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Principal Java Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Jobtailor

Principal Mobile Developer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$120 - $170/hr

Collaborate with a team of diverse software engineers, test specialists, and product owners, by ... Develop commercial-grade software using Java, C/C++, and Python * Apply a scientific and empirical ...

New

Walmart

Principal Software Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$143K - $286K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Collaborate closely with Product Management, UX/UI, Quality Assurance, and DevOps teams.   ... Java, JavaScript etc.), frameworks (E.g. Spring framework etc.), Platforms (E.g. Microsoft Azure ...

Walmart

Principal Software Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$143K - $286K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Collaborate closely with Product Management, UX/UI, Quality Assurance, and DevOps teams.   ... Java, JavaScript etc.), frameworks (E.g. Spring framework etc.), Platforms (E.g. Microsoft Azure ...

Walmart

principal, software engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$143K - $286K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Collaborate closely with Product Management, UX/UI, Quality Assurance, and DevOps teams.   ... Java, JavaScript etc.), frameworks (E.g. Spring framework etc.), Platforms (E.g. Microsoft Azure ...

Walmart

principal, software engineer

Hayward, CA · On-site

$143K - $286K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Collaborate closely with Product Management, UX/UI, Quality Assurance, and DevOps teams.   ... Java, JavaScript etc.), frameworks (E.g. Spring framework etc.), Platforms (E.g. Microsoft Azure ...

Namely

Principal AI Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$130 - $170/hr

The ideal candidate brings strong backend and cloud fundamentals, mandatory experience with Java ... and DevOps teams to deliver AI‑driven product capabilities. Qualifications * 8-10 years of ...

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Principal Java Developer information

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$47

$66

$85

How much do principal java developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for principal java developer in California is $66.82, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51.01 and $80.67 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal Java developer?

A Principal Java Developer is a senior-level software engineer who specializes in designing, developing, and overseeing complex Java-based applications. They typically lead development teams, set technical direction, and ensure best practices are followed throughout the software development lifecycle. Principal Java Developers are also responsible for mentoring junior engineers, collaborating with stakeholders, and making high-level architectural decisions. Their deep expertise in Java and related technologies enables them to solve challenging technical problems and drive innovation within their organizations.

How does a principal Java developer typically contribute to technical leadership and mentorship within a development team?

A Principal Java Developer often plays a crucial role in guiding technical decisions, establishing coding standards, and mentoring less experienced developers. They are responsible for reviewing code, providing architectural input, and ensuring best practices are followed throughout the software development lifecycle. Additionally, they frequently collaborate with cross-functional teams, such as QA, DevOps, and Product Management, to align on project goals and resolve complex technical challenges. This leadership role not only shapes the team's technical direction but also supports professional growth among team members.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal Java developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Java Developer, you need advanced expertise in Java programming, software architecture, and design patterns, often backed by a degree in computer science and extensive hands-on experience. Familiarity with frameworks like Spring, build tools such as Maven or Gradle, cloud platforms, and relevant certifications like Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) are typically required. Leadership, problem-solving, and strong communication skills help you guide teams and collaborate effectively with stakeholders. These competencies are crucial for delivering robust, scalable solutions and ensuring project success at an enterprise level.

What is the difference between Principal Java Developer vs Java Developer?

AspectPrincipal Java DeveloperJava Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in Computer Science, Java certificationsBachelor's in Computer Science, Java certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentLead technical projects, architecture design, mentoringDeveloping applications, coding, debugging
Industry UsageUsed across enterprise, finance, tech companiesCommon in software development firms, startups
Search & Comparison IntentHigher-level roles, architecture, leadershipEntry to mid-level development tasks

The Principal Java Developer typically holds a senior, leadership role focusing on architecture, mentoring, and strategic technical decisions. In contrast, a Java Developer primarily handles coding and application development. Both roles require similar credentials but differ significantly in responsibilities and scope.

What are popular job titles related to Principal Java Developer jobs in California?

For Principal Java Developer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Principal Java Developer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Principal Java Developer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Principal Java Developer jobs in CA?

For Principal Java Developer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Principal Java Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Java Developer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $138,989 per year, or $66.8 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer, AI Onboarding

Medium

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$240 - $250/hr

Other

Posted yesterday

New

Job description

PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER

Saviynt is an identity platform built to power and protect the world at work. With the rise of AI and Agents, the identity perimeter needs to be secured at scale. Come join as founding members of Saviynt’s AI Security team and enable us to build out AI security for the world's leading enterprises.

In a world of digital transformation, where organizations are faced with increasing cyber risk but cannot afford defensive measures to slow down progress, Saviynt’s Enterprise Identity Cloud gives customers unparalleled visibility, control and intelligence to better defend against threats while empowering users with right-time, right-level access to the digital technologies and tools they need to do their best work.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING
  • Design, implement, test and release e2e workflows for our AI security product
  • Work across multiple agent platforms like AWS Bedrock, Google AgentSpace, Salesforce AgentForce, building foundational solutions, using cloud, SAAS and AI design patterns and technologies.
  • Use AI and Agents to secure AI, using CUA agents, various LLM’s , agentic frameworks like ADK, Langchain among others.
  • Design and develop secure, scalable, multi-tenant software solutions that run seamlessly across major cloud platforms like AWS and Azure
  • Act as a technical expert and thought leader, influencing product direction and engineering best practices.
  • Drive continuous improvement in engineering processes, tooling, and operational reliability.
  • Collaborate with internal teams to produce software design and architecture
  • Test and deploy applications and systems
  • Revise, update, refactor and debug code
  • Ability to start a program from scratch as well as maintain existing services
  • Develop documentation throughout the software development life cycle
  • Serve as an expert on applications and provide technical support
  • Follow the true agile principles
WHAT YOU BRING
  • 10+ years of software engineering experience
  • Expert-level ability utilizing technologies such as Java, Spring Framework, REST and Microservices
  • Familiar with AI tools and curious about MCP, A2A, Agentic frameworks. Have a continuous learning mindset and not hesitate to venture into unchartered territory.
  • Ability to perform research and go deep into platforms is a strong plus.
  • Strong Experience as a Java Engineer developing applications based on Security principles, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud) and Containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
  • Deep understanding of data structures, algorithms, and design patterns
  • Hands on experience with SQL, ElasticSearch, Redis, CI/CD, AWS Glue, Kafka
  • Experience in increasing levels of responsibility managing application development, solution architecture, design and delivery, and process improvement
  • Experience with unit, functional and system integration testing
  • Extensive understanding of working in an agile environment utilizing Scrum and Kanban
  • Experience with Git (GitHub/GitLab), automatic deployments, continuous integration
  • Hands on experience using IntelliJ or Eclipse/My Eclipse IDE, writing Junit test cases, working with Maven/Ant
  • Experience with AI development tools in SDLC such as Amazon Q, Github Copilot, Cursor, and similar productivity assistants.
  • Familiarity with various architectural patterns (e.g., event-driven, microservices, serverless) and their trade-offs

$240,000 - $250,000 a year

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