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Principal Infrastructure Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Principal Infrastructure Engineer is a senior technical leader who operates across both network and systems engineering, driving architecture, reliability, and automation. This role requires ...

Establish engineering standards and best practices * Represent infrastructure in cross-functional architecture reviews * Make architecture decisions under ambiguity and document them as ADRs

Establish engineering standards and best practices * Represent infrastructure in cross-functional architecture reviews * Make architecture decisions under ambiguity and document them as ADRs

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Principal Infrastructure Engineer information

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$21K

$149.2K

$224.5K

How much do principal infrastructure engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal infrastructure engineer in the United States is $149,214.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $120,000.00 and $175,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a Principal Infrastructure Engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement large-scale projects?

As a Principal Infrastructure Engineer, you will frequently work alongside software developers, network architects, DevOps engineers, and project managers to design and deliver robust infrastructure solutions. Your role often involves leading technical discussions, establishing best practices, and ensuring all infrastructure components meet project requirements. Collaboration is key, as you'll coordinate system integrations, troubleshoot complex issues, and guide teams through migrations or upgrades. This cross-functional teamwork not only enhances project outcomes but also broadens your exposure to diverse technologies and business needs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Principal Infrastructure Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Infrastructure Engineer, you need deep expertise in network architecture, cloud platforms, and systems administration, usually demonstrated by a degree in computer science or a related field and extensive experience. Familiarity with tools like Terraform, Kubernetes, AWS, Azure, and relevant certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect or Cisco CCNP are commonly required. Strong leadership, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are vital soft skills for guiding teams and collaborating with stakeholders. These skills ensure robust, scalable, and secure infrastructure solutions that support organizational goals and technological growth.

What is a Principal Infrastructure Engineer?

A Principal Infrastructure Engineer is a senior-level professional responsible for designing, overseeing, and optimizing the IT infrastructure within an organization. They lead large-scale infrastructure projects, ensure system reliability and scalability, and often mentor other engineers. Their work includes managing cloud platforms, networks, storage, and security, as well as establishing best practices for infrastructure management. Principal Infrastructure Engineers play a key role in aligning technology solutions with business goals and ensuring efficient and secure operations.

What is the difference between Principal Infrastructure Engineer vs Infrastructure Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Infrastructure EngineerInfrastructure Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or related field, with extensive experience; certifications like Cisco CCNP, AWS, or Azure are commonUsually holds a bachelor's degree in IT, computer science, or related; certifications like Cisco CCNA, CompTIA Network+ are common
Work EnvironmentLeads complex infrastructure projects, designs architecture, and mentors teams in enterprise settingsSupports, maintains, and implements infrastructure solutions in data centers or cloud environments
Employer & Industry UsageFound in large corporations, cloud providers, and consulting firmsCommon in IT departments across various industries, including tech, finance, and healthcare

The main difference is that a Principal Infrastructure Engineer focuses on strategic design, leadership, and complex project oversight, while an Infrastructure Engineer handles day-to-day implementation and maintenance tasks. Both roles require technical expertise, but the Principal role involves higher-level planning and decision-making.

More about Principal Infrastructure Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Principal Infrastructure Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Principal Infrastructure Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Principal Infrastructure Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Principal Infrastructure Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Principal Infrastructure Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,214 per year, or $71.7 per hour.

Principal Infrastructure Engineer

Versant Media

Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 21 days ago


Job description

Company Description

VERSANT is a leading force in news, sports and entertainment - home to iconic and trusted brands that inspire, inform, and delight audiences. Our unique combination of content, technology and services enriches the cultural fabric, igniting passions, sparking conversations, and connecting people to what they love most.

As an independent, publicly traded company, VERSANT brings together powerhouse cable networks - including USA Network, CNBC, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Golf Channel - with dynamic digital and direct-to-consumer brands such as Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. Together, these businesses reflect our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences across every screen and service.

VERSANT is an industry-changing media company fueled by innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. With a strong foundation and a forward-looking vision, VERSANT empowers creativity, embraces change, and drives connection in an ever-evolving world.

Job Description

The Principal Infrastructure Engineer is a senior technical leader responsible for the design, implementation, and ongoing operation of VERSANT’s on-premise infrastructure platforms supporting business-critical and media-centric applications.  

This role serves as a hands-on subject matter expert for VMware virtualization platforms managing Windows and Linux virtual machines, enterprise databases (Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL), and enterprise storage systems including Pure Storage, NetApp, and EMC Isilon.  

The Principal Infrastructure Engineer ensures infrastructure environments are highly available, performance-optimized, secure, and scalable, meeting the throughput and reliability requirements of production systems.  

Responsibilities  

  • Design, implement, and manage VMware clusters in on-premise production environments.  

  • Administer Windows and Linux virtual machines supporting enterprise and media workloads.  

  • Support and optimize Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, and PostgreSQL database platforms.  

  • Architect and manage Pure Storage, NetApp, and EMC Isilon storage environments.  

  • Perform capacity planning, patching, upgrades, and hardware lifecycle management.  

  • Troubleshoot complex infrastructure issues across compute, storage, and database layers.  

  • Define standards for performance tuning, backup, and disaster recovery.  

  • Spearhead efforts to automate infrastructure tasks  

  • Collaborate with security, networking, and application teams to ensure stable operations.  

  • Document infrastructure architecture and operational procedures.  

Qualifications

Qualifications  

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience.  

  • 8+ years of experience in infrastructure or systems engineering.  

  • Deep hands-on expertise with VMware vSphere and vCenter.  

  • Strong experience with Windows and Linux server administration.  

  • Experience managing Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, and PostgreSQL databases.  

  • Extensive experience with Pure Storage, NetApp, and EMC Isilon platforms.  

  • Strong understanding of high-availability design and storage protocols.  

  • Excellent troubleshooting and cross-team collaboration skills.  


Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with a VERSANT Media employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. VERSANT Media's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to candidateaccessibility@versantmedia.com.

VERSANT Media is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. We include a good faith pay range for each position to comply with applicable state and local pay transparency laws and to promote equity across our organization. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, experience, and location and may include additional forms of compensation and benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, etc.

VERSANT Media is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at VERSANT via-email, the Internet, or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from VERSANT's Talent Acquisition team will be deemed the sole property of VERSANT. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by VERSANT as a result of the referral or through other means.