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Founding Principal Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Opportunity Education's investment in facilities and programming will provide an innovative opportunity for families within the district. About the Role The Founding Principal role is a unique ...

Principal Software Engineer

Huntsville, AL · On-site

$125K - $168K/yr

Qualis, LLC is looking for a full-time Principal Software Engineer to work in the Space Domain (SDA) and Missile Warning (MW) mission areas. This position will be filled in Huntsville, AL. Our team ...

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Principal Software Engineer

Huntsville, AL · On-site

$133K - $178K/yr

The selected Principal Software Engineer responsibilities will include the support of the GMD Weapons System (GWS) program as an individual contributor on the GMD Fire Control (GFC) product.

Principal Software Engineer

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$140K - $187K/yr

The Principal Software Engineer is a senior individual contributor responsible for defining the technical direction of the software platform and solving the organization's most complex engineering ...

Principal Software Engineer

Huntsville, AL

$133K - $178K/yr

The selected Principal Software Engineer responsibilities will include the support of the GMD Weapons System (GWS) program as an individual contributor on the GMD Fire Control (GFC) product.

Principal Software Engineer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$136K - $183K/yr

Principal Software Engineer -- emPower Do you love working with connected devices, automation, and real-world systems? Have you automated your own home, built integrations across smart devices, or ...

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Founding Principal Software Engineer information

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How much do founding principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for founding principal software engineer in the United States is $160,936.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $135,000.00 and $181,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a founding principal software engineer?

A Founding Principal Software Engineer is a highly experienced software engineer who plays a key role in establishing the technical direction of a startup or new company. As both a founding team member and a technical leader, this person is responsible for designing core systems, setting engineering standards, and mentoring other engineers. They often collaborate closely with company founders to align technology decisions with business goals. Their influence shapes the product architecture and the company's long-term technical vision.

How does a founding principal software engineer typically influence the technical direction and culture of an early-stage startup?

As a Founding Principal Software Engineer, you'll play a critical role in shaping both the technology stack and engineering culture from the ground up. You’ll often be responsible for making key architectural decisions, setting coding standards, and establishing best practices that will guide the team as it grows. Collaboration is essential, as you'll work closely with founders, product managers, and early hires to align technical solutions with business goals. This role offers significant opportunities for leadership and impact, and your early contributions can pave the way for future career advancement as the company scales.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a founding principal software engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Founding Principal Software Engineer, you need deep expertise in software architecture, full-stack development, and leadership, often supported by a computer science degree and extensive industry experience. Mastery of programming languages (such as Python, Java, or JavaScript), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP), and agile development tools is typical, along with experience in designing scalable systems. Exceptional problem-solving, strategic thinking, and team mentorship skills help you drive technical vision and foster innovation. These abilities are crucial for building robust products, guiding engineering teams, and shaping a startup’s long-term technical direction.

What cities are hiring for Founding Principal Software Engineer jobs?

Cities with the most Founding Principal Software Engineer job openings:

What states have the most Founding Principal Software Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Founding Principal Software Engineer jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Founding Principal Software Engineer jobs?

For Founding Principal Software Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Founding Principal Software Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $160,936 per year, or $77.4 per hour.

