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Principal Software Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

As a Principal Modem Architect, you will own the complete modem firmware architecture for LGA modem ... Lead modem software stack integration, customization, and long-term upgrade strategy * Define ...

The team is responsible for creating and managing Cornerstone's cloud infrastructure and related DevOps tooling automation. As a Principal Software Engineer you will design, develop, implement and ...

Principal Software Developer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$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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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 Sep 1, 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 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.

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 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.

Infographic showing various Principal Software Developer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $139,322 per year, or $67 per hour.

$170K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

Company Description

HomeXpress - Your Leading Non-QM Mortgage Lender.

Join our growing team and be part of the Top Non-QM Lender in the Business.

We are known for closing mortgage loans with speed, ease, and convenience.

Licensed in 46 States, we provide brokers with a full suite of mortgage products, including VA, FHA, & FHLMC.

If you have a service first mentality and thrive in a fast-paced environment, HomeXpress is the place for you.

Join us as we continue to grow and expand our business to the Non-Delegated Correspondent Channel!

Job Description

Job Title:            Principal Software Developer

Department:      Information Technology

Reports To:         VP, Software Development

FLSA Status:      Exempt

Management:   No

Salary Range:    $170,000 - $180,000/yr

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS: The Principal Software Developer is responsible for designing, developing, testing, implementing, and supporting software applications that drive business operations and strategic objectives. This role serves as a technical leader within the development team, providing guidance to developers, collaborating with business stakeholders, and ensuring software solutions are scalable, secure, maintainable, and aligned with organizational standards.

The Principal Software Developer combines strong technical expertise with problem-solving skills and leadership capabilities to deliver high-quality software solutions in a fast-paced environment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Design, develop, maintain, and support enterprise software applications, APIs, integrations, services, and microservices, throughout the full software development lifecycle.
  • Lead application architecture and solution design, defining technical direction and selecting architectural patterns-including SOA, microservices, component-based, and event-driven architectures-to deliver scalable, secure, resilient, and maintainable business solutions.
  • Serve as a technical owner for assigned applications, ensuring long-term maintainability, stability, performance, and alignment with business objectives.
  • Participate in project estimation, planning, and continuous improvement initiatives while contributing to development standards, methodologies, and governance.
  • Create and maintain technical documentation, solution designs, architecture standards, and implementation plans.
  • Collaborate with business stakeholders, Product Owners, Business Analysts, QA, Infrastructure teams, and end users to gather requirements, resolve issues, and deliver successful software solutions.
  • Provide technical leadership, guidance, and mentorship to internal team members and external development partners, including code reviews and solution oversight.
  • Ensure adherence to established development, security, quality, and SDLC standards, methodologies, and best practices.
  • Incorporate security, data protection, regulatory, and compliance requirements into application architecture, design, development, and support activities.
  • Develop high-quality, efficient, and maintainable code with a focus on reliability, performance, scalability, and user experience.
  • Contribute to DevOps practices, continuous integration and deployment processes, automated testing, and operational excellence.
  • Support software deployments, production releases, troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and ongoing application support.
  • Identify and implement processes, workflow, and technology improvements that increase flexibility, reduce costs, and improve system availability and performance.
  • Promote a collaborative team environment through knowledge sharing, cross-training, and positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

DESIRED PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Technical Leadership
  • Problem Solving and Analytical Thinking
  • Communication and Collaboration
  • Accountability and Ownership
  • Continuous Improvement Mindset
  • Business Acumen
  • Adaptability
  • Customer Focus

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

  • 7+ years of professional software development experience.
  • 5+ years of hands-on development experience with C#/.NET and PHP applications.
  • Experience designing, developing, and supporting enterprise web applications, APIs, and system integrations.
  • Experience working in Agile/Scrum development environments.
  • Experience with source control, CI/CD pipelines, and DevOps practices.
  • Experience troubleshooting and resolving complex production issues.

EDUCATION:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field.

EXPERIENCE:

  • Experience modernizing or integrating legacy PHP applications with .NET-based platforms.
  • Experience with Azure services and cloud-native development.
  • Familiarity with microservices architecture and containerized deployments.
  • Experience leading technical projects and mentoring development teams.
  • Knowledge of DevSecOps practices.
  • Experience in financial services, mortgage lending, banking, or regulated industries.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • This position is in an office setting with computer and general office equipment. The position requires the ability to move freely around within the department and other department locations.
  • Hybrid or remote work environment
Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.