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Principal Rail Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Solera

Principal Software Engineer

Westlake, TX · On-site

$129K - $173K/yr

The Role We're looking for a highly skilled and experienced Principal Software Engineer with 8+ years of experience in Angular, Rails, Postgres, C#, MSSQL, K8s, Kubernetes, AI/ML, LLMs to join our ...

Solera

Principal Software Engineer

Westlake, TX · On-site

$129K - $173K/yr

The Role We're looking for a highly skilled and experienced Principal Software Engineer with 8+ years of experience in Angular, Rails, Postgres, C#, MSSQL, K8s, Kubernetes, AI/ML, LLMs to join our ...

Hitachi

Principal System RAMS Engineer

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site

HITACHI RAIL STS USA, INC. Profession (Job Category): Engineering & Science Job Schedule: Full time ... Hitachi Rail STS USA, Inc ., headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, seeks a Principal System RAMS ...

City of Santa Clara

Principal Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

$207K - $268K/yr

... rail, and other public transportation. Department of Public Works The City of Santa Clara's Department of Public Works seeks a result-oriented and innovative principal engineer to serve out the ...

City of Santa Clara, CA

Principal Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$207K - $268K/yr

... rail, and other public transportation. Department of Public Works The City of Santa Clara's Department of Public Works seeks a result-oriented and innovative principal engineer to serve out the ...

Wisk

Principal Software Development Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$159K - $213K/yr

... automotive, rail, and defense. As the Principal Software Engineer, you will serve as a key ... technical leader, mentor, and architect, ensuring the highest levels of quality, reliability, and ...

StrongMind

Principal Engineer (Ruby) - REMOTE

... type Principal - someone who understands technology and business, who can zoom out to see the ... Stay Hands-On - Spend meaningful time in the Ruby/Rails codebase, especially on critical paths ...

StrongMind

Principal Engineer (Ruby) - REMOTE

... type Principal - someone who understands technology and business, who can zoom out to see the ... Stay Hands-On - Spend meaningful time in the Ruby/Rails codebase, especially on critical paths ...

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All JobsPrincipal Rail Engineer Jobs

Principal Rail Engineer information

See salary details

$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do principal rail engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal rail 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 the difference between Principal Rail Engineer vs Senior Rail Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Rail EngineerSenior Rail Engineer
QualificationsTypically requires a degree in civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering; Chartered status often preferredRequires relevant engineering degree; Chartered status advantageous but less common
Work EnvironmentLeads large projects, oversees teams, and liaises with stakeholdersExecutes technical tasks, supports project delivery, and mentors junior staff
ResponsibilitiesStrategic planning, project management, and technical leadershipDesign, analysis, and technical problem-solving within projects

The main difference between a Principal Rail Engineer and a Senior Rail Engineer lies in their scope of responsibility. The Principal Rail Engineer typically holds a leadership role, managing large projects and teams, while the Senior Rail Engineer focuses on technical execution and supporting project delivery. Both roles require relevant engineering qualifications and industry experience, but the Principal position involves more strategic oversight and stakeholder engagement.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Principal Rail Engineers and other senior engineering roles in specialized fields such as aerospace, petroleum, and software engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership responsibilities. High salaries are often associated with roles requiring advanced technical skills, project management, and industry expertise.

What does a principal engineer get paid?

A principal rail engineer typically earns between $100,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and employer. Senior-level engineering roles often include additional benefits such as bonuses and professional development opportunities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Principal Rail Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Rail Engineer, you need extensive experience in rail infrastructure design, project management, and a relevant engineering degree, often chartered status (CEng or equivalent). Mastery of industry-specific software such as Bentley Rail Track, AutoCAD, and BIM systems, as well as knowledge of rail standards and safety regulations, is essential. Leadership, problem-solving, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for coordinating multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders. These competencies ensure the safe, efficient delivery of complex rail projects and uphold industry standards.

What is the highest paid railroad job?

The highest paid railroad jobs are typically executive roles such as Chief Operating Officer or Vice President of Rail Operations, which can earn six-figure salaries. Senior engineering positions like Rail Project Directors or specialized roles such as Rail Safety Directors also tend to have high compensation, especially with extensive experience and industry certifications.

