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.
$105K - $155K *
Shape project success by leading engineering efforts, managing budgets, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Collaborate with teams to deliver high-quality results on time and within scope...
2 weeks ago
Strategic Program Manager, PMO
$114K - $143K *
Drive operational excellence by leading complex PMO initiatives, enhancing governance, and implementing AI-driven methodologies. Collaborate cross-functionally to transform processes and elevate organ...
2 weeks ago
$135K - $176K *
Empower loan officers by ensuring a seamless user experience across multiple platforms. As a key player in product management, gather insights, drive development, and strategize for future growth in a...
4 weeks ago
$181K - $226K *
Join our dynamic team as a Software Engineer, where you'll enhance internal tools, collaborate with stakeholders, and drive improvements in cloud infrastructure and observability, all while working in...
1 week ago
Senior Engineering Manager, Grafana Frontend | Canada | Remote
$211K - $253K *
Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing user experience through innovative frontend solutions. As a leader, drive performance, development, and cross-team collaboration to deliver impactful customer...
Reposted 4 days ago
$134K - $223K *
Join a team that's dedicated to maximizing enterprise value through strategic consulting and technical expertise. Leverage your Sprinklr knowledge to drive customer success and innovation while foster...
Yesterday
Staff Engineer, Identity & Access Management (IAM)
$180K - $212K *
Pioneer innovative IAM strategies to enhance security across cloud and on-premise infrastructures. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement robust identity governance and access management...
2 weeks ago
$150K - $180K *
Drive the future of technical sales leadership by managing a team of Solutions Engineers, enhancing enterprise adoption of cutting-edge technologies, and ensuring technical wins through strategic part...
6 days ago
Software Engineer, AI Enablement
$163K - $226K *
Lead the AI enablement initiative, crafting tools and workflows to empower engineers across the organization, enhancing productivity and safety through innovative AI technologies and practices...
Reposted 3 days ago
Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Agentic Systems
$160K - $200K *
Accelerate progress at the forefront of AI by developing robust machine learning solutions, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance performance and usability of advanced systems, and driv...
2 weeks ago
Senior Product Manager, AI Infrastructure
$170K - $200K *
Unlock potential by spearheading scalable product solutions that transform workflow primitives into reusable components, driving efficiencies across teams and optimizing the collaboration between engi...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Technical Product Manager, Privileged Access Management (PAM)
$125K - $150K *
Drive the evolution of a next-gen Privileged Access Management platform, collaborating across teams to create user-centric and secure solutions while ensuring technical excellence and scalability in a...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$106K - $130K *
Shape product outcomes by leveraging your expertise in SaaS and fintech. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive product development, enhance customer value, and utilize AI tools for strategi...
Yesterday
Sr. Project Manager, Enterprise Transformation
$120K - $158K *
Unlock potential by leading complex, cross-functional technology projects. Manage project planning, execution, and stakeholder collaboration to drive successful outcomes in a fast-paced environment fo...
1 week ago
Implementation Project Manager
$90K - $110K *
Drive seamless client implementations by managing complex, multi-service projects. Collaborate with internal teams and stakeholders to ensure successful delivery and exceptional client experiences thr...
2 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer, Stablecoins
$186K - $218K *
Join our team to advance the development of innovative stablecoin solutions, blending backend engineering with smart contract expertise. Be integral in shaping scalable services and driving architectu...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer, Certificate Management
$186K - $218K *
Transform critical cryptographic infrastructure by leading high-availability services and defining technical strategies. Collaborate across teams to implement secure protocols in a zero-trust environm...
1 week ago
$122K - $153K *
Champion technical solutions by advising C-Suite leaders, driving sales support, and customizing product demos. Utilize financial software expertise to enhance client relationships and streamline sale...
3 weeks ago
$102K - $128K *
Innovate the mobile experience for a global courier network by architecting premier solutions in Kotlin. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define product features and ensure high-quality soft...
1 week ago
$130K - $155K *
Join a dynamic team as the primary technical interface for launch vehicle integration. Oversee spacecraft processing and ensure mission success through effective collaboration with providers and inter...
2 days ago
Senior AI Engineer with Microsoft Azure
$135K - $160K *
Join us to transform AI prototypes into resilient production systems using Microsoft Azure. Collaborate directly with teams to build and refine agentic systems, ensuring quality and security while dri...
3 weeks ago
Lead Platform Software Engineer (Remote)
$125K - $150K *
Shape the future of software development by leading innovative projects and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Utilize your expertise in both front-end and back-end technologies to deliver hig...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Lead Engineer, Merchandise Technology
$125K - $160K *
Shape the future of global merchandising technology by leading engineering efforts, driving modernization, and ensuring high-quality delivery across diverse platforms. Collaborate with teams to implem...
1 week ago
$185K - $260K *
Join us in shaping the future of our AI infrastructure! Leverage your expertise to build and scale our cloud systems, ensuring reliability and security as we meet the demands of enterprise clients and...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Innovate healthcare delivery by developing AI solutions that enhance operations and resident experiences. Collaborate with teams to automate processes and improve clinical decision-making in senior ca...
2 weeks 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.