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Principal Software Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Principal, Software Engineer We are seeking a talented and passionate Principal, Software Engineer ... Collaborate closely with Product Management, UX/UI, Quality Assurance, and DevOps teams.  

Principal Software Engineer

Milpitas, CA · On-site

$143K - $286K/yr

Principal, Software Engineer We are seeking a talented and passionate Principal, Software Engineer ... Collaborate closely with Product Management, UX/UI, Quality Assurance, and DevOps teams.  

Principal Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$159K - $213K/yr

Principal Software Engineer Location: South San Francisco, CA preferred; Remote optional Job Type: Full-time About the Role We're seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join Natera's R&D Platform ...

Principal Software Engineer

South San Francisco, CA · On-site

$162K - $217K/yr

Principal Software Engineer Location: South San Francisco, CA preferred; Remote optional Job Type: Full-time About the Role We're seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join Natera's R&D Platform ...

Principal Software Engineer

South San Francisco, CA · Remote

$162K - $217K/yr

Principal Software Engineer Location: South San Francisco, CA preferred; Remote optional Job Type: Full-time About the Role We're seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join Natera's R&D Platform ...

Principal Software Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$143K - $286K/yr

Principal, Software Engineer We are seeking a talented and passionate Principal, Software Engineer ... Collaborate closely with Product Management, UX/UI, Quality Assurance, and DevOps teams.  

Principal Software Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$143K - $286K/yr

Principal, Software Engineer We are seeking a talented and passionate Principal, Software Engineer ... Collaborate closely with Product Management, UX/UI, Quality Assurance, and DevOps teams.  

Principal Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$157K - $212K/yr

Additionally, the Principal Software Engineer will bring deep expertise in one or more technologies including React, TypeScript, Go, Ent, gRPC, Twirp, and/or AWS technologies like EventBridge and ...

Principal Software Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$143K - $286K/yr

Principal, Software Engineer We are seeking a talented and passionate Principal, Software Engineer ... Collaborate closely with Product Management, UX/UI, Quality Assurance, and DevOps teams.  

Principal Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site +1

$144K - $195K/yr

Additionally, the Principal Software Engineer will bring deep expertise in one or more technologies including React, TypeScript, Go, Ent, gRPC, Twirp, and/or AWS technologies like EventBridge and ...

Additionally, the Principal Software Engineer will bring deep expertise in one or more technologies including React, TypeScript, Go, Ent, gRPC, Twirp, and/or AWS technologies like EventBridge and ...

Principal Software Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$143K - $286K/yr

Principal, Software Engineer We are seeking a talented and passionate Principal, Software Engineer ... Collaborate closely with Product Management, UX/UI, Quality Assurance, and DevOps teams.  

Principal Software Engineer

Hayward, CA · On-site

$143K - $286K/yr

Principal, Software Engineer We are seeking a talented and passionate Principal, Software Engineer ... Collaborate closely with Product Management, UX/UI, Quality Assurance, and DevOps teams.  

Principal Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

As a principal software engineer on the team, you'll play an essential role in evolving JRE for the future mission needs of the warfighter. JOB DUTIES: * Design, develop, and maintain major new ...

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Showing results 1-20

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 Jul 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 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 engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Principal Software Developers in high-demand industries or senior leadership roles can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills, and stock options or bonuses. Compensation varies based on company size, location, and individual performance.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Principal Software Developers and senior engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills, and leadership responsibilities can earn $300,000 or more annually. High compensation often depends on factors such as industry, location, company size, and expertise in areas like cloud computing, machine learning, or distributed systems.

Can you make $500,000 as a software engineer?

Principal Software Developers and experienced software engineers in high-demand industries or senior roles can potentially earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with bonuses, stock options, or in high-cost-of-living areas. Achieving this level typically requires advanced skills, extensive experience, and often leadership responsibilities or specialized expertise in areas like cloud computing or AI.

What does a principal software developer do?

A principal software developer leads the design, development, and implementation of complex software systems, often providing technical guidance to teams. They analyze requirements, set technical standards, and ensure code quality, typically using programming languages, development tools, and version control systems. This role requires strong problem-solving skills and experience in software architecture and project management.

