ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Principal Software Architect Jobs (NOW HIRING)

shutterfly

Senior Principal Software Architect

We are seeking a Senior Principal Software Architect to lead the design and development of next-generation Agentic AI platforms and applications that power personalization, lifecycle engagement, and ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsPrincipal Software Architect Jobs

Principal Software Architect information

See salary details

$117K

$191.8K

$274K

How much do principal software architect jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software architect in the United States is $191,750.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $147,500.00 and $233,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Principal Software Architect position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Software Architect, you need deep expertise in software design, architecture patterns, and multiple programming languages, often supported by a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science or engineering. Familiarity with cloud platforms (like AWS, Azure), architectural modeling tools (such as UML), and certifications like TOGAF or AWS Certified Solutions Architect is valuable. Leadership, strong communication, and the ability to mentor and influence cross-functional teams are standout soft skills for this role. These competencies are essential for guiding technical direction, ensuring scalable and maintainable solutions, and fostering alignment across technical and business stakeholders.

What does a principal software architect do?

A principal software architect designs and oversees the technical architecture of software systems, ensuring they meet business requirements and quality standards. They lead technical teams, set coding and design standards, evaluate new technologies, and collaborate with stakeholders to align technical solutions with organizational goals.

What is the highest salary of a software architect?

The highest salaries for principal software architects can exceed $200,000 annually, especially in high-demand industries or tech hubs, with senior roles often offering additional bonuses and stock options. Compensation varies based on experience, location, company size, and technical expertise in areas like cloud computing and system design.

What is a Principal Software Architect job?

A Principal Software Architect is a senior technical leader responsible for designing, guiding, and overseeing an organization's software architecture. They establish technical standards, ensure scalable and efficient system design, and collaborate with engineering teams to implement best practices. This role involves making high-level design choices, mentoring developers, and aligning technical strategies with business goals. Principal Software Architects work closely with stakeholders to ensure that software solutions meet performance, security, and scalability requirements.

How much does a principal software architect make in the US?

A principal software architect in the US typically earns between $130,000 and $180,000 annually, with total compensation often including bonuses and stock options. Salaries vary based on experience, industry, company size, and location, with higher pay generally found in tech hubs and large organizations.

What does a typical day look like for a Principal Software Architect?

A typical day for a Principal Software Architect involves collaborating with development teams, product managers, and stakeholders to define and refine architectural solutions for complex projects. You’ll spend time reviewing code and system designs, setting technical guidelines, and troubleshooting architectural issues. Mentoring team members, conducting architecture reviews, and ensuring alignment with business objectives are also central responsibilities. The role is both strategic and hands-on, requiring you to balance high-level planning with practical problem-solving, often across several simultaneous initiatives.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Principal Software Architects and senior engineering leaders in high-demand industries can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills in cloud computing, system design, and leadership, as well as stock options or bonuses. Such compensation typically reflects seniority, strategic impact, and working in large tech companies or specialized fields.
More about Principal Software Architect jobs
What cities are hiring for Principal Software Architect jobs? Cities with the most Principal Software Architect job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Principal Software Architect jobs? The most popular types of Principal Software Architect jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Principal Software Architect jobs? The top employers for Principal Software Architect jobs are:
What states have the most Principal Software Architect jobs? States with the most job openings for Principal Software Architect jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Principal Software Architect jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Software Architect jobs are:
What are popular job titles related to Principal Software Architect jobs? For Principal Software Architect jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Principal Software Architect jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Software Architect job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, and 11% Part Time. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $191,750 per year, or $92.2 per hour.
Principal Software Architect (Hybrid, Boston)

Principal Software Architect (Hybrid, Boston)

