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.
Senior Product Manager, Web Apps
$160K - $183K *
Transform the clinician experience by leading product strategy for a web application that enhances interactions with our machine-learning brain health platform. Collaborate with cross-functional teams...
1 week ago
Senior Software Engineer – Intelligent Platforms & Agents
$107K - $195K *
Lead the charge in developing advanced platforms that automate operations and enhance AI-driven interactions. This hands-on role combines technical leadership with coding, mentoring, and ensuring comp...
Today
$110K - $130K *
Join a team that's driving the execution of complex data center construction projects. Lead planning, manage resources, and optimize client service while ensuring quality and financial performance acr...
Today
Program Manager, Product Data Operations, Family of Apps
$120K - $145K *
Lead the charge in managing cross-functional programs that enhance AI data quality and evaluation. Collaborate with diverse teams to translate product needs into actionable plans, ensuring efficient d...
Today
$95K - $115K *
Lead the charge in the design lifecycle for a key product area, collaborating across teams to innovate and deliver high-quality solutions. You will independently tackle complex design challenges while...
4 weeks ago
Staff Marketing Technology Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Lead the charge in evolving our marketing technology landscape and AI applications using a mature data platform. Drive automation across teams while ensuring code quality and data governance in this s...
Reposted 4 weeks ago
Staff Marketing Technology Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Elevate marketing efficiency by designing and implementing AI-driven applications on a robust data platform. Collaborate across teams to optimize workflows, ensuring data integrity and security while...
Reposted 4 weeks ago
$120K - $144K *
Lead the charge in designing and implementing advanced building automation systems for critical infrastructure projects, ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance while managing teams and...
1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Elevate your career by designing and implementing hybrid networks across AWS, OCI, and on-premises environments, ensuring secure connectivity and compliance while troubleshooting complex issues in a f...
4 days ago
Project Manager - Implementation
$90K - $110K *
Join a team that's redefining financial advisory through innovative AI solutions. As a Project Manager, you'll lead complex implementations, enhance client engagement, and collaborate on cutting-edge...
2 weeks ago
Mechanical Engineer Senior Principal
$120K - $145K *
Partner with us to drive innovative mechanical design solutions for Navy missile systems. Leverage your expertise in complex programs to lead design analysis and collaborate with diverse teams, ensuri...
2 days ago
Senior Practice Engagement Manager
$125K - $150K *
Unlock your potential as a key player in driving Sourcing and Procurement transformation. Collaborate with diverse teams to enhance client relationships, lead proposals, and deliver innovative solutio...
2 weeks ago
$120K - $150K *
Transform complex challenges into scalable AI solutions by collaborating with enterprise clients, guiding projects from concept to deployment, and delivering impactful results across the entire custom...
Reposted 4 weeks ago
$130K - $155K *
Champion the development of scalable software solutions, collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive innovation and technical excellence. Mentor engineers and influence architectural decisions...
2 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer - Platform Reliability Engineering(Remote)
$90K - $170K *
Tackle complex reliability challenges in our Cloud Platform by leading system improvements, fostering innovation, and ensuring optimal performance through automation and rigorous management of inciden...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Staff Software Engineer, Reliability Engineer- Order Up (Remote)
$120K - $190K *
Elevate your career by leading a dynamic engineering team to design and build innovative software solutions. Collaborate across functions to enhance product quality and mentor junior engineers while d...
3 days ago
Lead Mechanical Engineer 1 - Nuclear
$118K - $180K *
Join a team that's redefining nuclear power engineering by designing innovative systems and leading projects that enhance plant operations and safety. Collaborate with clients and drive impactful modi...
3 days ago
Lead Mechanical Engineer 1 - Nuclear
$118K - $180K *
Lead engineering projects in nuclear power systems design, focusing on modifications, analyses, and vendor evaluations. Collaborate with clients and teams to deliver innovative solutions that enhance...
3 days ago
$150K - $185K *
Unlock potential by driving innovative infrastructure solutions for scalable deployments, collaborating with customers to refine requirements, and enhancing operational efficiency through automation a...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Senior Manager, Cloud Storage Engineering
$160K - $180K *
Join a dynamic team driving innovative cloud storage solutions. Lead engineering efforts to design and maintain high-performance storage services globally, ensuring reliability and scalability for div...
Reposted 4 weeks ago
$150K - $180K *
Drive the technical design and delivery of innovative AI agent solutions, leading a team to ensure operational readiness and quality. Collaborate with stakeholders to define requirements and guide eng...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Systems Integrations Architect
$119K - $140K *
Lead the charge in optimizing our enterprise application ecosystem by designing and integrating key systems like Salesforce, NetSuite, and Boomi. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance dat...
Reposted 4 weeks ago
Staff Software Engineer, Backend (Identity Decisioning)
$181K - $241K *
Strategize and drive technical initiatives to enhance our identity verification systems, ensuring high availability and compliance in international markets. Collaborate cross-functionally to influence...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Staff Software Engineer, Backend (Identity Decisioning)
$204K - $264K *
Shape the identity verification landscape for international markets, leading a team in technical strategy, system design, and operational excellence while ensuring compliance and enhancing customer ex...
3 weeks ago
Senior QA Automation Engineer (HELOC)
$110K - $130K *
Join a team that’s dedicated to innovation and quality in software by leading automation testing efforts. As a pivotal Senior QA Engineer, you’ll enhance user experience through rigorous testing and c...
1 month 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.