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Principal Engineer Jobs in Rochester, NY (NOW HIRING)

Principal Mechanical Engineer

Batavia, NY ยท On-site

$124K - $164K/yr

The (ISD) Principal Mechanical Engineer leads and contributes to projects in areas such as design, design review, procurement, manufacture, installation, test, and initial operations of a project ...

Manufacturing Integration Engineer

Hopewell, NY ยท On-site

$127K - $217K/yr

We are seeking a talented and motivated Senior principal engineer to join our team and drive Technology transfers and Manufacturability of next-generation discrete power FET technologies. This role ...

We are recruiting for a Senior Principal RF Engineer. Candidates must be U.S Citizens and work onsite in Victor, NY. Overview: As a Senior Principal RF Engineer, you will drive the design ...

We are seeking a Principal level GNSS / PNT Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership in architecting, developing, and validating advanced test solutions for CRPA antennas, GNSS receivers, and ...

We are seeking a Principal level GNSS / PNT Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership in architecting, developing, and validating advanced test solutions for CRPA antennas, GNSS receivers, and ...

We are seeking a Principal level GNSS / PNT Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership in architecting, developing, and validating advanced test solutions for CRPA antennas, GNSS receivers, and ...

Principal, Program Management

Rochester, NY ยท On-site

$133K - $247K/yr

Principal, Program Management Job Code: 38700 Job Location: Rochester, NY or Melbourne, FL (Onsite ... Work collaboratively with the regional sales teams, program management and engineering to develop ...

Principal Systems Engineer

Rochester, NY ยท On-site

$119K - $158K/yr

The NDT Systems Engineer is positioned within R&D and responsible for the end-to-end technical definition, development, integration, and validation of radiographic imaging systems used in industrial ...

Showing results 21-40

Principal Engineer information

See Rochester, NY salary details

$73K

$145.3K

$209.7K

How much do principal engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal engineer in Rochester, NY is $145,257.00, 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.
What are the most commonly searched types of Principal Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY? The most popular types of Principal Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY are:
What are popular job titles related to Principal Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY? For Principal Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Principal Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY are:
What cities near Rochester, NY are hiring for Principal Engineer jobs? Cities near Rochester, NY with the most Principal Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Principal Engineer job openings in Rochester, NY as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $145,257 per year, or $69.8 per hour.

Senior Principal Security Engineer - East Coast or Midwest

MKS Instruments, Inc.

Rochester, NY โ€ข On-site

$110K - $151K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 12 days ago


Job description

The Role in Your Life at MKS:
As a Sr. Principal Security Engineer at MKS Inc., you will be a partner with all Engineering Teams, Operations Teams, Business Units, Field Services, and Vendors as required to perform engineering design and implementation of the company's internal network and data communications systems, with a focus on overall network security protocols. In this role, you will report to the Director of IT Connectivity.
You Will Make an Impact By:
  • Owning and driving the enterprise Zero Trust and SASE security architecture roadmap, ensuring alignment with business and regulatory requirements
  • Designing, implementing, and evolving secure data communications networks, including on-prem, cloud and hybrid environments with AWS and Microsoft Azure
  • Defining and enforcing network segmentation strategies across IT and OT environments to reduce risk and support operational resiliency
  • Owning the enterprise network security architecture and continuously improving designs based on industry standards, emerging threats, and organizational needs
  • Serving as the primary Subject Matter Expert (SME) for network security best practices, standards, and procedures
  • Acting as a technical escalation point for complex network security issues across engineering, operations and partner teams
  • Defining, implementing, and governing network security standards and best practices across the enterprise infrastructure
  • Travel Requirements: Up to 0-5% of Travel is required.

Skills You Bring:
  • Bachelor's Degree or Trade Certification in Computer related fields preferred or equivalent work experience
  • Minimum 12+ years of experience in Security and Networking technology environments.
  • Industry certifications such as PCNSA/PCNSE, CCNP, or CISSP or equivalent (preferred)
  • Experience with network and security platforms including ClearPass, Solar Winds, Cisco Umbrella, Infoblox, Cisco Thousand Eyes, and Prisma
  • Strong hands-on experience in establishing security policy governance and designing, deploying, and managing firewall solutions using Fortinet and Palo Alto firewalls

Preferred Skills:
  • Remote access technologies (SSL, IPSec) and site-to-site VPN
  • Network Skills: TCP/IP, routing protocols (EIGRP,BGP,MPLS,IPSec VPN), Layer2/3 switching and VLAN configuration, Firewall security policy
  • Familiar with authentication services: Radius, TACACS/TACACS+, 802.1x

Supervisory Scope:
  • Reporting Relationships: No direct management responsibilities but as a Sr. Principal Engineer projecting a leadership presence to the rest of the team as a technology owner is required
  • Financial Responsibilities: Works with management to align work to budget requirements

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:
  • US requirement due to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However, each country is different due to employment laws, so HR Partner discretion is advised. See HR Partner with any questions.
  • Perform activities such as sitting, standing, or typing for extended periods of time
  • Experience maintaining and supporting network infrastructure in a 24/7, On-Call model
  • Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand
  • Must be able to exchange accurate information
  • Operates in a professional office environment
  • Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery

In addition to the above responsibilities, the following are considered material job duties of the position:
  • Ability to take and follow directions and instructions.
  • Ability to interact with other employees, customers, suppliers, vendors, or the public, in a safe, professional, and respectful manner.
  • Access to sensitive and confidential business systems and software, personally identifying information, the company's financial information, and/or the ability to maintain physical security and safety.
  • Because this position involves the above material job duties, trustworthiness, reliability, and good judgment also are material job duties.

Compensation and Benefits:
Salary Pay Range: $ 135,000.00 - 225,000.00 per year. This range is a good faith estimate of the expected salary range for this position, based on a wide range of factors including qualifications, experience and training, operational and business needs and other considerations permitted by law.
Bonus: This position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, in an amount to be determined by MKS [or as applicable].
Benefits: MKS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance coverage (medical, dental and vision), 401(k) with company match, life and disability insurance, 12 paid holidays, sick time, 15 paid vacation days, [6 weeks fully paid] parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement [and for participation in any stock programs, signing bonus, etc.
MKS is an equal opportunity employer, including disability, veteran status and all categories protected by law. Please review our EOE statements for additional details. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.
MKS will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act and the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers.
Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants for these positions may need to be "U.S. persons." "U.S. persons" are generally defined as U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals, lawful permanent residents (or, green card holders), individuals granted asylum, and individuals admitted as refugees.
MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries ("MKS") is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.
MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: accommodationsatMKS@mksinst.com .
If applying for a specific job, please include the requisition number (ex: RXXXX), the title and location of the role