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Principal Engineering Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position Overview The Principal in Charge (PIC) is a key strategic leader within K2M's business team, responsible for strengthening client relationships, guiding project success, and driving business ...

Position Overview The Principal in Charge (PIC) is a key strategic leader within K2M's business team, responsible for strengthening client relationships, guiding project success, and driving business ...

Position Overview The Principal in Charge (PIC) is a key strategic leader within K2M's business team, responsible for strengthening client relationships, guiding project success, and driving business ...

Principal Engineering Lead

Long Beach, CA ยท On-site

$200K - $250K/yr

The Principal Engineering Lead position is responsible for the overall engineering strategy, technical governance, and delivery of all engineering activities for the POLA (Port of Los Angeles) Cruise ...

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Principal Engineering Designer

San Diego, CA ยท On-site

$43.50 - $58.50/hr

As a Principal Engineer Designer in San Diego, CA you will have an opportunity to work with a multi-disciplinary team on meaningful, landmark projects in Southern California. As a RICK team member ...

The Principal Engineering Architect is responsible for developing and deploying operational tools to support the IT department around Microsoft's System Center suite of tools. The Principal ...

The Principal Engineering Architect is responsible for developing and deploying operational tools to support the IT department around Microsoft's System Center suite of tools. The Principal ...

Senior Principal Engineering Manager

Redmond, WA ยท On-site

$140K - $193K/yr

We're looking for a Senior Principal Engineering Manager to lead and grow our team that builds one of the world's largest research GPU clusters. This is a transformational leadership opportunity. You ...

Principal Engineering Lead

Long Beach, CA ยท On-site

$200K - $250K/yr

The Principal Engineering Lead position is responsible for the overall engineering strategy, technical governance, and delivery of all engineering activities for the POLA (Port of Los Angeles) Cruise ...

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Principal Engineering Designer

San Luis Obispo, CA ยท On-site

$43.50 - $55.50/hr

As a Principal Engineering Designer in San Luis Obispo, CA you will have an opportunity to work with a multi-disciplinary team on meaningful, landmark projects in the San Luis Obispo region. As a ...

Our platform delivers actionable insights into developer experience and productivity - empowering companies like Netflix, Uber, Dell, Pfizer, and Vanguard to operate at their best. DX has grown from ...

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Showing results 1-20

Principal Engineering information

See salary details

$36.5K

$109.4K

$182K

How much do principal engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal engineering in the United States is $109,393.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,000.00 and $125,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Principal Engineering vs Senior Engineering?

AspectPrincipal EngineeringSenior Engineering
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, extensive experience, often professional certificationsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, several years of experience
Work EnvironmentStrategic, cross-team leadership, high-level project oversightTechnical execution, project development, team collaboration
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in large organizations, tech firms, engineering consultanciesCommon across industries, startups, mid-sized companies
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding senior technical leadership rolesTechnical expertise and project contribution

Principal Engineering roles focus on strategic leadership, cross-team coordination, and high-level project oversight, often requiring extensive experience and advanced credentials. Senior Engineering positions are more hands-on, emphasizing technical skills, project execution, and team collaboration. While both roles are vital in engineering organizations, Principal Engineers typically operate at a higher strategic level compared to Senior Engineers.

More about Principal Engineering jobs
Infographic showing various Principal Engineering job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 89% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,393 per year, or $52.6 per hour.
Principal Engineering Designer

Principal Engineering Designer

RICK ENGINEERING COMPANY

San Luis Obispo, CA โ€ข On-site

$43.50 - $55.50/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 27 days ago


Job description

If you are looking for a place to grow your career and make a difference โ€“ RICK is the place for you!

As a Principal Engineering Designer in San Luis Obispo, CA you will have an opportunity to work with a multi-disciplinary team on meaningful, landmark projects in the San Luis Obispo region. As a RICK team member, you will help clients and communities turn their dreams into reality. You will learn from and work alongside industry-leading experts and together shape the future of tomorrow. At RICK you will find an abundance of opportunities for mentorship, growth, and (of course) fun! Learn more by visiting www.rickengineering.com

Qualifications


Candidate will have BSCE plus four (4) years' experience in land development or the equivalent work experience of 8 years.

Experience must include:

  • Ability to prepare grading and public improvement plans from conceptual design to final documents to support residential, multi-family / mixed use and corporate campus development
  • As well as preparation and processing of technical studies and site plans to obtain entitlements for land development projects

Must have knowledge of:

  • Jurisdictional codes, standards & procedures preferably in the San Diego area
  • AutoCAD or MicroStation/CADD experience desirable


What We Offer

  • Additional compensation offered with overtime and bonus potential.
  • Generous Benefits Package
  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Profit Sharing, 401K, and Life and Disability Insurance and Personal Leave
  • Company Events
  • Holiday Parties, Team Building Activities and Events


RICK Engineering Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer


Rick's employees are protected by laws designed to protect employees from discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, parental status, national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or any other non-merit based factor. These protections extend to all management practices and decisions, including recruitment and hiring practices, appraisal systems, promotions, and training and career development programs. Rick's employees are also protected against retaliation if they engage in a protected activity, whistleblowing, or the exercise of any appeal or grievance right provided by law.