What are Principal Rail Engineers?

Principal Rail Engineers are senior professionals who lead the design, planning, and delivery of rail infrastructure projects. They oversee teams of engineers, provide technical guidance, and ensure that projects meet safety, quality, and regulatory standards. Their responsibilities often include project management, stakeholder coordination, risk assessment, and mentoring junior staff. Principal Rail Engineers typically have extensive experience in civil or rail engineering and play a key role in the successful completion of rail projects.

What engineers make $500,000?

Principal Rail Engineers in the transportation industry can reach or exceed a $500,000 annual salary with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership roles. High compensation is often associated with senior positions, specialized skills, and working in regions with high demand for rail infrastructure expertise.

What are the main challenges a Principal Rail Engineer typically faces when leading multidisciplinary rail projects?

Principal Rail Engineers often encounter challenges such as coordinating across multiple engineering disciplines, balancing project timelines with regulatory compliance, and managing stakeholder expectations. They must effectively oversee design, construction, and safety standards while ensuring that all technical requirements are met. Strong leadership and communication skills are essential, as they frequently collaborate with project managers, contractors, and public agencies to deliver complex rail infrastructure projects on time and within budget.
More about Principal Rail Engineer jobs
What job categories do people searching Principal Rail Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Rail Engineer jobs are:
Principal Rail Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Rail Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.
Principal Software Engineer

Principal Software Engineer

Solera

Westlake, TX • On-site

$129K - $173K/yr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Design, develop, and maintain robust backend services and data processing pipelines.

  • Implement screen scraping techniques while navigating both detection and CAPTCHA challenges.

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality software solutions.

Job description

Principal Software Engineer / Westlake, TX

Who We Are

Solera is a global leader in data and software services that strives to transform every touchpoint of the vehicle lifecycle into a connected digital experience. In addition, we provide products and services to protect life's other most important assets: our homes and digital identities. Today, Solera processes over 300 million digital transactions annually for approximately 235,000 partners and customers in more than 90 countries. Our 6,500 team members foster an uncommon, innovative culture and are dedicated to successfully bringing the future to bear today through cognitive answers, insights, algorithms and automation. For more information, please visitsolera.com.

The Role We're looking for a highly skilled and experienced Principal Software Engineer with 8+ years of experience in Angular, Rails, Postgres, C#, MSSQL, K8s, Kubernetes, AI/ML, LLMs to join our engineering team. This role focuses on middle and back-end development, supporting data-intensive applications and system integrations. This is a full-time in-office role located in Westlake, TX just off of highway 114.

What You'll Do

Design, develop, and maintain robust backend services and data processing pipelines.

Implement screen scraping techniques while navigating both detection and CAPTCHA challenges.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality software solutions.

Participate in code reviews, architecture discussions, and mentoring junior developers.

What You'll Bring

8+ years of proven experience with Angular, Rails, Postgres, C#, MSSQL, K8s, Kubernetes, AI/ML, LLMs in production environments.

Strong understanding of data structures, algorithms, and performance optimization.

Experience handling large-scale data processing efficiently.

Familiarity with screen scraping, including techniques to limit challenges presented by bot detection and CAPTCHA.

Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

Ability to understand complex infrastructure environment.

It is impossible to list every requirement for, or responsibility of, any position. Similarly, we cannot identify all the skills a position may require since job responsibilities and the Company's needs may

change over time. Therefore, the above job description is not comprehensive or exhaustive. The Company reserves the right to adjust, add to or eliminate any aspect of the above description. The Company also retains the right to require all employees to undertake additional or different job responsibilities when necessary to meet business needs.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
SOLERA HOLDINGS, INC., AND ITS US SUBSIDIARIES (TOGETHER, SOLERA) IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. THE FIRM'S POLICY IS NOT TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY APPLICANT OR EMPLOYEE BASED ON RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, GENDER, AGE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, MARITAL STATUS, MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY, AND GENETIC INFORMATION, OR ANY OTHER BASIS PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. THE FIRM ALSO PROHIBITS HARASSMENT OF APPLICANTS OR EMPLOYEES BASED ON ANY OF THESE PROTECTED CATEGORIES.

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