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Principal Network Engineer Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Principal Network Engineer Full Time Professional Plymouth, MN, US 10 days ago Requisition ID: 1258 Salary Range: $150,000.00 To $185,000.00 Annually HistoSonics is a commercial-stage medtech company ...

Yes NETWORK ENGINEER SR PRINCIPAL Transform technology into opportunity as a Network Engineer Sr Principal at GDIT. Shape what's next for mission-critical government projects while shaping what ...

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ENR (Engineering News Record) top 500 firm We have a Senior Network Engineer opportunity in Eden ... They reflect principal job elements essential for performing the job and evaluating performance ...

ENR (Engineering News Record) top 500 firm We have a Senior Network Engineer opportunity in Eden ... They reflect principal job elements essential for performing the job and evaluating performance ...

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Principal Network Engineer information

See Minnesota salary details

$20.6K

$130.5K

$200.3K

How much do principal network engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal network engineer in Minnesota is $130,500.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $114,600.00 and $154,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal network engineer?

Principal Network Engineers are senior-level professionals responsible for designing, implementing, and managing complex network infrastructures within an organization. They lead network architecture initiatives, oversee security protocols, and ensure high availability and performance of network systems. In addition, they often mentor junior engineers, set technical standards, and collaborate with other IT teams to align network solutions with business goals. Their expertise is crucial for maintaining reliable and scalable connectivity in large enterprises.

What does a principal network engineer do?

As a principal network engineer, you are responsible for the daily operations of a computer system. Your responsibilities are to install, organize, and support systems for an organization. The systems you work with often aid a company in its communications, as with local area networks and wide area networks. Other duties include the installation of hardware, regular system maintenance, and optimization of network performance. You might also train individuals in the use of relevant software or hardware. In some cases, you might help with email and data storage.

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

To thrive as a Principal Network Engineer, you need deep expertise in network architecture, routing and switching, security protocols, and typically a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with enterprise networking hardware, software-defined networking (SDN), firewalls, and certifications such as CCNP or CCIE are essential. Outstanding problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills help you manage complex projects and guide technical teams. These competencies are critical to ensuring reliable, secure, and scalable network infrastructures that support organizational goals.

What are the main challenges principal network engineers face when leading large-scale network projects?

Principal Network Engineers often encounter challenges such as coordinating cross-functional teams, designing scalable solutions that align with business goals, and managing the integration of emerging technologies into existing infrastructure. Balancing competing priorities—like security, performance, and budget constraints—while ensuring minimal downtime is a common part of the role. Effective communication and leadership skills are essential, as Principal Network Engineers frequently serve as the technical authority and must guide both junior engineers and stakeholders through complex decisions.

What is the difference between Principal Network Engineer vs Network Architect?

AspectPrincipal Network EngineerNetwork Architect
CredentialsBS in Computer Science or related, Cisco/Juniper certificationsBS in Computer Science or related, Cisco/Juniper certifications
Work EnvironmentDesign, implement, and troubleshoot network solutions within organizationsDesign overall network infrastructure and architecture for organizations
Employer & Industry UsageUsed across industries for senior technical rolesUsed in enterprise and large organizations for planning network systems
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for senior technical expertiseCompared for strategic network planning roles

The main difference is that a Principal Network Engineer focuses on implementing and troubleshooting network solutions, while a Network Architect designs the overall network architecture and strategy. Both roles require similar certifications and work in similar environments, but their core responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

How much does a principal network engineer make in the US?

A principal network engineer in the US typically earns between $120,000 and $180,000 annually, with salaries varying based on experience, location, and industry. They often hold advanced certifications like CCNP or CCIE and have extensive knowledge of network architecture, security, and troubleshooting tools.

What are popular job titles related to Principal Network Engineer jobs in Minnesota?

For Principal Network Engineer jobs in Minnesota, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Principal Network Engineer jobs in Minnesota look for?

The top searched job categories for Principal Network Engineer jobs in Minnesota are:

What are popular job titles related to Principal Network Engineer jobs in MN?

For Principal Network Engineer jobs in MN, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Principal Network Engineer job openings in Minnesota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,500 per year, or $62.7 per hour.

Principal Network Engineer

HISTOSONICS INC

Plymouth, MN • On-site

$150 - $185/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago


Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Principal Network Engineer

Full Time Professional Plymouth, MN, US

10 days ago Requisition ID: 1258

Salary Range: $150,000.00 To $185,000.00 Annually

HistoSonics is a commercial-stage medtech company advancing the Edison® System, a novel non-invasive sonic beam therapy based on histotripsy. Since receiving FDA De Novo grant for the non-invasive destruction of liver tumors in 2023, the company has progressed beyond initial market entry into commercial expansion, reimbursement momentum, and ongoing clinical and pipeline development. In addition to its current liver tumor indication, HistoSonics is pursuing future indications across multiple applications including kidney, pancreas, prostate, neuro, women’s health, and other significant underserved human health areas, to realize the broader potential histotripsy across multiple disease states and medical specialties.

We offer an exciting work culture where cutting-edge science meets real-world application, and each team member’s contribution is important to our success in ensuring our physicians and their patients get what they need most.

Location: Plymouth, MN

Position Summary (Why this role matters):

The Principal Network Engineer is the senior-most individual contributor within the HistoSonics network engineering function and a member of a larger, multi-site IT team supporting HistoSonics as a whole. This is a hybrid position based out of the Plymouth, MN office. The role owns the design, operation, and reliability of the enterprise network across all sites, spanning office routing, switching, and wireless, site interconnectivity, data center networking, dedicated cloud connectivity, perimeter and segmentation controls, remote access, and physical security network infrastructure. It leads network design and execution for new and expanded facilities and provides the primary technical execution behind network engagement with the AI and R&D Infrastructure team, a partnership owned by the Senior Director, Information Systems and Security. The role is the highest level of technical escalation for network infrastructure and sets technical direction and standards for the function.

