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Principal Java Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Leidos

Principal Java Developer

Bethesda, MD · On-site

$131K - $237K/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 ...

Leidos

Principal Java Developer

Bethesda, MD · On-site

$131K - $237K/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 ...

StackandCo

... 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 ...

PointClickCare

Principal Java Data Engineer

PointClickCare is searching for a Principal Software Data Engineer who will contribute to all ... on Java microservices -Engineer and optimize data pipelines using solutions like Apache Hudi ...

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All JobsPrincipal Java Engineer Jobs

Principal Java Engineer information

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$83K

$149.7K

$201.5K

How much do principal java engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 16, 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.

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 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.

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.

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.
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Principal Java Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Java Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,680 per year, or $72 per hour.

Principal Java Developer

RE Partners Consulting LLC

New York, NY • On-site

$130K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

Hello from RE Partners!
Who We Are: We are a fast growing business and technology consultant company co-founded in 2019. We offer a custom-tailored, white-glove engineering service fit for our clients, because a digital transformation is more than just technology. With a successful track record of being a preferred vendor for Fortune 500 companies and as a trusted partner for some of the industry's leading companies, our global talent has helped many clients achieve their goals.
The 3 G's of RE:
"Get Shit Done."
"Get Over Shit."
"Give a Shit."
Principal Java Developer
We are seeking an experienced and opinionated Principal Java Engineer to join our high-performing engineering team, working on low latency, high-throughput systems in the payments processing domain. This hybrid role is based in the NY and offers the opportunity to build scalable, real-time services using modern technologies.If you're passionate about performance, have strong Core Java and SpringBoot expertise, and thrive in a collaborative yet opinionated engineering culture, we want to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Design, develop, and optimize low-latency, high-throughput backend systems using Java.
  • Build and maintain RESTful APIs and microservices that power secure payment workflows.
  • Work with messaging standards and protocols commonly used in financial transactions.
  • Deploy, monitor, and scale applications in Red Hat OpenShift and AWS cloud environments.
  • Integrate with MongoDB and other NoSQL/SQL datastores for real-time data management.
  • Collaborate with DevOps, Product, and QA teams to ensure production-grade solutions.
  • Drive architectural changes, advocate for best practices, and provide mentorship to peers.
  • Drive performance tuning, fault tolerance, and observability improvements across services.

Required Skills & Experience:
  • 10+ years of experience in Java development with a focus on performance and memory optimization.
  • Proficient in Mongo, Spring and microservice-based architecture.
  • Proven experience with low-latency, high-throughput applications (sub-millisecond response times a plus).
  • Hands-on experience deploying applications on Red Hat OpenShift and/or Kubernetes.
  • Strong cloud experience with AWS services such as ECS, EKS, Lambda, S3, etc.
  • Strong communication skills and a bias toward action and opinionated design decisions.

Nice to Have:
  • Familiarity with messaging systems (Kafka, RabbitMQ, etc.)
  • Prior experience in Payments Processing, financial services, or banking systems.
  • Exposure to container security and performance tuning on OpenShift.
  • Knowledge of payment gateways, ISO 20022, or SWIFT formats.

Location & Work Environment:
  • Hybrid work model in New York.
  • Collaborative, fast-paced, and engineering-driven culture.
  • Emphasis on engineering autonomy, architectural decision-making, and clean code

The base salary range for this position is $130,000.00 - $150,000.00 annually. This range represents the good-faith minimum and maximum salary the Company believes it would pay for this role at the time of this posting.
Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, qualifications, geographic location, internal equity, and business needs. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, including bonuses, commissions, and/or benefits, as applicable.
Join Our Global Team: We invite you to apply for the position at RE Partners. Join us in shaping the future of business technology consulting and transforming the way organizations thrive in a digital world. As a diverse, woman-owned global business, we pride ourselves on keeping talent happy - our 7% attrition rate speaks volumes. Bring your talented friends along and earn a referral bonus
Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.

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