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Principal Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

1872 Consulting

Principal Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

Principal Engineer - 100% RemoteAn industrial real estate supply chain platform we have one of the largest portfolios of industrial space in the US, with over 400 million square feet of high-quality ...

1872 Consulting

Principal Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

Principal Engineer - 100% RemoteAn industrial real estate supply chain platform we have one of the largest portfolios of industrial space in the US, with over 400 million square feet of high-quality ...

Socotec

Principal Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

We are looking for a Principal Engineer with 10-25 years of design and field experience. * Responsible for conducting field investigations, analysis and design * Interact with clients and other ...

Socotec

Principal Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$150K - $225K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Engineer with 10-25 years of design and field experience. * Responsible for conducting field investigations, analysis and design * Interact with clients and other ...

Dozee

Principal Engineer

Mundelein, IL · On-site

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 ...

SOCOTEC

Principal Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$150K - $225K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Engineer with 10-25 years of design and field experience. * Responsible for conducting field investigations, analysis and design * Interact with clients and other ...

1872 Consulting

Principal Engineer

Chicago, IL · Hybrid

Principal Engineer - M365 PlatformThis role will oversee implementation and adoption of the M365 Platform and Services including the core services and the support/implementation model while working ...

1872 Consulting

Principal Engineer

Chicago, IL · Hybrid

Principal Engineer - M365 PlatformThis role will oversee implementation and adoption of the M365 Platform and Services including the core services and the support/implementation model while working ...

Socket.dev

Principal Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$180 - $240/hr

A principal engineer here is equal parts AI engineer, DevOps engineer, and software architect. We mean that literally, and we will interview for all three. You are a software architect. * You have ...

Vouch, Inc

Principal Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$245 - $285/hr

A principal engineer here is equal parts AI engineer, DevOps engineer, and software architect. We mean that literally, and we will interview for all three. You are a software architect. * You have ...

Vouch, Inc.

Principal Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$245K - $285K/yr

A principal engineer here is equal parts AI engineer, DevOps engineer, and software architect. We mean that literally, and we will interview for all three. You are a software architect. * You have ...

Lake County

Principal Engineer- Permits

Libertyville, IL · Hybrid

$94K - $106K/yr

General Description Becoming a Principal Engineer of Permits at the Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) connects you directly with the broader engineering community, bridging the gap ...

Ingersoll-Rand

Principal Engineer DFM

Lincolnshire, IL · On-site

$100 - $150/hr

Principal DFM Engineer BH Job ID: 4604 Job title: Principal DFM Engineer Location: Lincolnshire, IL About Us Imagine a company with technology leadership of over 160 years, yet it operates with the ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsPrincipal Engineer JobsPrincipal Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Principal Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$76.2K

$151.7K

$218.9K

How much do principal engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal engineer in Chicago, IL is $151,658.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $122,100.00 and $178,200.00 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.

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 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.

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 does a principal engineer get paid?

A principal engineer's salary typically ranges from $120,000 to $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 compensation.

What do principal engineers do?

Principal engineers are senior technical leaders responsible for designing, developing, and overseeing complex engineering projects. They provide technical guidance, set standards, and collaborate with teams to ensure the successful implementation of solutions, often using tools like CAD, programming languages, or engineering software. They typically have extensive experience and may mentor junior staff while contributing to strategic planning.
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For Principal Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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Principal Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $151,658 per year, or $72.9 per hour.

Principal Engineer

1872 Consulting

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

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

Job description

Principal Engineer - 100% RemoteAn industrial real estate supply chain platform we have one of the largest portfolios of industrial space in the US, with over 400 million square feet of high-quality, well-located industrial assets. We actively construct and manage our portfolio to benefit from the shift in consumer expectations for the rapid and direct delivery of goods and the related surge in demand for real estate that addresses the need for "last-mile" distribution. A critical component of our Company's growth is the build out of our financial and data analytics capabilities.Role Summary:As Principal Engineer, your primary responsibilities will be to develop, optimize, and oversee our company's conceptual and logical data systems. You proactively engage stakeholders to understand internal and external needs, fulfilling requirements with a focus on improving data quality, accessibility and security. This may include demos, solution designs, implementation plans and proof of concepts.What You'll Be Doing:Create domain and database design, and architecture reports for management and executive teamsDevelop solutions to improve new and existing database systemsDesign and implement effective database solutions and models to store and retrieve company dataEnsure system performance via proactive design, monitoring, troubleshooting and development of new featuresMaintain technical skills and knowledge of market trends and competitive insights; collaborate and share with the technical communityBe an IT evangelist with customers, stakeholders, partners and communitiesMust be a player-coach, able to architect as well as mentor, lead and help developmentRequirements:10+ years of success in data architecture, data warehousing and data governanceExperience with responsive data structures, ontologies, metadata capture strategyEvent-Driven architectural experience (as opposed to transactional)Experience with Transformative data modeling (preferably with Snowflake)Scalable distributed systems and databases (e.g. Snowflake, Databricks, Spark, Redshift, GBQ)Nice to Have's:Familiarity with TOGAF (The Open Group Architectural Framework)Master Data Management in operations, analytics and governanceSoftware development practices like DevOps and CI/CD tool chains (i.e. Jenkins, Spinnaker, Azure DevOps, GitHub)Familiarity with modern analytics and metadata management tools (e.g. DBT, Looker)One or more of the following programming languages preferred: Python, Spark Scala, pyspark, SQL

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About 1872 Consulting

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

1872 Consulting, based in Chicago, IL, USA, operates within the IT consulting industry. Armed with a diverse team of experts, the company offers specialized IT consulting services, focusing on modernizing business technologies and driving innovative business strategies. Established in 1872, the company has a rich history marked by its commitment to bridging the gap between businesses and technology. Its mission is to empower organizations to surpass their business goals by providing state-of-the-art IT solutions and service. The company prides itself on its core values of integrity, excellence, and innovation, instilling these principles in every project they undertake.

Industry

It services

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Chicago, IL, US

Year founded

2014

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