Principal Systems Engineer Jobs

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.

What Does a Principal Systems Engineer Do?

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.

Common Responsibilities

  • Set system architecture, technical direction, and engineering standards.
  • Convert stakeholder needs into verifiable requirements and design specifications.
  • Coordinate interfaces and integration across hardware, software, networks, and operations.
  • Evaluate system performance, reliability, security, scalability, and safety.
  • Lead technical reviews, resolve complex engineering issues, and manage risk.
  • Mentor engineers and collaborate with product, program, and leadership teams.

Skills and Qualifications

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.

Salary and Career Outlook

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.

Find Principal Systems Engineer Jobs on Ladders

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.

Remote
caret down
Compensation
caret down
Position Level
caret down
Time Posted
caret down
Industries
caret down
More
1
caret down

$80K - $120K *

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and develop user-centric web applications, integrating AI-driven insights for high-stakes decision-making workflows while ensuring performance and sec...

Virginia, USRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $160K *

Join our dynamic team to design and develop cutting-edge AI platforms, enhancing decision-making workflows through innovative web applications and robust backend services. Collaborate across the full...

Virginia, USRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Join a dynamic team to design and develop a next-gen AI platform, focusing on intelligent agent frameworks and modern web applications. Collaborate across the full stack to enhance decision-making wor...

Virginia, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$151K - $251K *

Drive the planning and execution of Flight Software development programs, ensuring seamless coordination between engineering and program management for timely delivery of spacecraft software systems...

Palo Alto, CARemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$150K - $180K *

Join a dynamic team to architect scalable AI solutions in healthcare, enhancing patient communication and safety. Lead cross-team projects, mentor engineers, and drive innovation in AI engineering pra...

Orlando, FLRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$105K - $175K *

Lead the charge in Model-Based Systems Engineering, collaborating with experts across diverse domains to develop cutting-edge solutions. Utilize your skills in SysML and modeling tools to drive innova...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$128K - $187K *

Transform your career by leveraging cutting-edge MBSE expertise across diverse domains. Engage with top technologies, collaborate with skilled engineers, and drive innovation in dynamic environments w...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$132K - $238K *

Optimize mechanical assembly processes by leading design, development, and continuous improvement initiatives. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure product manufacturability, quality, and efficien...

Austin, TXRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$135K - $160K *

Join a team that's transforming cloud infrastructure for institutional investors. You'll deploy and manage AI solutions across various cloud environments, ensuring security and compliance while collab...

Berkeley, CARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$180K - $235K *

Lead advanced R&D initiatives for Solid Rocket Motor technologies, driving feasibility studies, design, and testing. Provide technical leadership across programs and serve as the primary interface for...

Huntsville, ALRemote

Yesterday

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$150K - $180K *

Pioneer innovative solutions as a Senior Manager in Deployed Engineering, leading hands-on deployments and building a high-performing team. Collaborate closely with customers and internal teams to dri...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $145K *

Shape the future of operational excellence by leading engineering initiatives, driving program execution, and fostering cross-functional collaboration to enhance performance and deliver key operationa...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$170K - $175K *

Champion innovative structural design for mission-critical data centers, focusing on prefabricated and modular construction. Lead technical strategy, establish design standards, and ensure safety and...

Denver, CORemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Innovate the future of power systems by designing automated tools for transmission planning. Collaborate with engineers to enhance workflows, ensuring reliable results that utilities and developers tr...

Austin, TXRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$141K - $224K *

Join a team that's leading field engineering efforts for satellite communications systems. You'll oversee installation, integration, and operational readiness while managing dispersed teams to ensure...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$110K - $120K *

Lead the charge in quality engineering for critical assessment platforms, driving testing excellence and automation maturity. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure reliability and scalabil...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$128K - $205K *

Elevate your career by owning the TA tech stack, driving integrations, and enhancing system efficiency. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize processes and lead vendor relationships, all...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$162K - $211K *

Join a dynamic engineering team to build and maintain production platforms, driving architectural decisions and mentoring junior engineers while ensuring system reliability and integration with IT Sec...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$156K - $257K *

Join a team that inspires innovation and empowers technical talent in transforming data strategies. Lead high-performing Systems Engineers to create impactful storage solutions for enterprise clients...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Transform your career with a pivotal role in physical design, leading complex SoC implementations, optimizing performance, and driving cross-functional collaboration to ensure successful tapeout readi...

San Jose, CARemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $200K *

Transform your career by leading innovative software solutions, guiding AI-driven development, and ensuring high-quality deliverables. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to shape the technical la...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$135K - $216K *

Elevate data integration and engineering efforts to enhance the CMS Fraud Prevention System. Collaborate with teams to design and operate data pipelines, ensuring compliance and security while optimiz...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$135K - $160K *

Empower a talented engineering team to develop innovative airgap-native software solutions. Drive product success in National Defense by ensuring seamless integration with UDS, fostering collaboration...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$131K - $243K *

Join a team that's driving sustainment transformation and adoption across programs. As a Project Engineer Staff, you'll lead initiatives, coordinate projects, and enhance processes to ensure successfu...

Florida, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$141K - $224K *

Lead the design and modernization of mission-critical SATCOM systems, ensuring seamless integration and lifecycle support. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance system performance and ope...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Principal Systems Engineer do?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    Experienced professionals may advance into distinguished engineering or chief architect positions, lead larger technical organizations, or move into engineering management and technical executive roles.