Haemonetics Corporation

Boston, MA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago

Haemonetics rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

We are constantly looking to add to our core talent. If you are seeking a career that is challenging and rewarding, a work environment that is diverse and dynamic, look no further - Haemonetics is your employer of choice.
Job Details
Shape the architecture of next-generation healthcare platforms
At Haemonetics, we continue to invest in exceptional technical leadership to drive the evolution of our software platforms. If you're looking for a role where architectural vision translates directly into real-world impact - and where you can influence modern engineering practices in a regulated, mission-critical environment - this opportunity may be the right fit.
We are seeking a Principal Software Architect who is both strategic and hands-on, capable of navigating complex distributed systems while guiding engineering teams through modernization and cloud transformation efforts. In this role, you will help define the blueprint for next-generation platforms, mentor engineers, and ensure our solutions remain scalable, secure, and compliant.
What You Will Do
You will lead the architecture of enterprise-grade healthcare and medical-device software systems, ensuring technological choices align with long-term business and regulatory needs. Your work will involve:
  • Designing and evolving modern distributed systems, cloud-native solutions, and edge-computing components.
  • Providing hands-on technical leadership through prototyping, architectural spikes, and code reviews.
  • Defining and enforcing architectural standards, best practices, and patterns that ensure quality and consistency across teams.
  • Partnering with product, engineering, and regulatory groups to deliver compliant, high-quality platforms.
  • Driving modernization efforts - refactoring legacy systems, migrating to modern architectures, and enabling new capabilities.
  • Evaluating emerging technologies and guiding long-term technical strategy.
  • Mentoring engineers and supporting a strong, forward-thinking engineering culture.

Who You Are
You bring a combination of deep architectural expertise, strong communication skills, and the ability to operate effectively in regulated, complex environments. You have:
  • 8+ years of software architecture experience across distributed or enterprise-scale systems.
  • Strong background in .NET or Java, and experience with JavaScript (JS).
  • Industry experience in healthcare, medical devices, or life sciences.
  • Solid understanding of cloud platforms - AWS preferred - and secure systems design.
  • Expertise in microservices, event-driven architectures, APIs, and modern architecture patterns (layered, hexagonal, CQRS, DDD).
  • Knowledge of DevOps practices and Infrastructure-as-Code (e.g., Terraform).
  • The ability to communicate architectural direction clearly across both technical and non-technical teams.
  • A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

Preferred experience includes: leading digital transformation initiatives, working with edge-computing patterns, knowing regulatory frameworks like FDA/ISO 13485/IEC 62304/HIPAA, or building data-intensive and real-time systems.
What Success Looks Like
Success in this role means you bring clarity to complex technical landscapes and help teams execute with confidence. You define architectures that scale, comply, and withstand the demands of modern healthcare software. You elevate engineering culture through mentorship, and you help the organization innovate and modernize without compromising quality or safety.
EEO Policy Statement
Pay Transparency:
The base pay actually offered to the successful candidate will take into account, without limitation, the candidate's location, education, job-knowledge, skills, and experience in prior relevant roles. Incentives may also be provided as part of Haemonetics' employee compensation. For sales roles, employees will be eligible for sales incentive (i.e., commission) under the applicable plan terms. For non-sales roles, employees will be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, the target amount of which varies based on the applicable role, to be governed by the applicable plan terms. Employees may also be eligible to participate in the Company's long-term incentive plan, with eligibility and target amount dependent on the role.
In addition to compensation, the Company offers a competitive suite of benefits to its employees, including without limitation, a 401(k) with up to a 6% employer match and no vesting period, an employee stock purchase plan, "flexible time off" for salaried employees and, for hourly employees, accrual of three to five weeks' vacation annually (based on tenure), accrual of up to 64 hours (annually) of paid sick time, paid and/or floating holidays, parental leave, short- and long-term disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, and/or health and welfare benefits.
Depending on your location, you may be eligible for more detailed information related to the compensation and benefits related to this job posting. If you believe you may be entitled to such information by law, you may contact 1-781-348-7777, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET or email AskHR@Haemonetics.com.
The base salary range for this role is:
$121,286.66-$206,517.25/Annual

Apply