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Principal Application Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Raytheon Technologies

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Application Developers create and maintain the technical solutions to a range of challenging business problems. They are expected to leverage an understanding of application development theory ...

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$158K

How much do principal application developer jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal application developer in the United States is $120,809.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,000.00 and $141,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Principal Application Developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Application Developer, you need extensive experience in software development, advanced programming skills in multiple languages, and a strong understanding of application architecture, typically supported by a relevant degree. Mastery of development frameworks, cloud platforms (like AWS or Azure), DevOps tools, and often certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect are highly valued. Leadership, effective communication, and problem-solving skills help you guide teams and collaborate across departments. These competencies ensure the successful delivery of robust, scalable applications and effective mentorship within development teams.

How does a Principal Application Developer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams on large-scale projects?

Principal Application Developers play a critical role in coordinating with cross-functional teams, including product managers, UX designers, quality assurance engineers, and infrastructure specialists. They often lead technical discussions, set architectural standards, and ensure that development aligns with business objectives. Effective collaboration involves frequent communication, agile ceremonies, code reviews, and mentoring team members. This collaborative environment enables Principal Application Developers to guide projects from conception to deployment while fostering a culture of technical excellence.

What are Principal Application Developers?

Principal Application Developers are senior-level software engineers responsible for leading the design, development, and implementation of complex software applications. They often set technical direction, mentor other developers, and ensure that coding standards and best practices are followed. In addition to hands-on programming, they collaborate with stakeholders to align technical solutions with business goals. Their role also involves troubleshooting high-level issues and making architectural decisions to ensure scalability and maintainability of applications.

What is the difference between Principal Application Developer vs Senior Application Developer?

AspectPrincipal Application DeveloperSenior Application Developer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, relevant certificationsBachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, relevant certifications
Work EnvironmentLeads project architecture, mentors teams, influences technical strategyDevelops applications, troubleshoots, and implements solutions under guidance
Industry UsageUsed across industries for senior technical leadership rolesCommonly employed for experienced developers executing complex tasks

The Principal Application Developer typically holds a higher level of responsibility, focusing on architecture, leadership, and strategic technical decisions. In contrast, the Senior Application Developer primarily concentrates on coding, problem-solving, and project execution. Both roles require strong technical skills and relevant experience, but the Principal role involves more leadership and strategic planning.

What states have the most Principal Application Developer jobs? States with the most job openings for Principal Application Developer jobs include:
Principal Application Developer jobs near you
Principal Application Developer (372)

Principal Application Developer (372)

VSE Corporation

Miramar, FL • On-site

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

SUMMARY: The Principal Application Developer is accountable for the design, coding/build, and scale-out of a modern e-commerce platform backend. In this role you will be responsible for the software architecture and development of a custom, robust eCommerce platform able to support a wide array of product catalogs, checkout workflows, and integrations with third-party applications and services to ensure seamless commerce. You will play a key role in ensuring the platform is secure, scalable and reliable to handle high transaction volumes and future growth.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
  • Design, build, and maintain the core back-end software architecture for a scalable e-commerce platform.
  • Develop APIs, microservices, and integrations to power front-end applications and third-party services.
  • Implement secure payment systems, inventory management, and order fulfillment logic.
  • Optimize database schemas and queries for high availability and large-scale traffic.
  • Ensure platform compliance with security and privacy standards.
  • Collaborate with front-end developers, DevOps, and product managers to deliver a seamless platform experience.
  • Build automation, CI/CD pipelines, and monitoring tools for system reliability.
  • Proactively identify performance bottlenecks and design scalable solutions.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering or equivalent experience
    • OR an additional 3 years of specific work experience in lieu of degree
  • 7 years of relevant/technical work experience
  • Strong proficiency in server-side languages
  • Experience with frameworks
  • Proficiency in relational and non-relational databases
  • Experience with JSON, XML, and structured data formats
  • Experience building and consuming RESTful and/or GraphQL APIs
  • Knowledge of microservices architecture, event-driven systems, and containerization
  • Familiarity with cloud platforms
  • Hands-on experience with eCommerce including inventory management, payment gateways, shopping cart logic, and shipping APIs
  • Experience with integrations involving ERP backend systems
  • Understanding of catalog management, inventory, promotions, and multi-vendor systems
  • Will be required to travel 25%

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:
  • Experience designing distributed systems for high-traffic e-commerce
  • Knowledge of caching, message queues, and search optimization
  • Exposure to headless commerce platforms and API-first architectures
  • Previous experience with large-scale e-commerce builds or SaaS platforms

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