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.
$150K - $200K *
Develop and maintain robust data pipelines and models, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance data practices and ensure quality. Drive modernization efforts in data engineering, optimizi...
Today
$125K - $150K *
Lead the charge in managing and optimizing cloud infrastructure across multiple platforms. Collaborate with teams to enhance product reliability and streamline operations while ensuring security and c...
2 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer, Back-End Focus
$110K - $130K *
Transform our insurance platform through scalable Ruby and Typescript applications. Lead engineering efforts, mentor junior engineers, and deliver impactful features in a dynamic, growing environment...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Sr. Partner Success Manager, Technology Partners
$160K - $215K *
Join a dynamic team to manage technology partner relationships, ensuring integration health and driving revenue growth. Collaborate with engineering and commercial teams to resolve issues and optimize...
6 days ago
Horizon: Full-Stack Engineer (Senior)
$120K - $145K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of maritime data management and AI. You'll develop cutting-edge applications and enhance warfighter capabilities through innovative data solutions...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$135K - $160K *
Join a dynamic team to design and implement AI workflows that integrate models, enterprise data, and business logic, delivering reliable production solutions and collaborating with various stakeholder...
3 weeks ago
$135K - $159K *
Optimize client partnerships by driving strategic outreach and proposals. Leverage AI tools to enhance sales cycles, mentor peers, and contribute to revenue growth through long-term relationships and...
6 days ago
Principal Product Designer, Onboarding
$190K - $304K *
Drive transformative onboarding experiences for restaurants by defining cohesive setup flows and feature adoption strategies. Collaborate across teams to enhance user journeys, leveraging systems thin...
2 days ago
Staff Software Engineer, Developer Infrastructure
$218K - $256K *
Empower our engineering teams by owning core developer infrastructure tools and systems. Drive strategic initiatives, enhance CI/build processes, and ensure reliability while mentoring engineers and s...
2 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Champion seamless technical integrations by leading end-to-end delivery, troubleshooting, and documentation. Collaborate with customer IT teams to ensure compliance and optimize data flows in a dynami...
2 weeks ago
Software Engineer, Backend (Go)
$110K - $130K *
Innovate by building robust Go microservices for a multi-tenant AI platform. Collaborate with global teams to design API-first services, ensuring reliability and performance in production environments...
3 weeks ago
Security Engineer - Application Security (Senior)
$100K - $300K *
Join a team that's embedding security into every software development phase, enhancing product safety and reliability while directly influencing our technology offerings. You'll collaborate with engin...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Program Engineer, IT Services & Cloud Operations
$120K - $150K *
Drive complex federal platform initiatives, enhancing security, compliance, and infrastructure through innovative engineering solutions and cross-functional leadership...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Principal Systems Engineer - AV Sensor Design
$238K - $365K *
Join a team that's redefining lidar technology for autonomy products. Lead the technical strategy, collaborate with experts, and drive innovations from concept to production, ensuring performance and...
1 week ago
Senior Business Systems Architect
$167K - $183K *
Lead the charge in optimizing G&A technology solutions, enhancing business processes through AI and automation. Collaborate with stakeholders to drive efficiency and compliance, ensuring scalable grow...
2 weeks ago
$150K - $180K *
Join a team that's driving innovation in SOCOM's UxS and autonomy control systems. Lead growth initiatives, manage capture strategies, and build relationships across the special operations community t...
2 days ago
Senior Software Engineer, Tech Lead
$175K - $215K *
Lead the charge in software engineering excellence by guiding teams, ensuring high code quality, and delivering complex features. Collaborate cross-functionally to solve challenges and mentor junior e...
3 weeks ago
Senior Project Manager, M&A & Large Projects
$150K - $250K *
Lead the charge in managing complex M&A projects and cross-functional initiatives, driving execution from planning to completion while fostering collaboration and alignment among diverse stakeholders...
2 weeks ago
$130K - $155K *
Lead the development of innovative Generative AI solutions, overseeing end-to-end processes from design to deployment. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance enterprise systems and ensure...
3 days ago
Software Quality Assurance Engineer
$90K - $110K *
Lead the charge in ensuring the quality and reliability of our SaaS cardiac device management platform. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to execute comprehensive testing and advocate for seamle...
6 days ago
Senior Workforce Solutions Engineer
$104K - $153K *
Unlock your potential by leading the technical delivery of workforce applications. Collaborate with teams to enhance productivity through automation, AI, and integrations, ensuring secure and efficien...
2 days ago
Technology Services Technical Lead
$200K - $205K *
Drive the expansion of our Data Services & Analytics practice by leading technical delivery, managing client relationships, and overseeing project execution. Empower teams to deliver innovative data i...
1 week ago
Software Engineer Senior Consultant I
$85K - $145K *
Develop innovative full stack applications to enhance legal operations and compliance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver secure, scalable solutions using modern technologies and cloud...
1 week ago
Senior Software Engineer, Scanning Engine
$134K - $199K *
Elevate your career as you design and operate large-scale cloud services for a cutting-edge scanning engine. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance performance and mentor engineers in a dy...
2 weeks ago
$83K - $155K *
Explore a dynamic role combining application engineering with hands-on field support. Collaborate with customers and teams to troubleshoot and optimize solutions, ensuring successful installations and...
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.