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.
Infographic showing various Principal Software Developer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 65% Full Time, 29% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $139,322 per year, or $67 per hour.
Principal Software Engineer

Principal Software Engineer

Walmart

Mountain View, CA • On-site

$143K - $286K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago


Walmart rating

6.0

Company rating: 6.0 out of 10

Based on 21,882 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

22nd of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

Position Summary...What you'll do...Principal, Software Engineer 
We are seeking a talented and passionate Principal, Software Engineer to join our International Technology Organization. The ideal candidate will have experience as a tech lead and strong development background in Micro Service Architectures using backend technologies like Java, Spring Boot, Kafka technologies and a proven track record of delivering high-quality scalable software applications. You will collaborate with our product team, in-house developers, and architects to design, develop, and enhance a reliable and easy-to-maintain backend infrastructure.   
About Team:  
Focusing on customer, associate and business needs, this team works with Walmart International, which includes more than 5,200 retail units, operating in 23 countries such as Canada, Central America, Chile, China, India, Mexico and South Africa to name a few.  What you’ll do: 
  • Guide and mentor, a team of engineers, conducting code reviews and leading design discussions to ensure engineering best practices.   
  • Act as a technical authority, providing direction and expertise to the team.   
  • Drive the adoption of coding standards, design patterns, and development best practices.  
  • Lead the creation and maintenance of our technical architecture, aligning it with business goals and scalability requirements.   
  • Architect complex software systems, ensuring performance, security, and scalability needs are met.   
  • Consistently produce high-quality software with a focus on unit testing, regular code reviews, and continuous integration.   
  • Uphold high standards in quality and operational excellence.   
  • Develop comprehensive technical documentation and presentations to clearly communicate architectural decisions and design options.   
  • Ensure documentation aligns with project scopes, milestones, and deliverables.   
  • Promote and enforce technical standards across the organization to achieve concrete outcomes and drive engineering excellence.   
  • Foster a culture of learning and innovation through hands-on technical guidance and mentorship.   
  • Lead the discovery phase of major projects, ensuring the design aligns with business goals and technical requirements.  
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define project scopes and milestones.   
  • Collaborate closely with Product Management, UX/UI, Quality Assurance, and DevOps teams.   
  • Communicate complex technical concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.   
  • Stay at the forefront of technological advancements, conducting research to identify emerging tools and methodologies.   
 What you'll bring: 
  • Ideally 12+ experience in software development, focusing on building large scale distributed systems.   
  • Experience in multiple stack technologies – Java, React Native  
  • Proficiency in API development, Node.js, GQL,   
  • Advanced knowledge of complex software design, distributed system design, design patterns, data structures, and algorithms.   
  • Proficiency in Kafka, No SQL databases. 
  • Excellent technical debugging and production support skills.   
  • Familiarity with public cloud technologies such as Azure or Google Cloud Platform.   
  • Extensive experience in the design, development, and delivery of software products with a large user base.   
  • Track record in an architect role with large-scale software development data-backed services and applications.   
  • Excellent decision-making skills with the ability to balance conflicting interests in a complex and fast-paced environment.   
  • Hands-on experience with building micro-services and event driven architecture and distributed systems using appropriate design patterns. 
  • Risk analysis methodologies - Cost Analysis; Business objectives; Classification of requirements; Domain Knowledge; User stories concepts; Functional / Non-Functional Requirements. 
  • Coding standards and guidelines; Coding languages (E.g. Java, JavaScript etc.), frameworks (E.g. Spring framework etc.), Platforms (E.g. Microsoft Azure etc.); Quality, Safety and Security (PCI etc.) standards; Emerging tools and technologies; Telemetry; CI / CD; Code Management Tools; SDLC; Secure SDL frameworks and tools. 
About Walmart Global Tech 
Imagine working in an environment where one line of code can make life easier for hundreds of millions of people. That’s what we do at Walmart Global Tech. We’re a team of software engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity experts and service professionals within the world’s leading retailers who make an epic impact and are at the forefront of the next retail disruption. People are why we innovate, and people power our innovations. We are people-led and tech-empowered. We train our team in the skillsets of the future and bring in experts like you to help us grow. We have roles for those chasing their first opportunity as well as those looking for the opportunity that will define their career. Here, you can kickstart a great career in tech, gain new skills and experience for virtually every industry, or leverage your expertise to innovate on a scale that impacts millions and reimagine the future of retail.  Flexible, hybrid work: 
We use a hybrid way of working that is primarily in office coupled with virtual when not onsite. Our campuses serve as a hub to enhance collaboration, bring us together for purpose and deliver on business needs. This approach helps us make quicker decisions, remove the location barriers across our global team and be more flexible in our personal lives.   
Benefits: 
Beyond our great compensation package, you can receive incentive awards for your performance. Other great perks include 401(k) match, stock purchase plan, paid maternity and parental leave, PTO, multiple health plans, and much more. 
Equal Opportunity Employer: 
Walmart, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer – By Choice. We believe we are best equipped to help our associates, customers and the communities we serve live better when we really know them. That means understanding, respecting and valuing diversity- unique styles, experiences, identities, ideas and opinions – while being inclusive of all people. 
The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed in the role. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. The full Job Description can be made available as part of the hiring process.    At Walmart, we offer competitive pay as well as performance-based bonus awards and other great benefits for a happier mind, body, and wallet. Health benefits include medical, vision and dental coverage. Financial benefits include 401(k), stock purchase and company-paid life insurance. Paid time off benefits include PTO (including sick leave), parental leave, family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting. Other benefits include short-term and long-term disability, company discounts, Military Leave Pay, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, and more. You will also receive PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes. The amount you receive depends on your job classification and length of employment. It will meet or exceed the requirements of paid sick leave laws, where applicable. For information about PTO, see https://one.walmart.com/notices. Live Better U is a Walmart-paid education benefit program for full-time and part-time associates in Walmart and Sam's Club facilities. Programs range from high school completion to bachelor's degrees, including English Language Learning and short-form certificates. Tuition, books, and fees are completely paid for by Walmart.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to a specific plan or program terms.
For information about benefits and eligibility, see One.Walmart.
Sunnyvale, California US-11657: The annual salary range for this position is $143,000.00 - $286,000.00
Bentonville, Arkansas US-10735: The annual salary range for this position is $110,000.00 - $220,000.00 Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include :
- Stock

