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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$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...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$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...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$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...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$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...

CanadaRemote

Reposted 4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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...

Texas, USRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$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...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$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...

Austin, TXRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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...

Palo Alto, CARemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$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...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$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...

Colorado Springs, CORemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$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...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$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...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

$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...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$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...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$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...

New York, NYRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$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...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$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...

Titusville, FLRemote

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Transportation

$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...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$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...

Oak Brook, ILRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$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...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

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

$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...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$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...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

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.