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

$154K - $260K *

Join a forward-thinking team to enhance user experiences through innovative AI solutions and full-stack development, impacting industries worldwide by improving workflows within the Samsara dashboard...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $160K *

Elevate your career as a Staff Software Engineer, leading full-stack development in a dynamic team. Design, build, and support healthcare applications while ensuring data security and compliance in a...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$120K - $145K *

Pioneer innovative software solutions for defense programs by leveraging your expertise in C#, .NET, and SQL Server. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure secure, compliant, and high-quali...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$120K - $200K *

Transform backend services and REST APIs in a collaborative environment. Leverage your software engineering skills to support cyber training initiatives, utilizing modern technologies and cloud infras...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$170K - $221K *

Partner with us to deliver integrated IT solutions that align with customer goals. Leverage your technical expertise to navigate complex requirements and enhance customer satisfaction through innovati...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$74K - $130K *

Unlock potential by joining a dynamic Agile team to develop critical enterprise software applications, leveraging modern technologies in a fast-paced environment for mission success...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$235K - $265K *

Transform data engineering by leading the design and build of a state-of-the-art platform powering analytics and ML. Collaborate across teams to create efficient, scalable systems that support million...

El Segundo, CARemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$500K+*

Pioneer the evolution of Netflix's Compute Platform, driving innovation in distributed systems and AI integration. Lead product strategy, enhance efficiency, and collaborate across teams to ensure rob...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$125K - $140K *

Optimize web application development by leading design and implementation using .NET Core, ASP.NET, and Angular. Collaborate with teams, mentor junior developers, and ensure code quality while leverag...

CanadaRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$136K - $160K *

Champion innovative software solutions by designing and building scalable integrations for automotive partnerships, collaborating across teams to enhance customer experiences and drive technical excel...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$202K - $253K *

Shape the future of cardiometabolic care by driving backend architecture and cross-functional collaboration. Lead technical direction, mentor engineers, and deliver scalable solutions that enhance mem...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$120K - $140K *

Lead a dynamic software engineering team, ensuring quality delivery and operational excellence while fostering collaboration across business units and driving innovation in energy efficiency solutions...

Ithaca, NYRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$180K - $220K *

Empower a dynamic team of software engineers to innovate and deliver impactful tech solutions, collaborating with cross-functional partners to enhance pediatric healthcare for children with special ne...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Hospitals & Medical Centers

$172K - $225K *

Lead the charge in developing innovative fullstack solutions, guiding technical direction, and enhancing team capabilities. Collaborate across functions to deliver robust, scalable products while ment...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Contribute to the development of a robust Kubernetes control plane, enhancing multi-cloud infrastructure and driving scalable architecture for enterprise-grade cloud services...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$250K - $280K *

Join a team that's redefining data storage solutions. As a senior engineer, you'll design and implement high-impact systems, ensuring performance and reliability while collaborating across teams to dr...

CanadaRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $150K *

Take ownership of an AI-driven product, shaping strategy, roadmap, and execution for enterprise content insights. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance adoption and value in regulated sec...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$190K - $280K *

Engage with us to lead complex software initiatives, driving technical excellence and mentoring teams. You'll shape architecture, tackle challenges, and deliver high-performance solutions that support...

Florida, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Empower teams by managing project implementations, ensuring quality service handoff, and optimizing system performance through technical oversight and coordinated customer engagement...

London, ONRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $150K *

Champion security excellence by driving secure SDLC practices, managing compliance, and leading incident response. Collaborate with DevOps and ensure robust risk management practices to protect vital...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of cloud technology by architecting scalable infrastructures, automating CI/CD processes, and enhancing operational excellence through collaboration and innovation...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $145K *

Empower global business practices by leading diverse project teams in innovative industries. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure project success through effective management and integration of cut...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$110K - $130K *

Elevate team performance by leading a Scrum team in developing and modernizing enterprise SaaS applications. Guide technical decisions, mentor engineers, and foster collaboration across departments to...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$56K - $114K *

Drive the development and support of applications and systems, ensuring quality and performance through coding, testing, and troubleshooting. Collaborate with teams to enhance software solutions and m...

Lansing, MIRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$121K - $218K *

Join a team that's shaping security strategies for a leading Cloud platform. Contribute your engineering expertise to develop innovative, scalable, and secure solutions across various domains, while c...

Cambridge, MARemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information 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.