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Minimum Qualifications...

Outlined below are the required minimum qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no minimum qualifications.

Option 1: Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, computer information systems, software engineering, or related area and 5 years’ experience in software engineering or related area.
Option 2: 7 years’ experience in software engineering or related area.Preferred Qualifications...

Outlined below are the optional preferred qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no preferred qualifications.

Master’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, computer information systems, software engineering, or related area and 3 years' experience in software engineering or related area., We value candidates with a background in creating inclusive digital experiences, demonstrating knowledge in implementing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standards, assistive technologies, and integrating digital accessibility seamlessly. The ideal candidate would have knowledge of accessibility best practices and join us as we continue to create accessible products and services following Walmart’s accessibility standards and guidelines for supporting an inclusive culture.Primary Location...1345 Crossman Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1114, United States of AmericaWalmart and its subsidiaries are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job. This policy applies to all employees and aims to create a safe and productive work environment.

What Walmart employees say

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Get the full story on Breakroom


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About Walmart

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

From our humble beginnings as a small discount retailer in Rogers, Ark., Walmart has opened thousands of stores in the U.S. and expanded internationally. Through innovation, we're creating a seamless experience to let customers shop anytime and anywhere online and in stores. We are creating opportunities and bringing value to customers and communities around the globe. Walmart operates approximately 10,500 stores and clubs in 19 countries and eCommerce websites. We employ 2.1 million associates around the world — nearly 1.6 million in the U.S. alone.

Industry

Retail and transportation and warehousing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Bentonville, AR, US

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