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Principal Software Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Fortinet

Principal Software Developer Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$157K - $211K/yr

Fortinet is a cybersecurity pioneer with over two decades of excellence, seeking a Principal Software Developer Engineer for their FortiSwitch team. The role involves developing and maintaining ...

OneSpan

Principal Software Developer

San Jose, CA

$175K - $225K/yr

About the Role We're looking for a Technical Software Lead to join our growing team in San Jose, CA ... You'll set the technical bar for a distributed engineering team, guide architecture and code ...

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KBR

Principal Software Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site +1

$143K - $192K/yr

Principal Software Engineer Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR! KBR is seeking an experienced Principal Software Engineer to support the MSEIT contract at Space Systems Command (SSC). This role combines ...

KBR, Inc.

Principal Software Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$143K - $192K/yr

Principal Software Engineer Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR! KBR is seeking an experienced Principal Software Engineer to support the MSEIT contract at Space Systems Command (SSC). This role combines ...

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All JobsPrincipal Software Developer JobsPrincipal Software Developer Jobs in California

Principal Software Developer information

See California salary details

$93.3K

$139.3K

$183.1K

How much do principal software developer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software developer in California is $139,322.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $121,900.00 and $153,000.00 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.
What are popular job titles related to Principal Software Developer jobs in California? For Principal Software Developer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Principal Software Developer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Software Developer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Principal Software Developer jobs in CA? For Principal Software Developer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Principal Software Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Software Developer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 85% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $139,322 per year, or $67 per hour.

Principal Software Developer Engineer

Fortinet

Sunnyvale, CA • On-site

$157K - $211K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 29 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Fortinet is a cybersecurity pioneer with over two decades of excellence, seeking a Principal Software Developer Engineer for their FortiSwitch team. The role involves developing and maintaining software components for networking-related features, ensuring high-quality implementations, and collaborating closely with hardware teams.
Responsibilities:
• Develop and maintain software components on current and future products
• Take responsibility for developing networking-related features for the FortiSwitch Virtual Machine (FSW-VM) product line and the Marvell CPSS SDK work for both VM and hardware.
• Be hands on in bug fixing in current products
• Implement software features of high quality and on schedule
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Work closely with hardware teams for features which directly translate to hardware platforms
Qualifications:
Required:
• A minimum of 12 years of experience in Networking related software development
• B.S. in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering; M.S. preferred
• Strong C/C++ experience in Unix/Linux environment is essential
• Strong knowledge of Linux kernel programming, including system calls and custom device drivers
• Experience with Marvell switching ASICs and SDKs in Ethernet switches/routers.
• Experience in developing applications running in a Virtualization environment (KVM & VMware)
• Experience with multi process/thread programming environment
• Experience in implementing L2/L3 features such as STP, RSTP, RIP, OSPF, IS-IS, BGP, LACP, LLDP, QOS, Private VLAN, LAG
• Knowledge of TCP/IP networking, firewalls, switching and routing
• Familiarity with system installations, configurations, and troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of general QA procedures and methodologies as well as software development fundamentals
• Knowledge of scripting languages: Shell and Python a plus
• Experience with firewalls and embedded systems is a plus
• Knowledge of Linux kernel and driver development is plus
• US citizenship is required.
Company:
Fortinet is a provider of network security appliances that include firewalls, security gateways, and complementary products. It is a sub-organization of Fortinet Federal. Founded in 2000, the company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, USA, with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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