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Principal Network Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Roblox

Principal Network Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

As a Principal Network Engineer, you will work cross-functionally to plan the growth of Roblox's global production network to support rapid user growth. In this role, you are responsible for ...

SAIC

Principal Network Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

ORA_ON_SITE Description SAIC is seeking a Principal Network Engineer to support defense communication network systems ON-SITE in San Diego, CA . Join our innovative team and contribute to mission ...

Graphcore

Principal Network Engineer

Milpitas, CA · On-site

The Principal Network Engineer will be responsible for maintaining network fabrics and topologies in AI data centers, collaborating with the Network architecture team to ensure high-quality network ...

Fleet Data Centers

Principal Network Engineer

Denver, CO · On-site

$120K - $150K/yr

Position Overview Fleet is seeking a Principal Network Engineer to lead the architecture, design, and technical strategy for network infrastructure across our hyperscale campuses. This role serves as ...

Entarian

Principal Network Engineer

Denver, CO · Hybrid

$160K - $180K/yr

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal Network Engineer to support the US Space Force meshONE-T program. The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing, implementing, and ...

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Principal Network Engineer information

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$21K

$133.2K

$204.5K

How much do principal network engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal network engineer in the United States is $133,243.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $117,000.00 and $158,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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 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 Principal Network Engineers?

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.

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Principal Network Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Network Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $133,243 per year, or $64.1 per hour.
Principal Network Engineer

Principal Network Engineer

Roblox

San Mateo, CA • On-site

Other

Posted 27 days ago

Job description

Every day, tens of millions of people from around the world come to Roblox to play, learn, work, and socialize in immersive digital experiences created by the community. Our vision is to build a platform that enables shared experiences among billions of users. This is what's known as the metaverse: a persistent space where anyone can do just about anything they can imagine, from anywhere in the world and on any device. Join us and you'll usher in a new category of human interaction while solving exceptional challenges that you won't find anywhere else.

As a Principal Network Engineer, you will work cross-functionally to plan the growth of Roblox's global production network to support rapid user growth. In this role, you are responsible for Engineering and Architecture of Roblox Backbone and Edge Network. You will ensure that we are making the right investments with our global expansion to provide a great experience for all our users worldwide. We run services and a hosting platform with some unique complexities, so this role is an opportunity for the experienced network engineer to take on new challenges in addition to applying their existing expertise.

You Will:

  • Serve as a Principle Engineer for Roblox's Backbone Network.
  • Drive future design, deployment, and operations for Roblox's large-scale Network Infrastructure.
  • Engage in design, qualification, and validation of new technologies, and ensure new technologies are deployable at scale and are safely operable.
  • Collaborate with the Network Tooling Team to automate workflows and improve telemetry, observability, and alerting.
  • Work with net tools to automate existing workflows and improve our telemetry and alerting framework.
  • Participate in on-call rotation to support the global network infrastructure 24x7.

You Have:

  • 8+ years of work experience responsible for designing, deploying and operating large-scale networks.
  • 5+ years of work experience designing and managing large scale Backbone and Edge Networks
  • Experience configuring and troubleshooting routing and switching protocols (BGP, IS-IS, MPLS, RSVP-TE,).
  • Working knowledge of network protocols (TCP/UDP, DHCP, DNS) and experience with IPv4 and IPv6.
  • Experience working in a multi-vendor environment with hands-on experience with networking hardware.
  • Experience in at least one programming language like Python, Go, C/C++ is a plus.
  • A track record of successful collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

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