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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$89K - $148K *

Lead the design and development of scalable full-stack applications, mentoring junior engineers while integrating AI features. Collaborate with stakeholders to align engineering solutions with busines...

Flower Mound, TXRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$135K - $160K *

Lead the development and deployment of cutting-edge AI infrastructure programs, coordinating cross-functional teams and managing complex schedules to ensure successful execution from planning to produ...

Bellevue, WARemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Staffing

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in developing seamless integration solutions using Boomi and Intapp. Collaborate with project teams to design, optimize, and deliver effective results, while ensuring data security and...

Charlotte, NCRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$155K - $205K *

Champion process excellence by optimizing workflows and driving cross-functional improvements. Collaborate with teams to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and elevate service quality throu...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$165K - $260K *

Lead the charge in securing global systems as a Cybersecurity Engineer, collaborating with cross-functional teams to design and implement secure architectures while ensuring compliance with critical s...

Carlsbad, CARemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$100K - $130K *

Champion global expansion initiatives by managing the FedRAMP program. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure project timelines and deliverables are met while navigating a fast-paced enviro...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Partner with us to drive innovative security solutions, engaging with customers and partners to address their unique challenges. Leverage your expertise in pre-sales and engineering to enhance operati...

Philadelphia, PARemote

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$80K - $95K *

Build innovative software solutions by leveraging your backend expertise in Ruby or Python. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance user experiences while maintaining high standards for cod...

Atlanta, GARemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$118K - $139K *

Develop innovative software solutions by leveraging your expertise in modern frameworks and agile practices. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance system performance and scalability while...

Pittsburgh, PARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$388K - $500K+*

Drive impactful solutions for one of the largest CDNs by managing and optimizing our Open Connect platform through scalable microservices and data models, while collaborating with multidisciplinary te...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$110K - $130K *

Elevate client experiences by optimizing multi-cloud hosting environments. As a key technical leader, ensure performance, security, and reliability while driving strategic improvements and collaborati...

Bedford, NHRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$95K - $115K *

Join a dynamic team as you design and manage battery systems, ensuring optimal performance and integration within vehicle electronics. Collaborate across divisions to enhance engineering processes and...

Raymond, OHRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$135K - $160K *

Join a team that's responsible for building and maintaining a scalable, secure, and performant Linux infrastructure through automation and modern tooling, ensuring high availability and adherence to b...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$100K - $120K *

Join a team that's redefining food processing technology by leading equipment evaluation, design, and deployment. Collaborate globally to innovate and implement cutting-edge solutions that enhance eff...

North Carolina, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$102K - $120K *

Lead high-impact proposal efforts globally, managing complex RFIs and RFPs. Drive collaboration, ensure quality, and optimize strategies for proposal submissions in a fast-paced, deadline-focused envi...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$114K - $155K *

Play a key role in enhancing cybersecurity by designing and implementing secure DevSecOps practices, developing software solutions, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Collaborate in a dy...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$143K - $200K *

Innovate solutions as a Senior Appian Developer, tackling complex BPM challenges. Collaborate with teams to design, implement, and optimize high-performance applications while mentoring junior develop...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$114K - $155K *

Create and maintain secure, high-performance solutions as a Senior DevSecOps Engineer, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance public access and compliance in digital court records system...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $216K *

Champion the development of high-performance REST APIs, leading architectural decisions and mentoring engineers. Collaborate across teams to enhance system performance and establish best practices in...

Cambridge, ONRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$130K - $150K *

Transform project execution by leading multimillion-dollar automated storage solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery, budget adherence, and customer satisfaction a...

Romeoville, ILRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$201K - $352K *

Join a team that's redefining enterprise AI by building scalable, LLM-enabled applications. Collaborate with customers to deliver impactful solutions, codify reusable assets, and shape the future of A...

Santa Clara, CARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Unlock potential by leading PMO operations for a complex federal IT program. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure timely execution, effective risk management, and compliance, while maintaining sche...

Chicago, ILRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Champion continuous process improvement and organizational redesign, providing expert analysis and guidance to enhance business processes. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement effectiv...

Texas, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Information Technology

$132K - $251K *

Transform logistics operations by leading SAP EWM configuration efforts, ensuring seamless integration and optimization of warehouse processes while collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive...

Colorado, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$83K - $133K *

Lead customer engagement and technical design for critical power projects, ensuring quality and compliance. Collaborate across teams to resolve issues and manage multiple projects, driving successful...

RemoteRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

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.