Founding Principal

Fishers, IN • On-site

Opportunity Education
Education Programs Administration • 11 - 50 employees

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Re-posted 7 days ago


Job description


Founding PrincipalOpportunity Education
Fishers, IN
About the Organization
Opportunity Education is a charitable foundation with the mission of developing and supporting life-changing learning programs for young adults worldwide. Founded in 2005 Opportunity Education has supported programs in 12 countries across primary and secondary grades, serving over 1 million students and over 5,000 teachers in 1,500 schools.
Leveraging its expertise in learning science, Opportunity Education developed Quest Forward Learning, a method, curriculum, professional learning resources, and classroom tools that promote student engagement and success through active learning and effective feedback. In 2017, OE established two Quest Forward High Schools in California and Nebraska founded on the principles of Quest Forward Learning.
Leveraging these resources and learnings, Opportunity Education is about to embark on a new chapter of scale and impact, building a network of schools across the United States that offer students opportunities for both academic success and intentional planning for their post-secondary pathways, and will serve as a model for schools nationwide. Opportunity Education, in close partnership with the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) school district, is in the planning phases to open its first Indiana-based charter school as a part of this national expansion with a planned fall of 2026 launch.
Through its partnership with Opportunity Education, HSE aims to expand its range of career and college programs, which will offer students valuable career skills, industry certifications, and college credits. Opportunity Education's investment in facilities and programming will provide an innovative opportunity for families within the district.
About the Role
The Founding Principal role is a unique opportunity to design, launch and lead Opportunity Education's first school in Indiana and collaborate with the Hamilton Southeastern district and community as it launches its vision for an Innovation Network charter school. Reporting to the Chief of Schools, the Founding Principal will spend the 2024-25 school year co-designing a framework of excellence for their specific school. Simultaneous to the design work, the Founding Principal will be preparing their own 9-12 school for a successful launch in fall 2026 within the HSE district located in Fishers, Indiana.
During the residency, the Founding Principal will be responsible for an ambitious set of expectations that include:
  • Deeply learning the tools, curriculum, resources and learning science that Opportunity Education has developed in preparation for integrating these into the school
  • Codifying best practices from around the country, in collaboration with the other founding principal(s) and Chief of Schools, into a framework that helps define what makes up the core DNA of future Opportunity Education schools
  • Establish relationships and partnerships in the Hamilton Southeastern community that ensure both the successful launch of the school and unprecedented opportunity for students to gain community, career, and college access
  • Recruit and fully enroll the founding class of students
  • Recruit and hire the founding team of teachers and staff
  • Build the systems and structures that ensure excellence in onboarding, launch, and daily success of the school.

Ideal Traits
The ideal candidate has the following mindsets and traits:
  • An entrepreneurial spirit, including a bold vision for what's possible and a history of persevering in the face of ambiguity and challenge to achieve goals
  • A high degree of integrity, including unquestionable reliability and follow-through on responsibilities
  • The deep belief, in mindset and practice, that every student who walks through your doors has the potential to succeed
  • Alignment to the belief that all students are college-capable but should be prepared for and deeply understand the various pathways available to them, choosing the one that maximizes their success, happiness, and is a smart financial decision
  • A deep passion for educational excellence and equity, particular in socioeconomically disadvantaged and historically underserved communities
  • Alignment with Opportunity Education's approach to active and engaged learning, including a commitment to use the curriculum, tools, and resources within the school

Ideal Qualifications
Among the qualifications, the ideal candidate has the following:
  • A history of measurable and significant achievement in K-12 education in and out of the classroom
  • Experience managing teams, including managing the managers of others, with a palpably positive and high-achieving culture
  • Experience building external partnerships with community organizations, corporations, and colleges to create opportunities for students
  • An ability, proven with experience, to create clear, consistent, and positive culture among students both in the expectations set for culture and the opportunities afforded to students within a school community
  • Well-established instructional leadership ability, including in teacher coaching, curriculum development, and developing communities of data-focused learning among staff
  • Proficiency in managing a school's budget and leading operational systems (e.g. technology, scheduling, parent communication, school cleanliness, etc.) with successful attention to detail
  • 5+ years of experience as a K-12 school leader, ideally at the principal level
  • 10+ years of experience as an instructional leader in and out of the classroom
  • The founding principal must currently possess or have the ability to be a licensed administrator in the state of Indiana ahead of the school's launch in summer/fall 2025

Compensation & Benefits
During the residency, prior to the school's launch, the expected base salary range for this position is $135,000-$145,000 commensurate with experience. The residency includes access to Opportunity Education's full suite of benefits including health, vision, and dental plans.
Location
Though the ideal candidate resides in or near the HSE community, in the residency, the Founding Principal does not yet need to have an established residency to be hired into this role. However, the Founding Principal must have the ability to establish residency in or near Fishers, IN during the residency.
Application Process
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis with priority consideration given to candidates who apply before October 7th, 2024.
Start Date
The expected full-time start date is November 1, 2024. For the right candidate, Opportunity Education is willing to discuss alternative start schedules to accommodate existing professional commitments of the candidate.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Opportunity Education is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace where all individuals are valued and respected.