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Principal Lead Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

SAIC

Principal Lead Software Engineer

Colorado Springs, CO · On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

SAIC is seeking an experienced Principal Lead Software Engineer onsite in Colorado Springs, CO to serve as the Software Lead for multiple mission-critical software development projects. Reporting ...

SAIC

Principal Lead Software Engineer

Colorado Springs, CO · On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

Description SAIC is seeking an experienced Principal Lead Software Engineer onsite in Colorado Springs, CO to serve as the Software Lead for multiple mission-critical software development projects.

ST Engineering

SAP Principal Lead

Baltimore, MD · On-site

$135K - $170K/yr

Who YOU are and what YOU can become We are seeking an experienced SAP Principal Lead specializing ... Who WE are and where WE are going At ST Engineering MRAS, our employees have amazing opportunities ...

Ciklum

Agentic Principal Lead Consultant

We are a custom product engineering company that supports both multinational organizations and ... As an Agentic Principal Lead Consultant, become a part of a cross-functional development team ...

ST Engineering

SAP Principal Lead

Baltimore, MD · On-site

$135K - $170K/yr

Who YOU are and what YOU can become We are seeking an experienced SAP Principal Lead specializing ... Who WE are and where WE are going At ST Engineering MRAS, our employees have amazing opportunities ...

STENA

SAP Principal Lead

Baltimore, MD · On-site

$135K - $170K/yr

Who YOU are and what YOU can become We are seeking an experienced SAP Principal Lead specializing ... Who WE are and where WE are going At ST Engineering MRAS, our employees have amazing opportunities ...

Apex Engineering Group

Lead Engineer

Bismarck, ND · On-site

$95K - $130K/yr

Lead Engineers typically report to a senior engineer, sector leader or principal of the firm. Additional responsibilities include general marketing of the firm and various business development ...

Apex Engineering Group

Lead Engineer

Dickinson, ND · On-site

$97K - $128K/yr

Lead Engineers typically report to a senior engineer, sector leader or principal of the firm. Additional responsibilities include general marketing of the firm and various business development ...

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Principal Lead Engineer information

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$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do principal lead engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal lead engineer in the United States is $147,220.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal lead engineer?

A Principal Lead Engineer is a senior-level engineering professional responsible for leading complex technical projects and providing strategic direction within an organization. They typically oversee engineering teams, set technical standards, mentor other engineers, and ensure that projects align with business goals. Principal Lead Engineers often collaborate with stakeholders across departments, contribute to architectural decisions, and play a key role in innovation and problem-solving. Their expertise is critical in driving technical excellence and delivering high-impact solutions.

How does a principal lead engineer balance hands-on technical work with leadership responsibilities?

As a Principal Lead Engineer, you are expected to split your time between high-level technical contributions and guiding the engineering team. This often involves architecting solutions, performing code reviews, and mentoring team members, while also collaborating closely with product managers and stakeholders to align technical direction with business goals. Effective time management and strong communication skills are essential to ensure both project delivery and team development. Many Principal Leads find themselves acting as a bridge between senior management and the engineering team, facilitating efficient workflows and driving technical excellence.

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

To excel as a Principal Lead Engineer, you need deep expertise in engineering principles, systems architecture, and extensive experience in technical leadership, typically backed by a relevant engineering degree. Proficiency in design and development tools, project management software, and industry-standard certifications such as PMP or specific technical credentials is often required. Exceptional communication, mentorship, and problem-solving skills set top candidates apart in leading teams and driving innovation. These abilities are crucial for delivering complex projects efficiently, ensuring technical excellence, and fostering high-performing engineering teams.

What is the difference between Principal Lead Engineer vs Senior Lead Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Lead EngineerSenior Lead Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, extensive experience, professional certifications often preferredBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, significant experience, some certifications
Work EnvironmentStrategic, cross-functional projects, leadership roles, high-level technical decision-makingProject leadership, technical oversight, mentoring teams
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in large corporations, tech, manufacturing, aerospaceCommon in mid to large companies, tech, engineering firms
Search & Comparison IntentHigh-level technical leadership, strategic influenceTechnical project leadership, team management

The Principal Lead Engineer typically holds a higher strategic and organizational role, focusing on long-term technical vision and cross-team leadership. The Senior Lead Engineer is more involved in project execution and team oversight. Both roles require extensive engineering experience, but the Principal Lead Engineer often has broader responsibilities and influence within the organization.

