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Principal Java Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Principal Java Engineer Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid) Duration: Long term Contract This role supports and works collaboratively with business analysts, team leads and development team. A contributor ...

The Principal Engineer will contribute deep technical expertise to a largescale Core Banking ... Java/JEE enterprise applications using open source technologies such as Microservices and Rest API ...

Principal Java Developer

Arvada, CO ยท Remote

$160K - $200K/yr

Principal Software Engineer - Full Stack & Cloud Architecture Remote - US-Based Only No visa ... You will bring deep expertise in Java, Spring, AWS cloud-native development, Angular, and React ...

Principal Java Developer

Bethesda, MD ยท On-site

$131.30K - $237.35K/yr

Leidos has an exciting opportunity for a Principal Java Developer in our Intel Security Sector's Analysis Solutions Business Area . Our talented team is at the forefront in Security Engineering ...

Principal Java Developer

Bethesda, MD ยท On-site

$131.30K - $237.35K/yr

Leidos has an exciting opportunity for a Principal Java Developer in our Intel Security Sector's Analysis Solutions Business Area . Our talented team is at the forefront in Security Engineering ...

Principal Java Architect

Cincinnati, OH ยท Hybrid

$60.50 - $81.50/hr

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA (Hybrid Onsite) Experience: 15+ Years Role Overview We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Java Backend Software Engineer to design, develop, and lead scalable backend ...

... Java Engineers who have led teams, to work on both the Architecture and Development on multiple key projects. \n \n \n \n \n \n This is ideal for someone who enjoys mentoring engineers, enjoys ...

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Principal Java Engineer information

See salary details

$83K

$149.7K

$201.5K

How much do principal java engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal java engineer in the United States is $149,680.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $128,500.00 and $165,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Principal Java Engineer, you need deep expertise in Java programming, software architecture, and system design, usually backed by a computer science degree and extensive industry experience. Familiarity with frameworks like Spring, build tools such as Maven or Gradle, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), and relevant certifications (e.g., Oracle Certified Professional Java SE) is often required. Strong leadership, communication, and mentoring abilities are crucial soft skills to guide teams and drive technical excellence. These skills and qualities are vital for delivering robust, scalable solutions and ensuring the success of complex software projects.

How does a Principal Java Engineer typically contribute to architectural decisions and cross-team collaboration?

A Principal Java Engineer is often a key decision-maker when it comes to designing and evolving the software architecture. They regularly collaborate with product managers, other engineering teams, and stakeholders to ensure technical solutions align with business goals. In addition to providing technical leadership, Principal Java Engineers mentor junior developers, participate in code reviews, and help resolve complex technical challenges across teams. Their role is highly collaborative and strategic, making them instrumental in guiding project direction and maintaining code quality.

What does a Principal Java Engineer do?

A Principal Java Engineer is a senior-level software engineer responsible for designing, developing, and overseeing complex Java-based applications and systems. They lead technical teams, make high-level architectural decisions, and ensure best practices in coding and software design are followed. Principal Java Engineers mentor junior developers, collaborate with stakeholders to define technical requirements, and play a key role in troubleshooting and optimizing application performance. Their expertise in Java and related technologies is critical for delivering scalable and reliable software solutions.

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

AspectPrincipal Java EngineerSenior Java Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in Computer Science, Java certificationsBachelor's in Computer Science, Java certifications
Work EnvironmentLead technical projects, architecture design, cross-team collaborationDevelops features, writes code, fixes bugs
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, large enterprises, consulting firmsStartups, mid-sized companies, tech teams
Common Search & ComparisonLeadership, architecture, high-level technical expertiseHands-on coding, feature development, troubleshooting

The Principal Java Engineer typically holds a higher-level, strategic role focusing on architecture and leadership, while a Senior Java Developer concentrates on coding and implementing features. Both roles require strong Java skills and relevant certifications, but their responsibilities and scope differ significantly.

More about Principal Java Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Principal Java Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Principal Java Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Principal Java Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,680 per year, or $72 per hour.

Principal Java Engineer

Staffworxs Inc

Chicago, IL โ€ข Hybrid

Other

Posted 15 days ago


Job description

t Staffworxs, we don't just connect talent - we power transformation. Headquartered in Frisco, TX, with teams in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, we combine global reach with deep expertise. Our Digital & Data Analytics practice drives growth and innovation for some of the world's top brands, who continue to retain us as their trusted partner. If you're ready to make an impact, you're in the right place.
Job Details:
Job Title: Principal Java Engineer
Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid)
Duration: Long term Contract
Job Description
This role supports and works collaboratively with business analysts, team leads and development team. A contributor in developing scalable and resilient hybrid and Cloud-based data solutions supporting critical financial market clearing and risk activities; collaborate with other developers, architects and product owners to support enterprise transformation into a data-driven organization. The Specialist, Application Developer will be a team player and work well with business, technical and non-technical professionals in a project environment.
Responsibilities

  • Performs application and project risk analysis and recommends quality improvements
  • ssists Production Support by providing advice on system functionality and fixes as required
  • Experience with resolving security vulnerabilities
  • Support the application development of big data application for business requirements in agreed architecture framework and Agile environment
  • Thoroughly analyzes requirements, develops, tests, and documents software quality to ensure proper implementation
  • Follows agreed upon SDLC procedures to ensure that all information system products and services meet: both explicit and implicit quality standards, end-user functional requirements, architectural standards, performance requirements, audit requirements, security rules are upheld, and external facing reporting is properly represented
  • Communicates in a clear and concise manner all time delays or defects in the software
immediately to appropriate team members and management
Qualifications & Experience
  • [Required] 5+ year of experience in building high speed, data-centric solutions
  • [Required] Java 5+ years experience
  • [Required] Experience following Git workflows
  • [Required] Experience with high speed distributed computing frameworks like FLINK,
  • pache Spark, Kafka Streams, etc
  • [Required] Experience with distributed message brokers Kafka, RabbitMQ, ActiveMQ,
  • mazon Kinesis, etc. Kafk
  • [Required] Experience with cloud technologies and migrations. Experience preferred with
  • WS foundational services like VPCs, Security groups, EC2, RDS, S3 ACLs, KMS, AWS
  • CLI and IAM etc
  • [Required] Experience developing and delivering technical solutions using public cloud
  • service providers like Amazon, Google
  • [Required] Experience writing unit and integration tests with testing frameworks like Junit, Citrus
  • [Required] Experience working with various types of databases like Relational, NoSQL, Object-based, Graph
  • [Required] Working knowledge of DevOps tools. Eg Terraform, Ansible, Jenkins, Kubernetes, Helm and CI/CD pipeline etc
  • [Required] Familiarity with monitoring related tools and frameworks like Splunk, ElasticSearch, Prometheus, AppDynamics

Technical Skills & Background
  • [Required] Java-based software development experience
  • [Required] Fluent in object-oriented design, industry best practices, software patterns, and architecture principles
  • [Required] Deep understanding of performance issues and multi-threaded development
  • [Required] Strong testing experience which includes developing test plans, automated test cases, and working with test frameworks
  • [Required] Experience working with two or more of the following: web/mobile application development, Unix/Linux environments, event-driven systems, transaction processing systems, distributed and parallel systems, large software system development, security software development, public-cloud platforms
  • [Required] Hands-on experience with Java version 8 onwards, Spring, SpringBoot, Microservices, REST API

Certifications
  • [Preferred] OCP Java SE 8 Programmer Certification
  • [Preferred] AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate Level

Education & Training
  • [Required] BS degree in Computer Science, similar technical field required
  • [Preferred] MS in Computer Science

Staffworxs is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all employees, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.