Key Responsibilities (What you’ll do):

Network Architecture and Engineering

  • Design, deploy, administer, and maintain the enterprise network across all sites, including routing, switching, wireless, network access control, and IP address management.
  • Own corporate site interconnectivity, including wide area network and SD-WAN topology, carrier and circuit selection, redundancy and failover design, and inter-site capacity planning.
  • Design and administer data center and server room networking, including core and top-of-rack switching, high-availability topologies, and out-of-band management, and maintain dedicated connectivity to cloud platforms, including private interconnects and virtual network routing, in coordination with the System Administration function.

Network Security

  • Own the design, administration, and rule lifecycle of enterprise firewalls, including policy standards, change review, periodic rule base review, and segmentation between corporate, laboratory, manufacturing, guest, and product environments.
  • Design and administer DNS security, web and content filtering, intrusion prevention, and remote access, including site-to-site and client virtual private networking following zero trust principles.
  • Develop forward-looking network security plans and roadmaps supporting the organization’s security maturity objectives, in partnership with Information Security and under the direction of the Senior Director, Information Systems and Security.

Facilities, Data Center, and Physical Security Infrastructure

  • Plan, design, and execute network buildouts for new and expanded facilities, including low-voltage design, wireless surveys and validation, equipment specification, vendor coordination, and cutover planning.
  • Own the network and supporting infrastructure for physical security systems, including access control and video surveillance, partnering with Facilities and Security on design and operational support.
  • Maintain accurate network documentation, including topology diagrams, addressing schemes, circuit and vendor records, and as-built documentation for each facility.

Reliability, Observability, and Operations

  • Define and implement network monitoring, alerting, flow analysis, and performance reporting, and contribute network telemetry and dashboards to centralized reporting.
  • Define service levelobjectives, alert thresholds, and escalation paths for network services supporting mission-critical systems.
  • Serve as a senior technical responder for major network incidents, conduct root cause analysis, drive corrective and preventive actions, and participate in an on-call rotation for after-hours support.

Automation, Governance, and Standards

  • Author and maintain organizational network standards for architecture, addressing, configuration baselines, firmware lifecycle, and change control, and drive adoption across sites.
  • Identify and automate manual network operational processes, including configuration backup, compliance validation, and reporting, using Python, PowerShell, or comparable languages.
  • Serve as control owner for assigned IT controls, provide audit evidence, ensure network configurations and patching adhere to IT policies and applicable regulatory requirements, and support validation of network infrastructure under the HistoSonics Quality Management System.

Technical Leadership and Collaboration

  • Serve as the final internal escalation point for complex network issues and provide technical mentorship and design review to System Administrators and IT Support Specialists.
  • Serve as the primary Information Systems network resource to the AI and R&D Infrastructure team, providing architecture guidance, design review, and escalation support.
  • Represent network infrastructure in architecture reviews, threat modeling, and change control, and advise Security, Data Privacy, Quality, and Regulatory stakeholders.
  • Escalate cross-organizational governance conflicts, scope disputes, and resourcing trade-offs to the Senior Director, Information Systems and Security, and evaluate, recommend, and implement network hardware, circuits, and SaaS solutions to address business needs.

Qualifications and Skills:

Required:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field.
  • 10+ years in network engineering, including experience above senior level.
  • Intermediate to expert experience with Cisco platforms, including Catalyst and Meraki cloud-managed switching, wireless, and security appliances, with advanced working knowledge of BGP, OSPF, VLANs, spanning tree, and link aggregation.
  • Intermediate to expert experience administering Palo Alto Networks and Meraki firewalls, covering policy design, segmentation, threat prevention, and rule lifecycle management.
  • Demonstrated experience designing networks for larger multi-building or multi-floor campus facilities, including wireless design and validation and structured cabling standards, and with data center design, including high-availability topologies, redundancy, and capacity planning.
  • Demonstrated experience designing corporate location interconnectivity, including wide area network and SD-WAN topologies, carrier and circuit management, failover design, and direct connectivity to cloud environments such as AWS Direct Connect or Azure ExpressRoute.
  • Demonstrated experience operating mission-critical or product production environments, including service level objectives, change control, and incident response.
  • Experience with network monitoring and observability tooling, network authentication and access control, and making changes within an environment compliant with ISO 27001 and SOC 2 standards.

Preferred:

  • Experience in a regulated industry such as medical device, healthcare, or manufacturing.
  • Experience with DNS security platforms, network access control, zero trust network access, and network automation using vendor APIs, Python or PowerShell, Ansible, or Terraform.
  • Relevant industry certifications are a plus.
  • Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills, with sound judgment when responding to incidents affecting production systems, and a bias toward automation, standardization, and durable documentation.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain network decisions, risks, and trade-offs to technical and non-technical audiences, and to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively while working independently and as part of a team.
  • Ability to set technical direction and influence outcomes across teams and departments without direct reporting authority.

Physical Requirements:

  • Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • Ability to occasionally lift or move equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Ability to work in server rooms, data closets, and other equipment areas, including bending, kneeling, reaching, and working from ladders or lifts to install and service equipment.
  • Ability to travel between company facilitiesand toconstruction or buildout sites asrequired.

Benefits: We offer a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees. This includes health, dental, and vision insurance, life, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 401(k), paid time off, and more.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

U.S. Work Authorization & Sponsorship: Employer will not sponsor visas for position.

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