enhancing advertiser outcomes through advanced bidding, ranking, and measurement systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to innov...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$140K - $240K *

Transform cloud platforms by leading teams to deliver seamless agentic workload solutions. Foster collaboration, drive innovation, and mentor engineers while shaping a culture of technical excellence...

Georgia, USRemote

Reposted 3 days ago

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

$102K - $154K *

Lead the charge in managing complex customer escalations, driving rapid resolutions and systemic improvements. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance workflows and customer experiences while ensuri...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$85K - $143K *

Take ownership of software development for manufacturing applications, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality APIs and web solutions. Contribute to Ford's mobility and elect...

Downers Grove, ILRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$185K - $297K *

Shape the future of scalable systems by leading architectural vision and execution. Drive complex projects from concept to launch, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance engineering prac...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$170K - $200K *

Drive portfolio strategy and execution by transforming market needs into profitable offers. Collaborate across teams to ensure alignment and operational readiness, enhancing sales confidence and optim...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Elevate engineering success by partnering with leadership to drive strategic execution, fostering alignment across teams, and leveraging data-driven insights for impactful decision-making in a dynamic...

RemoteRemote

4 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.