Explore Principal Systems Engineer jobs on Ladders, where you can find vetted professional opportunities paying $100,000 or more. Principal systems engineers shape the architecture and evolution of complex systems, connecting technical strategy with practical engineering execution across an organization.
Principal systems engineers guide the design, integration, and performance of systems across their full lifecycle. They translate business and customer needs into system requirements, define architectures, assess technical risks, and coordinate work across engineering disciplines. Depending on the employer, roles may focus on software, hardware, cloud platforms, aerospace, defense, telecommunications, or other complex environments.
Employers often seek extensive systems engineering experience, strong architectural judgment, and a record of delivering complex programs. Useful skills include requirements management, systems modeling, integration and verification, technical leadership, risk analysis, and clear communication. Industry-specific credentials, tools, or security clearances may be required for certain positions.
Principal-level roles typically carry significant technical responsibility and may offer compensation above $100,000, though pay varies with industry, location, experience, and scope. Compare current openings to understand the qualifications and compensation offered by individual employers. Principal systems engineers can progress into distinguished engineering, chief architect, engineering management, or technical executive roles.
Browse vetted professional openings and identify opportunities that match your expertise and career goals. Use Ladders to explore Principal Systems Engineer positions paying $100,000 or more and take the next step in your senior engineering career.
Sr Advanced Program Performance Management Analyst & Scheduler
$130K - $140K *
Unlock your potential as a leader in program performance management, guiding teams in cost and schedule development for high-value engineering programs. Collaborate across functions to drive success i...
1 week ago
$114K - $252K *
Drive the development of advanced data pipelines in a cloud environment to centralize and govern critical data for national security operations. Lead a team in migrating legacy systems to modern solut...
4 weeks ago
$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
$125K - $187K *
Transform energy efficiency initiatives by leading a skilled engineering team. Drive project execution, mentor talent, and enhance program delivery across multiple states, ensuring impactful cost savi...
Today
Systems Engineering Test Lead - Clearance Required
$101K - $174K *
Lead innovative test strategies and execution for complex defense systems, ensuring mission-capability and compliance through robust integration and verification processes across agile team environmen...
1 month ago
$104K - $166K *
Join a team that's dedicated to modernizing and optimizing AI workflows in multi-cloud environments. Drive incident management, platform engineering, and mentoring within a complex Kubernetes landscap...
4 weeks ago
$100K - $120K *
Engage in designing and implementing robust cybersecurity solutions while managing security technologies and cloud services. Collaborate across teams to ensure operational performance and support clie...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Senior Mechanical Designer 1 - Nuclear Power
$77K - $118K *
Advance the design of innovative mechanical systems by leading project teams in 3D modeling, troubleshooting, and creating detailed engineering drawings. Collaborate with multi-disciplinary experts to...
3 weeks ago
Senior Mechanical Designer 1 - Nuclear Power
$77K - $118K *
Unlock your potential as a mechanical design leader driving innovative solutions in a dynamic engineering environment, collaborating with multi-disciplined teams on complex mechanical designs and 3D m...
3 weeks ago
Chief Product Engineer - Audio Technology
$205K - $282K *
Join us in shaping the future of audio technology as a Chief Product Engineer, overseeing product engineering strategies, licensing, and R&D integration for consumer audio innovations. Drive technical...
1 month ago
Senior Business Systems Analyst
$75K - $158K *
Drive enterprise-level technical solutions by analyzing system needs, coordinating design activities, and ensuring compliance with governance processes. Leverage your expertise to enhance performance...
Reposted 1 week ago
Senior SDK Engineer - Platform Enablement
$173K - $207K *
Elevate your career by designing and building essential SDKs that empower engineering teams to create reliable, observable distributed systems. Collaborate across teams to enhance developer experience...
2 weeks ago
Level 3 Managed Services Engineer -- Microsoft
$95K - $115K *
Join a team that's dedicated to optimizing Microsoft-based systems, providing advanced technical support, and enhancing IT infrastructure. Collaborate with experts to resolve complex issues and drive...
3 weeks ago
Principal High-Speed Analog Circuit Design Engineer
$130K - $155K *
Engineer cutting-edge high-speed analog circuits, driving innovation in broadband amplifiers and clock generation. Collaborate on next-gen optical transceivers, ensuring excellence from design to sili...
4 days ago
Principal High-Speed Analog Circuit Design Engineer
$200K - $300K *
Engineer cutting-edge high-speed analog circuits, driving innovation in broadband amplifiers and clock generation. Collaborate on next-gen optical transceivers, ensuring excellence from design to sili...
4 days ago
Principal Cloud Infrastructure Engineer (GCP)
$144K - $288K *
Lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of cloud infrastructure, ensuring security and scalability while collaborating with cross-functional teams to support healthcare applications and syste...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Senior Customer Onboarding Engineer
$126K - $140K *
Shape the future of customer success by owning technical onboarding, guiding clients through implementation, optimizing deployments, and ensuring adherence to best practices for optimal use of the pla...
3 weeks ago
Software Engineering Technical Leader (remote) - 2025538
$151K - $222K *
Elevate your career by leading software security governance initiatives. Drive transformation of security requirements into actionable workflows while collaborating with cross-functional teams to enha...
1 week ago
$100K - $110K *
Solve complex production challenges and ensure system stability as a key technical support resource. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance customer satisfaction through effective incident manageme...
3 weeks ago
Service Design and Delivery Lead
$157K - $298K *
Unlock potential by orchestrating cross-functional teams to design scalable enterprise services that enhance customer experiences and drive business value through innovative service design and systems...
1 week ago
Senior Director, Global SME Solutions Architecture
$244K - $409K *
Drive the development of a global SME organization, leading regional teams to enhance technical selling and product direction. Transform ambiguity into structure while mentoring leaders and collaborat...
2 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Engage partners by driving technical enablement and solution design. Collaborate across teams to empower resellers and integrators, ensuring successful adoption and growth of innovative solutions thro...
2 weeks ago
$200K - $245K *
Champion innovative software solutions by leading the design and implementation of scalable systems and APIs. Collaborate across teams to enhance user experiences while mentoring engineers and driving...
4 weeks ago
Staff Software Engineer, Infrastructure
$100K - $300K *
Transform the infrastructure for AI applications, enabling seamless app development, hosting, and integration. Drive innovation in a dynamic environment, impacting thousands of users with scalable, re...
2 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Contribute to the integration architecture by defining standards and strategies for hybrid solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure scalable, secure, and compliant integration flow...
3 days ago
What does a Principal Systems Engineer do?
A Principal Systems Engineer defines and guides the architecture, requirements, integration, and performance of complex systems. The role often includes technical leadership, risk management, cross-functional coordination, and mentoring.
What qualifications are commonly required for Principal Systems Engineer jobs?
Employers commonly look for substantial systems engineering experience, expertise in system architecture and integration, strong analytical and communication skills, and a record of leading complex technical work. Specific degrees, tools, certifications, or clearances depend on the industry and employer.
How much do Principal Systems Engineers earn?
Compensation varies by employer, location, industry, and experience. Ladders focuses on vetted professional roles paying $100,000 or more; review each listing for its specific compensation details.
What industries hire Principal Systems Engineers?
Principal Systems Engineers work in industries such as aerospace and defense, software, cloud computing, telecommunications, automotive, energy, and other fields that develop or operate complex systems.
What career paths can follow a Principal Systems Engineer role?
Experienced professionals may advance into distinguished engineering or chief architect positions, lead larger technical organizations, or move into engineering management and technical executive roles.