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Principal Software Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Protingent

Principal Software Developer

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$52 - $85/hr

Principal Software Developer Position Description: Protingent Staffing has an exciting REMOTE contract Principal Software Developer opportunity. Job Responsibilities: * Design, implement, document ...

VTG

Principal Software Developer

Hanover, MD · On-site

$200K - $300K/yr

Overview As a Principal Software Engineer supporting mission-essential national security initiatives, you will design, develop, integrate, and maintain secure, high-performance software solutions ...

VTG

Principal Software Developer

Hanover, MD · On-site

$200K - $300K/yr

Overview As a Principal Software Engineer supporting mission-essential national security initiatives, you will design, develop, integrate, and maintain secure, high-performance software solutions ...

Bigbear.ai

Principal Software Developer

Washington, DC · On-site

$95K - $143K/yr

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 ...

Oracle

Principal Software Developer

Nashville, TN · On-site

As a Principal Software Developer, you will lead the design, development, and evolution of backend services, APIs, and core server-side systems that support distributed cloud platforms. You will take ...

Oracle

Principal Software Developer

Austin, TX · On-site

Responsibilities As a Principal Software Developer, you will lead the design, development, and evolution of backend services, APIs, and core server-side systems that support distributed cloud ...

Oracle

Principal Software Developer

Nashville, TN · On-site

Responsibilities As a Principal Software Developer, you will lead the design, development, and evolution of backend services, APIs, and core server-side systems that support distributed cloud ...

Syniverse

Principal Software Developer

Tampa, FL · Hybrid

Who We're Looking For The Principal Software Developer role performs coding, debugging, testing and troubleshooting throughout the application development process, designing and developing software ...

New

Syniverse

Principal Software Developer

Tampa, FL · On-site

Who We're Looking For The Principal Software Developer role performs coding, debugging, testing and troubleshooting throughout the application development process, designing and developing software ...

Hexagon AB

Principal Software Developer

Madison, AL · On-site

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 ...

Oracle

Principal Software Developer

Nashville, TN

Responsibilities As a Principal Software Developer, you will lead the design, development, and evolution of backend services, APIs, and core server-side systems that support distributed cloud ...

Oracle

Principal Software Developer

Nashville, TN · On-site

Responsibilities As a Principal Software Developer, you will lead the design, development, and evolution of backend services, APIs, and core server-side systems that support distributed cloud ...

Oracle

Principal Software Developer

Austin, TX

Responsibilities As a Principal Software Developer, you will lead the design, development, and evolution of backend services, APIs, and core server-side systems that support distributed cloud ...

Oracle

Principal Software Developer

Austin, TX · On-site

Responsibilities As a Principal Software Developer, you will lead the design, development, and evolution of backend services, APIs, and core server-side systems that support distributed cloud ...

Oracle

Principal Software Developer

Nashville, TN · On-site

As a Principal Software Developer, you will lead the design, development, and evolution of backend services, APIs, and core server-side systems that support distributed cloud platforms. You will take ...

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All JobsPrincipal Software Developer Jobs

Principal Software Developer information

See salary details

$94.5K

$141.2K

$185.5K

How much do principal software developer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal software developer?

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.
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Cities with the most Principal Software Developer job openings:

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Principal Software Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Software Developer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 87% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $141,171 per year, or $67.9 per hour.

Principal Software Developer

Protingent

Bellevue, WA • On-site

$52 - $85/hr

Contractor

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 12 days ago

Job description


Position Title: Principal Software Developer
Position Description: Protingent Staffing has an exciting REMOTE contract Principal Software Developer opportunity.
Job Responsibilities:
  • Design, implement, document, and test software based on formally defined requirements and bug reports from the in-house user base,
  • Design and implement refactorizations and maintenance to maximize near- and long-term productivity of users and developers,
  • Identify and prioritize tasks without them being explicitly assigned to you,
  • Support verification and validation efforts to prove that the codes meet specifications and are correct,
  • Systematically identify performance or productivity bottlenecks; design and implement solutions to eliminate them,
  • Perform administrative data management operations on the backend based on user and management needs,
  • Understand and translate new feature requests into formal software requirements,
  • Train and support reactor designers to use the software system,
  • Provide mentoring to other developers,
  • Support software build and testing systems (like our Jenkins instance and related dashboards),
  • Support server configuration and maintenance needs,
  • Facilitate design reviews for ongoing developments to keep review/approval process as productive as possible,
  • Review proposed code changes and provide detailed feedback before allowing it to go live,
  • Ensure compliance with quality standards and regulatory requirements for software.

Job Qualifications:
  • Minimum Qualifications:
  • 8+ years of relevant experience on web application development,
  • Expert-level programming skills in Python and JavaScript,
  • 5+ years in-depth experience and expertise with Django and DRF,
  • 5+ years in-depth experience with least one JavaScript framework like Vue3,
  • 5+ years regularly writing software tests,
  • Expert capabilities with software development tools, including git, IDEs, profilers, debuggers, test frameworks, packaging tools,
  • Please do not apply if you aren't already comfortable interactively rebasing (or similar)
  • Ability to focus and comfort with delivering a challenging project under evolving conditions, during rapid-paced development,
  • Ability and professionalism to work within the robust regulatory environment of nuclear reactor design and construction,
  • A strong commitment to software best practices,
  • Good understanding of software quality assurance and the software development life cycle,
  • Ability to provide and receive professional feedback.
  • Travel Required: 0-5%.

Preferred Job Qualifications:
  • Degree in computer science, applied mathematics, or similar,
  • Expertise building and maintaining Linux application and database servers,
  • Expertise in configuring and maintaining Continuous Integration systems
  • Strong expertise in Vue3 and Quasar specifically,
  • Expertise with celery
  • Expertise with Cypress,
  • Experience with major industrial construction projects,
  • Experience working in NQA-1 environments,
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Job Details:
  • Job Type: Contract
  • Pay Rate Range: $52-$85/hr (*Pay rates are approved based on candidate location, education and experience*)
  • Location: 100% Remote Acceptable
  • Export control regulations require candidates to be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Legal Permanent Resident, or of a protected person status

Benefits Package: Protingent offers competitive salaries, insurance plan options (HDHP plan or POS plan), education/certification reimbursement, pre-tax commuter benefits, Paid Time Off (PTO), and an administered 401k plan.
#TerraPro
About Protingent: Protingent is an Award-Winning provider of top-tier Engineering and IT talent, trusted by companies at the forefront of innovation - from Software and Aerospace to AI, Clean Tech, Medical Devices, and Connected Technologies. We're passionate about making a positive impact by connecting exceptional talent with meaningful opportunities and helping our clients build the future.
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