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Principal Pipeline Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Software Engineer Principal

Pittsburgh, PA ยท On-site

$131K - $175K/yr

Software Engineer Principal Location : Pittsburgh, PA or Cleveland OH or Birmingham AL or Dallas ... CI/CD Pipeline Engineering Team- Orange Rocket, rolling out GitHub enterprise. Industry Background:

Principal Engineer, DevSecOps

Las Vegas, NV ยท On-site

$153 - $195/hr

The principal engineer must have production experience across four disciplines simultaneously ... Embedding threat modeling into pipelines and workflows to provide real-time analysis of ...

The principal engineer must have production experience across four disciplines simultaneously ... Embedding threat modeling into pipelines and workflows to provide real-time analysis of ...

Principal Engineer, DevSecOps

Saint Paul, MN ยท On-site

$153 - $195/hr

The principal engineer must have production experience across four disciplines simultaneously ... Embedding threat modeling into pipelines and workflows to provide real-time analysis of ...

New

Principal Engineer, DevSecOps

Las Vegas, NV ยท On-site

$153K - $194K/yr

The principal engineer must have production experience across four disciplines simultaneously ... Embedding threat modeling into pipelines and workflows to provide real-time analysis of ...

The principal engineer must have production experience across four disciplines simultaneously ... Embedding threat modeling into pipelines and workflows to provide real-time analysis of ...

Showing results 21-40

Principal Pipeline Engineer information

See salary details

$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do principal pipeline engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal pipeline 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 pipeline engineer?

Principal Pipeline Engineers are senior professionals responsible for designing, overseeing, and managing the construction and maintenance of pipeline systems used to transport materials such as oil, gas, or water. They lead engineering teams, ensure compliance with industry standards, and solve complex technical challenges. Their role often involves project management, technical leadership, and liaising with clients and regulatory bodies to ensure safe and efficient pipeline operations.

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

To excel as a Principal Pipeline Engineer, you need deep expertise in pipeline engineering principles, design codes, and industry standards, usually supported by a degree in engineering and significant field experience. Familiarity with specialized software such as AutoCAD, CAESAR II, and pipeline simulation tools, along with professional certifications like PE or equivalent, is typically required. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills help manage multidisciplinary teams and complex projects. These skills and qualifications ensure the safe, efficient, and regulatory-compliant delivery of critical pipeline infrastructure.

What are some common challenges faced by principal pipeline engineers during large-scale infrastructure projects?

Principal Pipeline Engineers often encounter challenges such as coordinating multidisciplinary teams, managing project timelines, and ensuring compliance with evolving safety and environmental regulations. They must balance technical demands with budget constraints while overseeing design, construction, and commissioning phases. Effective communication and proactive problem-solving are essential, as they frequently collaborate with clients, contractors, and regulatory bodies to address unforeseen issues and maintain project momentum.

What is the difference between Principal Pipeline Engineer vs Pipeline Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Pipeline EngineerPipeline Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, Professional Engineer (PE) license often preferredBachelor's in Engineering or related field, PE license beneficial
Work EnvironmentLead design, oversee projects, coordinate teams, strategic planningDesign, develop, and maintain pipeline systems, execute project tasks
Employer & Industry UsageOil & gas, energy, infrastructure companies, often in senior rolesOil & gas, utilities, construction firms, entry to mid-level roles

The Principal Pipeline Engineer typically holds a higher level of responsibility, focusing on project leadership and strategic oversight, while the Pipeline Engineer is more involved in technical design and execution. Both roles require relevant engineering credentials and industry experience, but the Principal role emphasizes leadership and planning.

More about Principal Pipeline Engineer jobs
Infographic showing various Principal Pipeline Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Principal Scientist - Data Pipeline Engineer

Jobtailor

California, MO โ€ข On-site

$180 - $240/hr

Other

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Responsibilities
  • Architect and optimize large-scale distributed pipelines
  • Scale up inference throughput across the pipeline
  • Design systems that reliably store, index, and serve billions of data points
  • Apply deep expertise in distributed systems and frameworks
  • Partner with modeling teams to understand data that improves training outcomes
  • Operate as a hands-on technical leader
Requirements
  • 10+ years of experience in data engineering, ML infrastructure, or distributed systems
  • Strong software engineering background
  • Proficiency in Python and strong experience in C++, Rust, Go, or Java
  • Deep knowledge of databases and storage systems at scale
  • Strong ML background, particularly expertise in optimizing GPU inference pipelines
  • Experience with data curation for model training
  • Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Engineering, Machine Learning, or a related field
Core Competencies

Demonstrates extensive expertise in architecting and optimizing large-scale distributed systems and pipelines, with a strong focus on data engineering and machine learning infrastructure. Proficient in Python and experienced in C++, Rust, Go, or Java, with a solid understanding of databases and storage systems at scale.

Certifications & Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Master's Degree
  • Ph.D. in Computer Science
  • Ph.D. in Engineering
  • Ph.D. in Machine Learning
Soft Skills
  • Technical Leadership
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