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Principal Engineering Jobs (NOW HIRING)

mercury

Principal Engineering Project Lead

Hudson, NH · Hybrid

... Principal Engineering Project Lead to help shape what comes next. In this highly impactful role, you will lead multiple crossfunctional development programs from concept through delivery, guiding ...

Graphcore

Principal Engineering Program Manager

Austin, TX · On-site

$127K/yr

Job Summary Reporting into the Hardware Systems Engineering organization, the Principal Engineering Program Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and driving the successful execution of ...

Graphcore

Principal Engineering Program Manager

Austin, TX · On-site

$127K/yr

Job Summary Reporting into the Hardware Systems Engineering organization, the Principal Engineering Program Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and driving the successful execution of ...

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Principal Engineering information

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$36.5K

$109.4K

$182K

How much do principal engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 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 does a principal engineer do?

A principal engineer is a senior technical leader responsible for designing and overseeing complex engineering projects, setting technical standards, and guiding engineering teams. They often have deep expertise in specific technologies and may influence product development, architecture, and strategic technical decisions. Strong problem-solving skills, leadership, and experience with tools like design software or coding are essential in this role.

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
What job categories do people searching Principal Engineering jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Engineering jobs are:
Principal Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Engineering job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,393 per year, or $52.6 per hour.

Principal Engineering Program Manager (EPM)

Astera Labs

San Jose, CA • On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

New

Job description

Astera Labs (NASDAQ: ALAB) provides rack-scale AI infrastructure through purpose-built connectivity solutions. By collaborating with hyperscalers and ecosystem partners, Astera Labs enables organizations to unlock the full potential of modern AI. Astera Labs' Intelligent Connectivity Platform integrates CXL®, Ethernet, NVLink, PCIe®, and UALink™ semiconductor-based technologies with the company's COSMOS software suite to unify diverse components into cohesive, flexible systems that deliver end-to-end scale-up, and scale-out connectivity. The company's custom connectivity solutions business complements its standards-based portfolio, enabling customers to deploy tailored architectures to meet their unique infrastructure requirements. Discover more at www.asteralabs.com.
Principal Engineering Program Manager, (EPM)
Location: San Jose, CA (Onsite)
Role Overview
As a Principal Engineering Program Manager on our Analog/Mixed-Signal (AMS) team, you will drive the execution of the complex silicon programs that power Astera Labs' purpose-built connectivity solutions. You'll orchestrate multi-disciplinary teams - spanning circuit design, layout, verification, and silicon validation - to deliver high-performance AMS IP on schedule, on budget, and to spec.
This is a high-impact leadership role at a hyper-growth company defining the connectivity backbone of the AI era. You'll own program plans from concept through tape-out and silicon bring-up, surface and resolve cross-functional risks, and bring the operational rigor that turns ambitious engineering into products shipping at rack scale. Your ability to align stakeholders and keep fast-moving programs on track will be central to Astera's continued momentum.
Key Responsibilities
  • Program Planning & Execution
    • Define, drive, and maintain end-to-end program schedules for AMS IP development, from specification through tape-out and validation
    • Manage critical path, milestones, and dependencies across circuit design, layout, verification, and silicon bring-up
    • Establish and track program metrics, budgets, and deliverables to ensure predictable, high-quality outcomes
  • Cross-Functional Leadership
    • Partner with AMS design, digital, systems, product, and operations teams to align priorities and resolve blockers
    • Lead program reviews, drive decision-making, and communicate status, risks, and trade-offs to leadership and stakeholders
    • Coordinate with external partners, foundries, and vendors on tape-out readiness and schedule commitments
  • Risk Management & Process Excellence
    • Proactively identify, quantify, and mitigate technical and schedule risks across concurrent programs
    • Drive continuous improvement of program management processes, tools, and best practices for AMS execution
    • Champion clear documentation, accountability, and operational discipline across the program lifecycle
Basic Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field
  • 8+ years of experience in program or project management within semiconductor, IC, or hardware development
  • Proven track record managing complex silicon or AMS/IP programs through tape-out and silicon validation
  • Strong understanding of the ASIC/IC development lifecycle, including design, verification, layout, and bring-up
  • Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills
  • Proficiency with program management and collaboration tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Microsoft 365)
Preferred Qualifications
  • MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field
  • Direct experience with analog/mixed-signal or high-speed connectivity programs
  • PMP certification or equivalent program management credential
  • Familiarity with foundry engagement, tape-out flows, and vendor/IP coordination
  • Ability to thrive and lead through ambiguity in a fast-paced, hyper-growth environment

Salary range is $160,000 to $200,000 depending on experience, level, and business need. This role may be eligible for discretionary bonus, incentives and benefits.
We know that creativity and innovation happen more often when teams include diverse ideas, backgrounds, and experiences, and we actively encourage everyone with relevant experience to apply, including people of color, LGBTQ+ and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities.

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