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Principal Software Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Principal Software Developer Job Location (Short): Atlanta, United States | Madison, United States Workplace Type: Hybrid Req Id: 2749 Responsibilities Octave is looking for a Principal Software ...

We are seeking a Principal Software Developer who will be a member of a dynamic team Air Traffic Management program - SkyLine-X SkyLine-X provides an array of advanced air traffic management ...

BigBear.ai is seeking a Principal Software Developer to join our GALE (Generic Area Limitation Environment) Support team. This is your chance to work on impactful projects that directly support the ...

Principal Software Developer Job Location (Short): Madison, Alabama-USA Workplace Type: Hybrid Req Id: 3058 Responsibilities This position reports to the North American Public Safety Regional ...

Principal Software Developer Job Location (Short): Madison, United States Workplace Type: Remote Req Id: 3057 Responsibilities This position reports to the North American Public Safety Regional ...

Leidos is seeking Principal Software Developers to join the Air Traffic Business Area within the Homeland Sector, supporting the development of next-generation flight service and air traffic systems.

Leidos is seeking Principal Software Developers to join the Air Traffic Business Area within the Homeland Sector, supporting the development of next-generation flight service and air traffic systems.

Leidos is seeking Principal Software Developers to join the Air Traffic Business Area within the Homeland Sector, supporting the development of next-generation flight service and air traffic systems.

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Principal Software Developer information

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$94.5K

$141.2K

$185.5K

How much do principal software developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software developer in the United States is $141,171.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $123,500.00 and $155,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Principal Software Developer vs Senior Software Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Software DeveloperSenior Software Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master’s in Computer Science; extensive experienceBachelor's or Master’s in Computer Science; 5+ years experience
Work EnvironmentLeads technical strategy, mentors teams, influences architectureDevelops features, writes code, mentors junior staff
Industry UsageUsed in large organizations, tech companies, and enterprise settingsCommon across startups, mid-sized, and large companies

The Principal Software Developer typically holds a higher-level role focused on technical leadership, architecture, and strategic planning, whereas the Senior Software Engineer primarily focuses on coding, feature development, and mentoring. Both roles require strong technical skills, but the Principal position involves broader responsibilities and influence within the organization.

How does a Principal Software Developer typically balance hands-on coding with leadership and mentorship responsibilities?

As a Principal Software Developer, you’ll often split your time between writing high-impact code and guiding technical direction for the team. While you remain involved in architecting and developing complex features, a significant portion of your role will also involve mentoring less-experienced developers, leading code reviews, and fostering best practices. You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to align technical solutions with business goals, and you’re expected to influence the overall engineering culture. This balance requires strong time management skills and a passion for both technical excellence and team development.

What does a Principal Software Developer do?

A Principal Software Developer is a senior-level engineer responsible for leading complex software projects, setting technical direction, and mentoring other developers. They design and architect software solutions, ensure best coding practices, and collaborate with stakeholders to align technical strategy with business goals. Principal Software Developers often influence company-wide technology decisions and help solve the most challenging engineering problems. Their role typically combines hands-on coding with leadership and strategic planning.

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

To thrive as a Principal Software Developer, you need advanced expertise in software engineering, architecture design, and problem-solving, typically backed by a degree in computer science or a related field and extensive industry experience. Mastery of programming languages (such as Java, Python, or C#), software development frameworks, cloud platforms, and familiarity with tools like Git, Docker, and CI/CD systems is critical. Leadership, effective communication, and mentorship abilities are vital soft skills that set top performers apart in this role. These competencies ensure scalable solutions, effective project delivery, and the growth of high-performing development teams.
More about Principal Software Developer jobs
What cities are hiring for Principal Software Developer jobs? Cities with the most Principal Software Developer job openings:
Who are the top companies hiring for Principal Software Developer jobs? The top employers for Principal Software Developer jobs are:
What states have the most Principal Software Developer jobs? States with the most job openings for Principal Software Developer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Principal Software Developer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 67% Full Time, 27% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $141,171 per year, or $67.9 per hour.

