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Principal Development Engineer Jobs in Pennsylvania

$93K - $147K/yr

Understanding of the application and development of Interface Control artifacts and requirements ... Basic Qualifications for a level 3 Principal Systems Engineer * Bachelor's Degree in a STEM ...

Job Function: R&D Product Development Job Sub Function: Industrial Design & Human Factors Job ... The Principal Engineer, Human Factors will work independently and under minimal supervision to ...

Principal CNO Software Engineer

State College, PA · On-site

$132K - $177K/yr

Principal CNO Software Engineer Zetier is seeking Principal CNO Software Engineers to develop ... Successfully developed cutting edge end-to-end cyber solutions * Effective communication with ...

Principal CNO Software Engineer

State College, PA · On-site

$132K - $177K/yr

Principal CNO Software Engineer Zetier is seeking Principal CNO Software Engineers to develop ... Successfully developed cutting edge end-to-end cyber solutions * Effective communication with ...

Principal Research Engineer, CPI, Malvern, Pennsylvania: Conduct research, analysis & develop ... development process. Evaluate & test hardware systems, schematic diagrams & embedded source code ...

Senior Principal Electrical Engineer

Reading, PA · On-site

$133K - $163K/yr

... development, subsea systems, deepwater facilities, nuclear power, and renewable energy. The Senior ... Principal Electrical Engineer will work within multi-disciplinary project teams and may support ...

Principal Engineer Location: Charlotte, NC or Pittsburgh, PA Job Type: Full-Time/Exempt Industry ... A minimum of 12 years of software development experience. * A minimum of 8 years of experience in ...

Showing results 41-60

Principal Development Engineer information

See Pennsylvania salary details

$74.2K

$147.6K

$213K

How much do principal development engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal development engineer in Pennsylvania is $147,573.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,800.00 and $173,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal development engineer?

Principal Development Engineers are senior-level professionals who lead technical development efforts within engineering teams. They are responsible for designing and overseeing the implementation of complex systems or products, providing technical guidance to other engineers, and ensuring that engineering best practices are followed. In addition to their technical expertise, they often collaborate with stakeholders, manage project timelines, and help set the technical direction for their organization. Their role is critical in bridging the gap between engineering execution and strategic business goals.

How does a principal development engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during product development?

As a Principal Development Engineer, you'll frequently work with cross-functional teams including product managers, designers, QA engineers, and operations staff. Your role involves translating product requirements into technical solutions, providing technical leadership, and ensuring alignment across departments. Effective communication and the ability to balance technical constraints with business priorities are key. You'll also mentor junior engineers and help set coding standards to maintain high-quality deliverables throughout the development lifecycle.

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

To thrive as a Principal Development Engineer, you need extensive experience in software or hardware development, advanced problem-solving abilities, and typically a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering or a related field. Mastery of relevant programming languages, development frameworks, and project management tools, as well as certifications like PMP or Agile, is highly valuable. Leadership, collaboration, and strong communication skills are essential for guiding teams and managing complex projects. These competencies are crucial for driving technical innovation, ensuring project success, and fostering a high-performing engineering environment.

What is the difference between Principal Development Engineer vs Senior Software Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Development EngineerSenior Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, extensive experience, possibly certifications in specific technologiesBachelor's or Master's in Computer Science or related field, several years of experience
Work EnvironmentLead technical projects, influence architecture, collaborate across teamsDevelop software, implement features, troubleshoot issues
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, manufacturing, R&D departmentsSoftware development firms, tech startups, IT departments
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding senior technical roles, career progressionTechnical expertise, hands-on development focus

The Principal Development Engineer typically holds a higher level of responsibility, focusing on leading projects and strategic technical decisions, whereas a Senior Software Engineer primarily concentrates on coding and implementing solutions. Both roles require strong technical skills, but the Principal role involves broader influence and leadership within the organization.

What are popular job titles related to Principal Development Engineer jobs in Pennsylvania?

For Principal Development Engineer jobs in Pennsylvania, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Principal Development Engineer jobs in Pennsylvania look for?

The top searched job categories for Principal Development Engineer jobs in Pennsylvania are:

Infographic showing various Principal Development Engineer job openings in Pennsylvania as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 80% In-person, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,573 per year, or $70.9 per hour.

Principal Engineer Systems / Sr Principal Systems Engineer

Northrop Grumman Corporation

On-site

$93K - $147K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Re-posted 17 days ago


Northrop Grumman rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 368 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

66th of 545 rated manufacturers


Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescriptionAt Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is looking to add a Senior Principal Systems Engineer / Principal Systems Engineer - Requirements and Verification Team to join our team in Rancho Bernardo, CA or Oklahoma City, OK. The candidate should be a self-starter with familiarity working in requirements and verification in a software lab environment.

We offer a 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off, phenomenal learning opportunities, and a very friendly team environment. We are looking for self-motivated, proactive, and goal-oriented people to help us grow our services and become even better at what we do.

In this role you will be responsible for drafting requirements documents, verification plans and interface documents. The selected candidate will collaborate across engineering disciplines, primarily software and systems test, define project/software requirements for Lab Software Engineering Task Assignments.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility. There is no remote / hybrid / telework available for this position. Travel up to 10% may be required.

Roles and Responsibilities will include:

  • Develop, mature, and coordinate project, software, and interface requirements for a lab software environment.

  • Coordinate with cross-functional and multi-location teams to develop requirements, manage progress, and clear roadblocks.

  • Lead technical interchange meetings with customer and NG technical team.

  • Provide Systems engineering expertise to the technical teams.

  • Develop/Identify/Update Lab architecture.

  • Coordinate with key stakeholders to ensure proper verification and validation of project and software requirements.

  • Possess strong interpersonal and leadership skills with excellent communications skills to support coordination across IPTs and with external customers.

  • The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility. There is no remote / hybrid / telework available for this position. Travel up to 25% may be required.

Basic Qualifications

  • Understanding of the application and development of Interface Control artifacts and requirements.

  • Active DoD Secret (with a background investigation within the past 5 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).

  • Ability to obtain and maintain initial Special Program Access (SAP/PAR). This SAP/PAR must be obtained prior to commencement of employment and must be obtained within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs.

  • Experience in requirements and verification management in DOORS.

Basic Qualifications for a level 3 Principal Systems Engineer

  • Bachelor's Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 5 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master's degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and 1 years of related engineering experience.

Basic Qualifications for a level 4 Sr. Principal Systems Engineer

  • Bachelor's Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 8 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master's degree in a STEM discipline and 6 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and 4 years of related engineering experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Current applicable Special Access Program (SAP) clearance.

Familiarity with Agile practices.

Experience in System Architecture

Experience with software development.

Experience with Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence, Crucible)

Demonstrated proficiency in analytical thinking and problem-solving skills and Systems Thinking mindset

Current B-2 Special Access Program (SAP) clearance.

Experience with the full lifecycle of aircraft development, build, and operations.

Primary Level Salary Range: $93,300.00 - $147,600.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $0.00 - $0.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

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About Northrop Grumman

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Falls Church, VA, US

Year founded

1939