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Principal Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Dozee

Principal Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$180 - $260/hr

Write and ship production code -- be in the codebase daily as a hands-on principal engineer, not just producing design documents for others to build. * Rebuild the platform around modern AI ...

Carollo Engineers Inc.

Principal Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Responsibilities We are seeking a Principal Engineer to provide design management, project management, and client service support to our clients within the Los Angeles area, with a focus on design ...

Carollo Engineers Inc.

Principal Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We are seeking a Principal Engineer to provide design management, project management, and client service support to our clients within the Los Angeles area, with a focus on design/build projects. As ...

Carollo Engineers, Inc.

Principal Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Responsibilities We are seeking a Principal Engineer to provide design management, project management, and client service support to our clients within the Los Angeles area, with a focus on design ...

Knightscope

Principal Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

About the Role Knightscope is seeking a Principal Engineer to own the end-to-end technical design and architecture of Signals our autonomous Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) platform.

Knightscope

Principal Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

About the Role Knightscope is seeking a Principal Engineer to own the end-to-end technical design and architecture of Signals -- our autonomous Physical Security Information Management (PSIM ...

Carollo Engineers Inc.

Principal Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Responsibilities We are seeking a Principal Engineer to provide design management, project management, and client service support to our clients within the Los Angeles area, with a focus on design ...

Knightscope, Inc.

Principal Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$180K - $230K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

About the Role Knightscope is seeking a Principal Engineer to own the end-to-end technical design and architecture of Signals - our autonomous Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) platform.

Knightscope, Inc.

Principal Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

About the Role Knightscope is seeking a Principal Engineer to own the end-to-end technical design and architecture of Signals - our autonomous Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) platform.

Medium

Principal Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$230 - $290/hr

We're hiring a Principal Engineer in the Bay Area to lead the rebuild of the Dozee platform from the ground up using the latest AI technologies - defining the plan, writing the code, and building the ...

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All JobsPrincipal Engineer JobsPrincipal Engineer Jobs in California

Principal Engineer information

See California salary details

$73K

$145.3K

$209.7K

How much do principal engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal engineer in California is $145,292.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,900.00 and $170,700.00 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 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.

How much do principal engineers get paid?

Principal engineers typically earn between $120,000 and $180,000 annually, depending on experience, industry, and location. They often have advanced technical skills, leadership responsibilities, and may receive bonuses or stock options as part of their compensation package.

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.
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Principal Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $145,292 per year, or $69.9 per hour.

Navigation Engineer (Principal or Senior Principal Level)

Northrop Grumman Corporation

San Diego, CA • On-site

$142K - $213K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Re-posted 4 days ago

Northrop Grumman rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 362 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

88th of 538 rated manufacturers

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No
CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret
TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescription
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. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.
Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems RQ-4 Global Hawk Program seeks a Principal or Sr. Principal Engineer Navigation to support the Air Vehicle Navigation team in Rancho Bernardo, CA.
The group is responsible for vehicle flight control and safety. This position supports the Navigation subsystem with an emphasis on Radio Frequency (RF) performance. General duties for the candidate will include navigation subsystem lab testing, flight test support, anomaly resolution, and supplier management, among other duties.
Members of the team perform technical planning, system integration, verification and validation, cost and risk analysis, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for total systems. Analyses are performed at all levels of total system product to include concept, design, fabrication, test, installation, operation, maintenance and disposal. Members of the team ensure the logical and systematic conversion of customer or product requirements into total systems solutions that acknowledge technical, schedule, and cost constraints. The team also performs functional analysis, timeline analysis, detailed trade studies, requirements allocation and interface definition studies to translate customer requirements into hardware and software specifications.
This position can be filled at either the Principal Engineer or Sr Principal Engineer level.
Basic Qualifications:
  • Basic qualifications for a Principal Engineer Guidance Navigation Control include a Bachelor's in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) and at least 5 years of experience, a Master's Degree in STEM with 3 years of experience, or a PhD Degree with no experience.
  • Basic qualifications for a Sr. Principal Engineer Guidance Navigation Control include a Bachelor's in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) and at least 8 years of experience, a Master's Degree in STEM with 6 years of experience, or a PhD Degree with 3 years of experience.
  • SW Tools: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Project, Visio), Matlab
  • General understanding of the GPS system and how it works, general understanding of inertial sensors and how they work.
  • Working knowledge of Radio Frequency (RF) devices and system architecture (amplifiers, bias-T, splitters, etc)
  • Familiar with RF Parameters: Fundamentals of frequency, impedance, and gain.
  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Degree type: MS or PhD degree in STEM
  • Clearance Level: Top Secret (TS) or ability to obtain a TS
  • Flight Test experience: Some experience
  • Supplier management: Some experience
  • Requirements development: Some experience
  • Requirements verification testing: Some experience
  • Knowledge of passive and active components: inductors, capacitors, diodes, and transistors.
  • Proficiency with test equipment (oscilloscopes, signal generators, signal analyzers, multi-meters): Some experience
  • Good understanding of the GPS system, the GPS Signal in Space characteristics, DGPS systems, inertial sensors, GPS/INS tightly coupled Kalman filters, GPS receiver design
  • Advanced Knowledge of RF Devices: RF amplifiers, coupling structures, filters, and oscillators.
  • Advanced Knowledge of RF System Architectures: Overall system design, including common system impairments and performance characteristics.

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00
Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00
The 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

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