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Principal Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Celestica

Principal, Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

Austin Summary The Principal, Design Engineer researches and develops robust electrical systems and circuits, from initial concept and schematic capture through to system specification and ...

Milwaukee Tool

Principal Engineer

Milwaukee, WI · On-site

Principal Engineer Principal Design Engineer - L & L INNOVATE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES! At Milwaukee Tool we firmly believe that our People and our Culture are the secrets to our success - so we give you ...

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Principal Design Engineer information

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$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do principal design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal design engineer in the United States is $147,220.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal design engineer?

To thrive as a Principal Design Engineer, you need deep expertise in engineering principles, advanced design methodologies, and a relevant degree such as a BS or MS in engineering. Proficiency with CAD software, simulation tools, and familiarity with industry standards or certifications like PE (Professional Engineer) are typically required. Leadership, effective communication, and problem-solving abilities are crucial soft skills for guiding teams and collaborating across departments. These skills and qualifications are vital for delivering innovative, high-quality designs and driving project success in complex engineering environments.

How does a principal design engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a project lifecycle?

A Principal Design Engineer plays a pivotal role in bridging communication between engineering, product management, manufacturing, and quality assurance teams. Throughout a project, they lead technical discussions, facilitate design reviews, and ensure design intent aligns with overall project goals. Their expertise is often called upon to resolve complex technical challenges and mentor junior engineers, ensuring that cross-functional efforts remain cohesive and efficient. This collaborative approach helps streamline project timelines and results in robust, manufacturable designs.

What is the difference between Principal Design Engineer vs Senior Design Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Design EngineerSenior Design Engineer
QualificationsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, extensive experienceBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, several years of experience
Work EnvironmentLeads design projects, mentors teams, collaborates with stakeholdersDevelops designs, supports project execution, collaborates with teams
Industry UsageUsed across engineering sectors for senior technical leadershipCommonly used for experienced engineers executing design tasks

The Principal Design Engineer typically holds a higher level of responsibility, providing technical leadership and strategic input, while the Senior Design Engineer focuses on executing design tasks and supporting project development. Both roles require strong engineering credentials, but the Principal role emphasizes leadership and innovation.

What does a principal design engineer do?

A principal design engineer leads the development and design of complex products or systems, providing technical expertise and strategic direction. They often oversee engineering teams, ensure design quality, and collaborate with cross-functional departments using tools like CAD software. This role typically requires extensive experience, strong problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of engineering principles.
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Principal Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Principal, Design Engineer

Celestica

Austin, TX • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 15 days ago

Celestica rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

14th of 159 rated electronics manufacturers

Job description

Req ID: 131021
Region: Americas
Country: USA
State/Province: Texas
City: Austin
Summary
The Principal, Design Engineer researches and develops robust electrical systems and circuits, from initial concept and schematic capture through to system specification and qualification. Working closely with cross-functional teams, customers, and manufacturing partners, they ensure high-quality product development by incorporating feedback from design reviews, simulations, and reliability testing. This role provides end-to-end technical support, overseeing the systems they have designed throughout the entire manufacturing process to ensure all plans meet rigorous performance and quality standards.
Detailed Description
Performs tasks such as, but not limited to, the following:
  • Lead the design, development, and implementation of technical solutions for complex projects, which includes researching system ideas, analyzing trade-offs, and recommending modifications to ensure all designs meet evolving customer needs and rigorous performance standards.
  • Act as a recognized technical expert and "go-to" person for solving complex problems and providing technical oversight throughout the manufacturing process to ensure all designs and processes comply with relevant industry regulations and internal standards.
  • Take responsibility for technical project elements, such as resource alignment, project planning, and scheduling, while ensuring the team stays up to date with relevant industry knowledge and technology trends.
  • Review and interpret customer requirements and specifications as the primary technical contact, managing strategic relationships with suppliers, contractors, and internal teams to facilitate the successful deployment of complex programs.

Technical Capabilities
  • Strong engineering background in compute, storage, or network switching products, featuring extensive experience in complex high speed hardware design, architecture, reliability, and failure analysis.
  • Demonstrated experience working with high speed interfaces such as DDR5, PCIe 5 or above, 100GbE or faster Ethernet, and 56G+ SERDES, as well as designing 20+ layer count boards.
  • Expertise in advanced PCB manufacturing technologies, including sequential lamination, HDI, and ultra low loss materials to support high performance designs.
  • Technical expertise in AI products, GPU servers, and Broadcom chip applications, alongside experience with high speed OSFP and QSFP networking design equipment and testing.
  • Ability to translate customer requirements into engineering solutions while collaborating effectively within a global environment.
  • Proven organizational, technical planning, and program management skills with the ability to meet aggressive goals and high quality standards through advanced problem solving, multi tasking, and excellent oral and written communication skills.

Typical Experience
  • 12+ years of experience in complex hardware design, including server, storage, or network switching architectures.

Typical Education
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field.

Notes
This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees are held accountable for all duties of the job. Job duties and the % of time identified for any function are subject to change at any time.
#HPS-NA
Celestica is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.
This policy applies to hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training, classification, referral and other aspects of employment and also states that retaliation against a person who files a charge of discrimination, participates in a discrimination proceeding, or otherwise opposes an unlawful employment practice will not be tolerated. All information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Celestica is an E-Verify employer.
COMPANY OVERVIEW:
Celestica (NYSE, TSX: CLS) enables the world's best brands. Through our recognized customer-centric approach, we partner with leading companies in Aerospace and Defense, Communications, Enterprise, HealthTech, Industrial, Capital Equipment and Energy to deliver solutions for their most complex challenges. As a leader in design, manufacturing, hardware platform and supply chain solutions, Celestica brings global expertise and insight at every stage of product development - from drawing board to full-scale production and after-market services for products from advanced medical devices, to highly engineered aviation systems, to next-generation hardware platform solutions for the Cloud. Headquartered in Toronto, with talented teams spanning 40+ locations in 13 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia, we imagine, develop and deliver a better future with our customers.
Celestica would like to thank all applicants, however, only qualified applicants will be contacted.
Celestica does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies or fee based recruitment services.

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