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Principal Application Developer Jobs in California

Socket.dev

Sr. Principal Application Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$175 - $225/hr

Contribute to technical documentation, application notes, validation reports, and customer-facing materials. * Provide direct feedback to engineering and product teams on feature prioritization ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsPrincipal Application Developer JobsPrincipal Application Developer Jobs in California

Principal Application Developer information

See California salary details

$71.1K

$119.2K

$155.9K

How much do principal application developer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal application developer in California is $119,227.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,700.00 and $139,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal application developer?

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 skills and qualifications are needed to be a principal application developer?

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 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 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 does a principal application developer do?

A principal application developer designs, develops, and maintains complex software applications, often providing technical leadership within a team. They analyze user requirements, create system architecture, and ensure code quality, typically using programming languages like Java, C#, or Python. They also mentor junior developers and collaborate with stakeholders to deliver scalable solutions.
Principal Application Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Application Developer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $119,227 per year, or $57.3 per hour.

Senior Application Developer - ERP Systems

Center for Elders' Independence

Oakland, CA • On-site

$95K - $145K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 12 days ago

Job description

Senior Engineer – ERP Application Support (Finance & HR)

The Center for Elders’ Independence is a PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) organization (PO) that uses an interdisciplinary team approach for care planning and implementing purposeful, high quality, affordable, and integrated health care services to the elderly. Our elderly meet PACE requirements as prescribed by CMS and are referred to as participants. Our PO includes Adult Day Health Centers and primary care clinics, promoting participant autonomy, quality of life, and the ability for individuals to live in their communities.

The Position:  We are seeking a Senior Engineer – ERP Application Support to provide day-to-day operational support, configuration, and issue resolution for ERP systems supporting Finance and HR functions. This role focuses on system stability, user support, and reliable execution of approved changes to ensure ERP applications effectively support business operations.

The Senior Engineer works closely with Finance stakeholders, vendors, and the Principal Application Developer (Enterprise Systems) to implement changes, resolve issues, and maintain reliable ERP system operations.

The salary range for the Senior Application Developer - ERP Systems position at Center for Elders’ Independence is $95,721 to $145,496. Placement within the range is determined based on job-related factors such as relevant experience, skills, abilities, internal equity, and market data, consistent with CEI’s annual compensation review and established compensation practices.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Work closely with Finance, HR, business analysts, vendors, and IT partners to understand operational needs and application issues. Provide timely support and solutions that align with established application designs and business requirements.
  • Provide hands-on support for ERP applications, including configuration changes, user access management, workflow adjustments, and routine system maintenance. Execute approved enhancements and fixes under the guidance of senior technical leadership.
  • Support ERP-related integrations with other enterprise systems such as EMR, CRM, banking platforms, and third-party vendors. Validate data accuracy and completeness for inbound and outbound integrations, escalating issues to platform or senior engineering teams as appropriate.
  • Monitor ERP application health and performance. Troubleshoot and resolve application issues, incidents, and data discrepancies, serving as an escalation point for complex operational problems.
  • Ensure ERP applications are operated in compliance with security policies, healthcare regulations, and internal controls. Support audits and compliance reviews by providing documentation and system evidence as required.
  • Maintain technical and operational documentation for ERP configurations, workflows, and support procedures.
  • Provide user support, training assistance, and guidance to Finance and HR staff.
  • Assist with knowledge transfer and onboarding for new application support staff.

Education & Experience:

  • Associate’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Finance, or a related field.
  • 5+ years of experience in ERP application support, configuration, or enterprise application operations.
  • Proven experience supporting financial or HR systems in a regulated environment.
  • Experience working with vendors and third-party service providers.
  • Technical Skills
  • Strong hands-on experience supporting ERP systems for Finance and HR.
  • Working knowledge of SQL for data validation and troubleshooting.
  • Familiarity with application integrations and data flows across enterprise systems.
  • Basic scripting skills (e.g., Python or JavaScript) for automation or issue resolution.
  • Familiarity with healthcare interoperability concepts (HL7 / FHIR) from a support or validation perspective.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Clear communication skills for working with business users and technical teams.

Center for Elders’ Independence is a PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) organization that uses an interdisciplinary team approach to care planning and care implementation for the purpose of providing high quality, affordable, integrated health care services to the elderly, including an Adult Day Health Center, and promoting autonomy, quality of life, and the ability of individuals to live in their communities. Unlike other healthcare plans, CEI is not a “fee-for-service” plan. It is a capitation healthcare plan in which CEI is paid a set amount for each participant enrolled.