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Principal Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

3B Staffing LLC

Principal Engineer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

Principal Engineer *Full stack / Back-end development skills required. RETAIL / CPG experience required. Description: Principal Engineer - SUMMARY: The Principal Engineer - Applications works ...

Bradley & Associates

Principal Engineer

Dallas, TX

$150K - $175K/yr

Growing Civil Engineering firm is expanding in Dallas and looking for a Principal Engineer to provide office leadership, project oversight, and management, involving planning and directing the work ...

Veem

Principal Engineer

San Francisco, CA · Remote

Principal Engineer Location: Toronto (preferred), Ottawa, California About Veem Veem is building the future of global payments infrastructure. We are transforming how businesses move money ...

Outcode Software

Principal Engineer

Draper, UT

The Principal Engineer at Outcode Software plays a critical leadership role in shaping and maintaining the technical direction across all engineering teams. This position requires a Deep expertise in ...

Precognition Labs

Principal Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site +1

The Principal Engineer will be responsible for leading the design, implementation, and optimization of scalable, high-performance systems. Key responsibilities include collaborating with cross ...

KEITH

Principal Engineer

West Palm Beach, FL · On-site

Principal Engineer - Land Development and Water Resources About KEITH: We are a multidisciplined consulting firm offering civil engineering, land surveying, transportation engineering, planning ...

KEITH

Principal Engineer

Pompano Beach, FL · On-site

Principal Engineer - Land Development and Water Resources About KEITH: We are a multidisciplined consulting firm offering civil engineering, land surveying, transportation engineering, planning ...

KEITH

Principal Engineer

Miami, FL · On-site

Principal Engineer - Land Development and Water Resources About KEITH: We are a multidisciplined consulting firm offering civil engineering, land surveying, transportation engineering, planning ...

KEITH

Principal Engineer

West Palm Beach, FL · On-site

Principal Engineer - Land Development and Water Resources About KEITH: We are a multidisciplined consulting firm offering civil engineering, land surveying, transportation engineering, planning ...

KEITH

Principal Engineer

Miami, FL · On-site

Principal Engineer - Land Development and Water Resources About KEITH: We are a multidisciplined consulting firm offering civil engineering, land surveying, transportation engineering, planning ...

KEITH

Principal Engineer

Pompano Beach, FL · On-site

Principal Engineer - Land Development and Water Resources About KEITH: We are a multidisciplined consulting firm offering civil engineering, land surveying, transportation engineering, planning ...

Wood Rodgers

Principal Engineer

Roseville, CA · On-site

$126.50K - $158.10K/yr

Principal Engineer Department: Geotechnical Employment Type: Full Time Location: Roseville, CA Compensation: $126,500 - $158,100 / year Description Are you a dynamic leader seeking a career where you ...

Omnidian

Principal Engineer

As a Principal Engineer, you will serve as a key technical advisor and architect for the engineering organization, optimizing software development and platform architecture during a high growth phase.

Wood Rodgers

Principal Engineer

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$126.50K - $158.10K/yr

Principal Engineer Department: Geotechnical Employment Type: Full Time Location: Sacramento, CA Compensation: $126,500 - $158,100 / year Description Are you a dynamic leader seeking a career where ...

City of Watsonville

Principal Engineer

Watsonville, CA · On-site

$130.17K - $174.43K/yr

The City of Watsonville is seeking a seasoned, solutions-driven Principal Engineer to lead development review and land use engineering. You will guide private applications, from commercial and ...

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$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do principal engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal 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 a Principal Engineer?

A principal engineer oversees the research, development, and design of engineering projects for a company or organization. These engineering experts are leaders in their industries and need an advanced understanding of their discipline to manage projects and guide team members. As a principal engineer, your job duties include creating budgets, negotiating with vendors, and delegating work. You may also train staff members, set project deadlines, and work to improve engineering application processes.

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

To thrive as a Principal Engineer, you need deep technical expertise in your engineering discipline, strong problem-solving abilities, and typically an advanced degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with complex software development tools, architectural frameworks, and industry certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect or relevant PE licenses is common. Exceptional leadership, communication, and mentorship skills help Principal Engineers guide teams and influence project direction. These competencies are essential for driving innovation, ensuring technical excellence, and delivering large-scale, high-impact solutions.

How does a Principal Engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive project success?

Principal Engineers play a key role in collaborating with cross-functional teams, such as product management, design, and operations, to ensure technical solutions align with business objectives. They often lead architectural discussions, mentor team members, and facilitate communication between engineering and non-engineering stakeholders. This collaboration helps identify potential challenges early, streamline development processes, and deliver high-quality products. Additionally, Principal Engineers are often involved in setting technical standards and guiding teams through complex problem-solving.

