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.

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$104K - $153K *

Champion innovative AI-driven self-service solutions, enhancing employee experiences through ServiceNow. Collaborate with teams to streamline processes, ensuring high-quality engineering from design t...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$134K - $205K *

Drive modernization of nuclear power plants by leading and supporting control projects, coordinating across disciplines, and ensuring technical execution to enhance operational efficiency and client s...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$134K - $205K *

Champion the modernization of nuclear control systems by leading diverse projects and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to ensure successful outcomes and client satisfaction in the energy sec...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$86K - $135K *

Lead the charge in optimizing pre-construction workflows for hydrogen systems. Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to ensure timely project execution and regulatory compliance, driving efficiency an...

Johnstown, NYRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$120K - $145K *

Champion innovative solutions by architecting a cutting-edge Command & Control system for large drone swarms, influencing design and implementation while collaborating with a dynamic team to tackle co...

San Francisco, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$120K - $145K *

Drive innovation by developing and supporting our trading system software, focusing on low latency and high throughput solutions during US evening hours in a dynamic remote environment...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$150K - $350K *

Elevate your career by driving the development of advanced AI models, overseeing pretraining processes, and optimizing training systems to ensure successful outcomes in a collaborative, innovative env...

San Francisco, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $150K *

Transform scientific research with innovative AI methods. Collaborate across teams to design, test, and implement state-of-the-art models that advance academic discovery and impact the future of scien...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$85K - $148K *

Manage storage infrastructure for DASD and tape systems, ensuring optimal performance and reliability. Oversee customer migrations, backups, and disaster recovery, while providing expert support and m...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$155K - $165K *

Transform the future of IoT connectivity by leading chipset and module enablement, guiding developers through the NB-IoT NTN journey, and optimizing solutions for real-world applications seamlessly...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's dedicated to delivering exceptional IT infrastructure projects. As a Senior Project Manager, you'll oversee project execution, ensuring client satisfaction and adherence to best pra...

New Mexico, USRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$254K - $297K *

Elevate customer experiences by diagnosing and resolving complex technical challenges. Contribute directly to product engineering initiatives while collaborating with strategic customers and internal...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$80K - $95K *

Empower growth in a vital industrial sector by leading customer engagement and collaboration in Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota, focusing on advanced rotating equipment solutions for enhancing plan...

RemoteRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$100K - $300K *

Seeking a senior product software engineer to drive user-facing features in AI software development, enhancing tools like AI Agent, App Builder, and SDK for seamless app creation and deployment...

San Francisco, CARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$112K - $196K *

Pioneer advanced electrical systems design and validation for mission-critical hardware, leading cross-functional efforts in RF integration, mechanical design, and production readiness while addressin...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$112K - $196K *

Transform the future as you design and validate cutting-edge electrical systems. Own the full hardware lifecycle and lead technical direction, ensuring top-level performance across mission-critical pr...

Scottsdale, AZRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$112K - $196K *

Join a founding team to architect and develop advanced multi-radio systems, integrating various wireless technologies into high-performance hardware for critical communication applications. Drive inno...

New York, NYRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$112K - $196K *

Champion your career by designing and validating complex electrical systems, ensuring high performance across hardware lifecycles while leading technical initiatives within a collaborative engineering...

Boston, MARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$175K - $250K *

Shape the cloud infrastructure for AI agents, ensuring secure, scalable solutions that enhance customer workflows. Lead architectural decisions, establish standards, and drive innovation in a dynamic...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Analyze technical sales opportunities from discovery to close, leveraging AI tools and client data to drive business cases. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless implementation an...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$100K - $130K *

Drive the design and deployment of secure AI applications in cloud environments, integrating advanced technologies like machine learning and ServiceNow solutions to enhance operational efficiency and...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$142K - $237K *

Shape the global quality strategy for Power Sensing and Regulation, ensuring high standards across product lifecycles. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement and enhan...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Business Services

$100K - $125K *

Unlock your potential as you design and enhance cutting-edge cloud solutions for diverse web and mobile platforms. Collaborate across teams to translate product vision into robust software while drivi...

Illinois, USRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$150K - $175K *

Lead the charge in architecting and managing robust cloud platforms, driving modernization efforts, and automating infrastructure solutions for large-scale enterprises. Collaborate with top engineers...

RemoteRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$155K - $175K *

Empower engineering teams by leading the evolution of cloud, security, and AI operations. Drive platform reliability and DevSecOps practices while mentoring others to foster a collaborative, innovativ...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Business Services

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.