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.
$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...
1 week ago
Lead Instrumentation & Controls Engineer 2 - Nuclear
$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...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Lead Instrumentation & Controls Engineer 2 - Nuclear
$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...
3 weeks ago
Project Manager, Hydrogen Systems (Pre-Construction & Permitting Focus)
$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...
1 week ago
Software Engineer, Real-Time Generalist
$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...
1 week ago
Software Engineer, Core Software Engineering (International Remote Hire)
$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...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Research Engineer - Pretraining
$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...
1 week ago
Member of Technical Staff, Research
$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...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Mainframe Systems Programmer - Storage
$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...
1 week ago
$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...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$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...
3 days ago
Staff Forward Deployed Engineer
$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...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$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...
4 weeks ago
Staff Software Engineer, Product
$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...
2 weeks ago
$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...
3 weeks ago
$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...
3 weeks ago
$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...
3 weeks ago
$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...
3 weeks ago
Principal Cloud Engineer - AI Platform
$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...
1 week ago
$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...
Today
Software Engineer – AI Applications & ServiceNow
$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...
Yesterday
$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...
Today
$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...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Senior Engineer (Azure, Terraform, Kubernetes)
$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...
Yesterday
Lead Platform Engineer, AI and DevSecOps
$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...
1 week 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.