What are Principal Engineers?

Principal Engineers are highly experienced technical experts who lead engineering teams, provide strategic technical direction, and help solve complex engineering challenges within an organization. They often act as mentors, set technical standards, and collaborate with stakeholders across departments to drive innovation and ensure the success of engineering projects. Principal Engineers typically have many years of industry experience and are recognized for their deep technical knowledge and leadership skills.

What is the difference between Principal Engineer vs Senior Engineer?

AspectPrincipal EngineerSenior Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires 8+ years of experience, advanced technical skills, and often leadership or mentorship experienceUsually requires 3-7 years of experience with strong technical skills
Work EnvironmentLeads complex projects, influences technical strategy, collaborates across teamsFocuses on executing technical tasks, supporting project development, and mentoring junior staff
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in large tech companies, engineering firms, and organizations with advanced technical hierarchiesWidely used across industries for experienced technical contributors

The main difference between a Principal Engineer and a Senior Engineer lies in their level of responsibility, experience, and influence. Principal Engineers typically lead complex projects and shape technical strategies, while Senior Engineers focus on executing technical tasks and supporting team efforts. Both roles require strong technical skills, but Principal Engineers often have more leadership and strategic responsibilities.

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Principal Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.
Principal Engineer

Principal Engineer

3B Staffing LLC

Manhattan, NY • On-site

Full-time

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Title: Principal Engineer *Full stack / Back-end development skills required. RETAIL / CPG experience required. Description: Principal Engineer - SUMMARY: The Principal Engineer - Applications works strategically with product team stakeholders to align technology resources with business goals in the execution of technical strategy. This role will lead the design and development of ecommerce platforms, with a strong focus on headless architectures, payment processing integrations, and full-stack Java development with heavier emphasis on backend systems. The ideal candidate has deep experience in ecommerce and retail environments, with a proven track record of building scalable, secure, and high-performing systems that support digital commerce initiatives. They will be responsible for the analysis, design, development, and delivery of software solutions, implementing and defining requirements for new applications and customizations, and adhering to best practices, standards, and security guidelines. Principal Engineer - RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Provide technical leadership across various application types, architectures, and software-development methodologies, offering strategic direction and design leadership on complex engineering challenges.
  • Partner closely with business and product teams to define and deliver new ecommerce products and services that meet market needs and drive business growth.
  • Design and implement headless commerce solutions, ensuring seamless integration between backend services and frontend experiences.
  • Lead enterprise-wide initiatives, taking ownership of engineering decisions and execution to drive resolution on strategic key technical challenges.
  • Own backend processing for critical payment systems, ensuring security, reliability, and compliance with industry standards.
  • Oversee the development of IT service management strategies to improve the operational efficiency and user satisfaction of software systems, driving resolution of technical challenges with a service-centric approach.
  • Drive engineering productivity by ensuring high standards for code quality, engineering processes, and technology policy compliance.
  • Oversee the creation and management of robust, fault-tolerant integrations with internal systems and external third-party services (e.g., payment gateways, retail ERP platforms, ecommerce APIs).
  • Guide the development and improvement of the company's platform software systems, including APIs and administrative web applications.
  • Stay at the forefront of security, compliance, and regulatory requirements, ensuring proactive identification and mitigation of vulnerabilities.
  • Communicate effectively with senior executives, business stakeholders, and users, translating complex technical information into actionable insights.
  • Monitor industry trends and emerging technologies, identifying opportunities for innovation and improvement within the engineering function.
  • Champion the company's mission and values, cultivating an accountable, innovative, and results-driven culture that fosters teamwork, trust, and respect.
Principal Engineer - REQUIRED SKILLS (MUST HAVES):
  • Degree in Computer Science, Math, Physics or equivalent industry experience.
  • 8+ years of full stack development experience, with a strong emphasis on backend Java development.
  • Proven experience designing and implementing headless ecommerce platforms.
  • Deep expertise in payment processing systems (e.g., integration with payment gateways, PCI compliance, transaction security).
  • Strong retail client experience - ideally supporting large-scale ecommerce environments.
  • Proficiency in Java, Scala, or Go, and familiarity with JavaScript, HTML, SQL, and CSS.
  • Strong understanding of data structures, algorithms, and system design principles.
  • Proven experience integrating third-party APIs and building scalable backend services.
  • Demonstrated experience presenting to and collaborating with company executives.
  • Successful track record in managing development organizations with thought-leadership, cross-functional influence, and partnership.

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