Principal Software Developer

Naval Nuclear Laboratory

West Mifflin, PA • On-site

$117K - $184K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Working at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory we foster pride in belonging to an organization whose culture is made up of these core values: Trust, Empowerment, and Collaboration. Our company promotes a positive culture while ensuring the safety and reliability of our nation's naval nuclear reactors, and training the Sailors who operate those reactors in the U.S. Navy's submarines and aircraft carrier Fleets.

Looking for a lifetime career? Apply today! Job Description The Core Analysis Process System (CAPS) Project is looking to hire a principal software engineer to lead the reactor engineering community in developing and implementing complex software solutions for scientific and engineering problems.

The CAPS Project works directly with our engineers to provide common software engineering solutions for the reactor design community, applicable to all naval nuclear core designs. The project is focused on the ability to provide robust, user friendly, automated tools to evaluate thermal hydraulic and reactor performance design conditions. As a Principal Software Developer on the CAPS Project, the qualifying individual will need to be able to directly mentor and oversee multiple software engineers and nuclear engineers in designing, developing, testing, verifying, and maintaining engineering applications and programs using modern computing architectures.

Additionally, the selected individual will work closely with management and leads to define the future of the scientific and engineering work efforts across the reactor engineering, data science and high performance computing technologies with a focus on near term execution. Particular application areas include nuclear reactor physics, reactor thermal performance and casualty analysis, and data science. Required Combination of Knowledge and Skill Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in a related technical, engineering or science field and a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience; or Masters degree from an accredited college or university in a related technical, engineering or science field and a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience; or Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in a related technical, engineering, science field and a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience; or Currently a Principal Reactor Training Engineer, Refueling Engineer, or Field (RPCO) Engineer at the Company.

Preferred Skills Strong programming skills with compiled (e.g., Java, C, C++ or Fortran) and/or interpreted (e.g., Python) scientific computing languages Demonstrated experience with all aspects of software architecture (design, implementation, testing, maintenance, configuration management) Experience with client-server software systems used across multiple operating environments (e.g. Windows, Linux) Experience with Graphical User InterfaceParallel programming and running parallel jobs on supercomputing systems Experience functioning within an agile development methodology Ability to work effectively across multiple projects simultaneouslyDemonstrated ability and passion for developing scientific software Capacity to work independently, as well as within interdisciplinary teams with minimal supervision Compensation and Benefits Health, Dental, Vision & Voluntary Benefits Disability, Life & Accident Insurance 401(k) Savings program & Capital Accumulation Plan Personal & Medical Time Off Paid Parental Leave Flexible Work Schedules Tuition Assistance for Eligible Employees Student Debt Benefit Personal Time Off Sell Program Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Wellness Program Visit us online to view all NNL benefits! Pay Range $117,900.00 - $184,300.00 annually Salary information provided is a general guideline only.

Annual salary is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. The Naval Nuclear Laboratory is operated for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by Fluor Marine Propulsion, LLC (FMP), a wholly owned subsidiary of Fluor Corporation.

Naval Nuclear Laboratory personnel are FMP employees who work at four DOE facilities: Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, Kenneth A. Kesselring Site, and Naval Reactors Facility, and at the U.S. Department of Defense-owned Nuclear Power Training Unit-Charleston.

FMP employees also have an established presence at numerous shipyards and vendor locations. For nearly 70 years, the Naval Nuclear Laboratory has developed advanced nuclear propulsion technology, provided technical support, and trained world-class nuclear operators to ensure the safe and reliable operation of our nation's submarine and aircraft carrier Fleets. The Naval Nuclear Laboratory is a national asset solely dedicated to the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.

We rely on the dedication and innovation of our nearly 8000 engineers, scientists, technicians, and support personnel. All candidates must be U.S. citizens.

Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter. FMP is a government contractor and maintains a drug free workplace and workforce. All candidates must be able to pass a drug test in compliance with FMP company policy and 10 CFR 707.

Marijuana is a Federal Schedule I controlled substance and illegal under Federal Law. Therefore, FMP is required to test for marijuana. Fluor Marine Propulsion, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other criteria protected by federal, state, or local law.