More about Principal Lead Engineer jobs

What job categories do people searching Principal Lead Engineer jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Principal Lead Engineer jobs are:

Principal Lead Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Lead Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, and 20% Contract. Highlights an 60% In-person, and 40% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Principal Lead Software Engineer

SAIC

Colorado Springs, CO • On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

Other

Posted 15 days ago

SAIC rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 79 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

79th of 224 rated it services

Job description

Job ID: 2615239
Location: Colorado Springs, CO, US
Date Posted: 2026-08-04
Category: Software
Subcategory: SW Engineer
Schedule: Full-Time
Shift: Day Job
Travel: No
Minimum Clearance Required: TS.SCI
Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None
Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE
Description
?SAIC is seeking an experienced Principal Lead Software Engineer onsite in Colorado Springs, CO to serve as the Software Lead for multiple mission-critical software development projects. Reporting directly to the Lead Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for providing guidance, technical direction, and leadership across several software development efforts in a rapid prototyping environment. This role will balance hands-on technical contributions, team leadership, and input on software development best practices at the project level.
This position focuses on leading and delivering software efforts for multiple projects, while also collaborating with the broader technical organization to define and refine software development standards, practices, and tools for consistent implementation across the program.
Responsibilities:
Project-Specific Leadership and Delivery:
  • Lead software design, development, and testing for 2-4 mission-critical projects, ensuring technical excellence and on-time delivery.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to define software requirements, architecture, and deliverables.
  • Guide development teams in implementing cloud-native applications, web front ends, and scalable back ends using Agile methodologies.
  • Act as a technical escalation point, conducting code reviews, resolving issues, and maintaining adherence to project goals.
  • Work with engineers across disciplines (DevSecOps, software, data) to build secure pipelines and deliver solutions utilizing Kubernetes, Kafka, and microservices.

Standards and Alignment:
  • Work with leadership and senior technical staff to establish and standardize software development practices across projects.
  • Define and improve development tools, frameworks, and workflows to enhance productivity, quality, and security.
  • Promote and implement secure development practices, including secure coding, vulnerability scanning (e.g., Trivy), and continuous testing.
  • Provide critical feedback on code, processes, and designs during reviews and evaluations.

Hands-On Contributions as Needed:
  • Contribute to development by writing key code, resolving complex technical challenges, and creating architectural proofs of concept.
  • Support rapid prototyping and provide engineering assistance during high-pressure development cycles.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field and 15+ years of software development experience, or Master's with 13+ years of experience.
  • 7+ years of experience in back-end (Python, Java, C#, Go) and/or front-end (React, Angular, Vue.js, HTML5/CSS3) development.
  • Expertise in cloud-native architecture and multi-cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, DAF Cloudworks, Google Cloud Platform).
  • Proficient with DevSecOps tools: Git, Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, Helm.
  • Skilled in building RESTful/GraphQL APIs, microservices, and event-driven architectures (Kafka, RabbitMQ).
  • Experience automating CI/CD pipelines with testing, security scanning, and deployment workflows.
  • Knowledgeable in testing tools (JMeter, Selenium, Jest) for unit and end-to-end testing.
  • Leadership and Collaboration Skills:
    • Minimum 3+ years of experience leading software development teams on 2-4 projects or prototypes simultaneously.
    • 3+ years working with government, defense, and intelligence project development requirements and processes.
    • Experience partnering with Program Leadership, other technical leads, and SMEs to establish consistent standards and ensure quality across assigned project teams.
    • Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, including experience with internal and external stakeholders.

Desired Qualifications:
  • Master's in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
  • Cloud certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect.

Target salary range: $160,001 - $200,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.
SAIC is a premier technology integrator providing full life cycle services and solutions in the technical, engineering, intelligence, and enterprise information technology markets. SAIC is Redefining Ingenuity through its deep customer and domain knowledge to enable the delivery of systems engineering and integration offerings for large, complex projects. SAIC's approximately 15,000 employees are driven by integrity and mission focus to serve customers in the U.S. federal government. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $4.5 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For information on the benefits SAIC offers, see .

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