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Principal Devops Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Principal DevOps Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$60.75 - $83/hr

The Principal DevOps Engineer will act as the technical authority for infrastructure-as-code, CI/CD integration, and deployment automation, working closely with Product, Networking, Cybersecurity ...

As a Principal DevOps Engineer, your leadership will be essential in helping us make the mission matter by guaranteeing a secure, reliable, and highly scalable platform for over 65 million users ...

Principal DevOps Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

$57.50 - $78.75/hr

The Principal DevOps Engineer will lead the design of our engineering platform, standards, and automation to enable product teams to build, test, and deploy independently and safely. The role is ...

$103K - $155K/yr

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems (NGDS) is seeking a DevOps Engineer/ Principal DevOps Engineer at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

Principal DevOps Engineer

Arlington, VA

$60.75 - $83/hr

The Principal DevOps Engineer will act as the technical authority for infrastructure-as-code, CI/CD integration, and deployment automation, working closely with Product, Networking, Cybersecurity ...

Principal DevOps Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$50.25 - $69/hr

The Principal DevOps Engineer will act as the technical authority for infrastructure-as-code, CI/CD integration, and deployment automation, working closely with Product, Networking, Cybersecurity ...

Principal DevOps Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$52.25 - $71.50/hr

Principal DevOps Engineer Austin , TX Contract Responsibilities: • Drive engineering solutions aligned with our mission to make experience a key competitive advantage in the market • Drives ...

Principal DevOps Engineer (Boston)

Boston, MA · On-site

$57.25 - $78.50/hr

The Principal DevOps Engineer will lead the design of our engineering platform, standards, and automation to enable product teams to build, test, and deploy independently and safely. The role is ...

Principal DevOps Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$52.25 - $71.50/hr

Principal DevOps Engineer Austin , TX Contract   Responsibilities: · Drive engineering solutions aligned with our mission to make experience a key competitive advantage in the market · Drives ...

Principal DevOps Engineer

$54 - $74/hr

Headspace is dedicated to providing lifelong mental health support, and they are seeking a Principal DevOps Engineer to ensure a secure, reliable, and scalable platform for over 65 million users.

Principal DevOps Engineer

Newton, MA

$57.75 - $79.25/hr

Section 1: Position Summary As a DevOps Principal Engineer , you will provide technical leadership and architectural direction for DevOps, CI/CD, and cloudnative engineering practices across multiple ...

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Principal Devops Engineer information

See salary details

$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do principal devops engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal devops 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 is the difference between Principal Devops Engineer vs Senior Devops Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Devops EngineerSenior Devops Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires advanced certifications like AWS Certified DevOps Engineer, Linux Foundation certificationsOften holds similar certifications but may not require advanced or multiple certifications
Work EnvironmentLeads strategic initiatives, mentors teams, influences architecture decisionsExecutes complex projects, supports infrastructure, and implements automation
Industry UsageUsed in organizations seeking senior leadership in DevOps practicesCommonly found in teams executing day-to-day DevOps tasks

The main difference between a Principal Devops Engineer and a Senior Devops Engineer lies in scope and responsibility. The Principal typically leads strategic initiatives and influences architecture, while the Senior focuses on executing complex projects and supporting infrastructure. Both roles require similar technical skills and certifications, but the Principal role involves higher-level leadership and vision.

What is a Principal DevOps Engineer?

A Principal DevOps Engineer is a senior-level professional responsible for overseeing and optimizing the integration of software development and IT operations within an organization. They design and implement automation tools, manage infrastructure, and lead teams in adopting best practices for continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD). Principal DevOps Engineers also mentor junior staff, ensure system reliability, and help shape the overall DevOps strategy to support business goals.

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

A Principal DevOps Engineer requires deep expertise in software development, cloud infrastructure, automation, and a solid understanding of CI/CD pipelines, often backed by a degree in computer science or related certifications like AWS Certified DevOps Engineer. Familiarity with tools such as Kubernetes, Docker, Jenkins, Terraform, and monitoring systems is vital for building robust deployment workflows. Leadership, problem-solving, and strong collaboration skills help drive cross-team initiatives and mentor junior engineers. These competencies ensure efficient, scalable, and reliable delivery of software solutions in complex technical environments.

What are some common challenges faced by Principal DevOps Engineers when implementing organization-wide automation initiatives?

Principal DevOps Engineers often encounter challenges such as aligning automation strategies across diverse teams, managing tool sprawl, and ensuring consistent security practices throughout the pipeline. They must balance the need for rapid deployment with maintaining system reliability and compliance standards. Successful Principal DevOps Engineers typically foster collaboration between development, operations, and security teams, and provide mentorship to drive cultural change and adoption of best practices.
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What states have the most Principal Devops Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Principal Devops Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Principal Devops Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Devops Engineer jobs are:
DevOps Engineer/Principal DevOps Engineer (AHT)

DevOps Engineer/Principal DevOps Engineer (AHT)

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Beavercreek, OH • On-site

$103K - $155K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Posted 17 days ago


Northrop Grumman rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 348 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

110th of 527 rated manufacturers


Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: Top 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 Defense Systems (NGDS) is seeking a DevOps Engineer/ Principal DevOps Engineer at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Successful candidates should have a track record as an effective communicator and problem solver who is able to develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. The candidate will be an active part of a Platform Engineering team with expertise in Kubernetes, Cloud, GitLab, and related platform technologies that will be responsible for building, maintaining, and scaling the foundational infrastructure.

Summary of Responsibilities

As a DevOps engineer, you willcombine software development and IT operations to create a more streamlined and efficient development process by implementing and managing the DevOps approach within the organization.

This position may be filled at a higher level based on the qualifications below.

Basic Qualifications:

  • DevOps Engineer (Level 2): Bachelor's degree in STEM with 2 years' relevant experience OR a master's degree with 0 years' experience
  • Principal DevOps Engineer (Level 3): Bachelor's degree in STEM with 5 years' relevant experience OR a master's degree with 3 years' experience
  • Active Department of Defense Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance
  • Active CompTIA Security+, SecurityX, or CISSP certification
  • Minimum of 3 years' experience in DevOps, software development, or systems administration
  • Experience with configuration and maintenance of DevOps Infrastructure as Code tools and CI/CD pipelines.
  • Experience with OCI-compliant container technology and tools such as Podman or Docker
  • Experience managing and troubleshooting containerized workloads, specifically using Kubernetes or Docker Swarm
  • Experience with Linux Operating System and familiarity with core cloud services, including virtual machines, storage, and networking
  • Experience with distributed revision control systems such as Git
  • Experience with scripting languages such as Python, Bash, and Go to improve platform efficiency

Preferred Qualifications

  • Kubernetes related certifications such as CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator), CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer), or CKS (Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist), KCSP (Kubernetes Certified Service Provider)
  • Experience with the configuration and administration of CNCF tools such as Harbor, ArgoCD, Grafana, Prometheus, and Helm
  • Experience implementing "security as code," including automated vulnerability scanning and compliance-driven infrastructure (DoD STIGs/RMF).
  • Experience designing enterprise-wide automation strategies and establishing golden paths/developer portals for engineering teams to reduce cognitive load.
  • Experience working in an Agile environment/working knowledge of Agile principles and practices
  • Experience with project/issue tracking software tools like Jira and Confluence
  • Demonstrates a clear understanding of Microservice Architectures
Primary Level Salary Range: $83,400.00 - $125,200.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 - $155,400.00The 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