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.

Remote
caret down
Compensation
caret down
Position Level
caret down
Time Posted
caret down
Industries
caret down
More
1
caret down

$143K - $286K *

Take ownership of large-scale AI and technology programs, leading cross-functional teams to drive execution and align strategies. Utilize strong analytical and communication skills to enhance delivery...

Sunnyvale, CARemote

1 week ago

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

$105K - $163K *

Transform database environments by leading architecture and administration efforts across multiple platforms, ensuring compliance and performance for mission-critical applications in a dynamic, remote...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $145K *

Join a team that's at the forefront of OpenBMC firmware development, driving platform bring-up, feature implementation, and integration to enhance system functionality and reliability. Contribute your...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$130K - $179K *

Lead complex engagements and establish strategic relationships while mentoring teams and driving solutions in high-stakes Public Sector environments. Shape account strategy and deliver measurable impa...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $150K *

Drive transformative Salesforce solutions in higher education as a trusted advisor. Lead architecture design, align technology with institutional goals, and ensure successful delivery of Education Clo...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Develop innovative healthcare solutions that enhance patient interaction and streamline processes. Collaborate across teams to build an exceptional, responsive platform that scales remote care deliver...

Fremont, CARemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$192K - $240K *

Empower innovation as you lead complex AI system design and delivery, influencing architecture and engineering practices. Collaborate across teams to ensure scalable, high-quality solutions with signi...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$223K - $380K *

Drive the evolution of a single-tenant SaaS platform, enhancing reliability, security, and operational efficiency while leading technical transformations, mentoring engineers, and influencing cross-te...

RemoteRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$93K - $140K *

Deliver impactful SampleManager LIMS solutions by configuring, implementing, and integrating in diverse laboratory settings. Leverage technical expertise to enhance workflows and drive successful proj...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$125K - $138K *

Elevate customer experience by leading technical engagement during pre-sales. Utilize deep knowledge to craft solutions, mentor peers, and ensure seamless transitions, while remaining adaptable in a f...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$169K - $338K *

Elevate the future of AI-driven search and personalization by leading technical strategy and architecture for global platforms, ensuring scalable, high-quality solutions that enhance customer experien...

Sunnyvale, CARemote

3 weeks ago

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

$100K - $120K *

Lead client-centric projects by overseeing delivery, communication, and strategic collaboration with teams to transform customer experiences cross-channel using innovative digital solutions...

New York, NYRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$95K - $115K *

Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing application performance through expert Dynatrace monitoring. Collaborate with IT professionals to analyze, troubleshoot, and optimize application performance...

St. Louis, MORemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

$160K - $200K *

Accelerate progress at our Oil & Gas portfolio by leading cloud transformation initiatives. Drive revenue growth, build strategic relationships, and manage complex engagements with Microsoft and clien...

Houston, TXRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$138K - $186K *

Unlock your potential as a principal technical leader for enterprise Unix and Linux platforms, driving architecture, automation, and lifecycle management to deliver resilient infrastructure for critic...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Unlock potential by owning the end-to-end product surface, driving discovery, design, and migration while collaborating closely with users to solve real market problems in a dynamic healthcare environ...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in engineering and securing infrastructure while ensuring compliance with federal cybersecurity standards. Collaborate cross-functionally to develop robust solutions that protect sensi...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$150K - $180K *

Champion partner growth by leading a high-performing team focused on pre-sales excellence, solution strategy, and AI adoption. Drive business development and co-innovation while ensuring technical dis...

New York, NYRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$102K - $136K *

Join a team that's transforming healthcare by developing essential tooling and AI capabilities for engineers. This role spans software development, architecture, and collaboration in an Agile environm...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in developing core systems that empower users to engage with diverse news perspectives. Collaborate closely with a small, agile team to design, build, and enhance backend services, ens...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$125K - $150K *

Empower your career by developing robust, cloud-native web applications. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to architect scalable solutions and engage in impactful engineering projects within the...

Columbia, MDRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$122K - $158K *

Empower product development by collaborating with designers and engineers to create intuitive banking solutions. Foster a culture of innovation and ownership within a dynamic, startup-like environment...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$150K - $350K *

Drive the development of cutting-edge AI infrastructure to enhance large-scale reinforcement learning and distributed training systems, optimizing performance and efficiency across various layers and...

San Francisco, CARemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Elevate your career by leading the strategy and delivery of a robust Salesforce ecosystem, driving business impact through innovative solutions and team development in a dynamic, global environment...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$177K - $290K *

Transform UX operations by unifying decision-making and enhancing workflows across disciplines. Drive continuous improvement through automation and strategic partnerships, ensuring a cohesive UX organ...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer 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.