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Principal Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX (NOW HIRING)

ECOM

Principal Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

ECOM is seeking a Principal Engineer to build and enhance a portal for client commercial aviation customers. The role requires expertise in Java, Spring, Microservices, and cloud technologies, along ...

Technip Energies

Principal Engineer - Electrical

Houston, TX · On-site

$132K - $162K/yr

Position Summary The Principal Engineer - Electrical is responsible for producing and supporting the development of electrical engineering deliverables across a range of projects, including LNG ...

SupplyHouse

Principal Engineer

Houston, TX · Remote

$50K - $60K/yr

Through an Employer of Record (EOR), we are looking for a new Principal Backend Engineer in India to join our growing IT Team. This individual will report to our Sr. Director of IT, serve as a ...

Waste Management

Principal Engineer, Software

Houston, TX · On-site

$128K - $172K/yr

WM Logistics, LLC has an opening for a full-time Principal Engineer, Software in Houston, TX. Job duties: Deliver technical expertise in design, development, coding, testing, and debugging new ...

Waste Management

Principal Engineer, Software

Houston, TX · Hybrid

$128K - $172K/yr

WM Logistics, LLC has an opening for a full-time Principal Engineer, Software in Houston, TX. Job duties: Deliver technical expertise in design, development, coding, testing, and debugging new ...

Waste Management

Principal Engineer, Software

Houston, TX · Hybrid

$128K - $172K/yr

WM Logistics, LLC has an opening for a full-time Principal Engineer, Software in Houston, TX. Job duties: Deliver technical expertise in design, development, coding, testing, and debugging new ...

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All JobsPrincipal Engineer JobsPrincipal Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX

Principal Engineer information

See Houston, TX salary details

$70.7K

$140.6K

$202.9K

How much do principal engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal engineer in Houston, TX is $140,591.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $113,200.00 and $165,200.00 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.
More about Principal Engineer jobs

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For Principal Engineer jobs in Houston, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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Cities near Houston, TX with the most Principal Engineer job openings:

Principal Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Engineer job openings in Houston, TX as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 79% In-person, 5% Hybrid, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $140,591 per year, or $67.6 per hour.

Principal Engineer

ECOM

Houston, TX • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 22 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
ECOM is seeking a Principal Engineer to build and enhance a portal for client commercial aviation customers. The role requires expertise in Java, Spring, Microservices, and cloud technologies, along with a collaborative approach to technical design and development.
Responsibilities:
• Build and enhance a portal for client commercial aviation customers.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Java - Exception Handling, Collections Framework, Lambdas, Comparators
• Spring – Dependency Injection, JPA, Transactions
• Microservices – Spring Boot, Restful APIs, Security(Oauth)
• Databases – Experience in writing sql queries, Exposure to nosql db, CAP theorem
• Testing – Unit Testing, Mocking, Junits, TDD, BDD, Cucumber, Gherkin
• Design and Problem Solving
• Devops – Familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD Pipelines
• Agile ways of working / SAFE/Scrum methodology understanding
• Team work – be able to work collaboratively
• General – Should be able to do technical design and development with no/minimal oversight
• Cloud – AWS/Azure (AWS preferred but at least one)
Preferred:
• Messaging – Either of these RabbitMQ/Kafka/SQS-SNS/Eventhub
• Others: +Swagger, +GraphQL
Company:
Ecom finds their Clients the right IT experts with the right qualifications. Founded in 2018, the company is headquartered in Houston, USA, with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.

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