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Principal Software Developer Jobs in Massachusetts

Principal Software Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$147K - $197K/yr

... software systems, including architecture, integration, deployment, modernization, and long-term maintainability. * Proven track record of operating at Staff+, Principal Engineer, or comparable scope ...

Principal Software Engineer

Boston, MA · Hybrid

$146K - $196K/yr

As a principal software engineer at Liberty Mutual, you'll consult on highly complex projects and ... Familiarity with functional and system integration testing, a history of practicing DevOps and ...

Principal Software Engineer

Boston, MA · Hybrid

$146K - $196K/yr

As a principal software engineer at Liberty Mutual, you'll consult on highly complex projects and ... Familiarity with functional and system integration testing, a history of practicing DevOps and ...

Principal Software Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$148K - $199K/yr

They are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to take full, hands-on ownership of critical production-grade systems and deliver high-leverage features that improve customer outcomes and engineering ...

Principal Software Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

$146K - $196K/yr

They are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join their Engineering team, responsible for building and scaling the pipelines that power the Security Intelligence Graph, ensuring the platform ...

Showing results 41-60

Principal Software Developer information

See Massachusetts salary details

$103.2K

$154.2K

$202.6K

How much do principal software developer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software developer in Massachusetts is $154,176.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $134,900.00 and $169,300.00 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.

What job categories do people searching Principal Software Developer jobs in Massachusetts look for?

The top searched job categories for Principal Software Developer jobs in Massachusetts are:

Infographic showing various Principal Software Developer job openings in Massachusetts as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $154,176 per year, or $74.1 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer

Burlington, MA • On-site

State Street Corporation
Finance and Insurance • 10K+ employees

$178K - $230K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 4 days ago


Job description

Principal Software Engineer (State Street Bank and Trust Company; Burlington, MA): Will contribute to the enhancement and maintenance of one or more software modules or components as a senior member of an Agile Scrum team. Will also provide engineering troubleshooting assistance to IT customer support teams and other development teams within Charles River. Specific duties include: Architect, design, develop, test, debug, and implement software programs, applications and projects using Java, C#, React, and other related software engineering languages; Design and model Relational databases and develop efficient and performant database SQLs; Design Services/APIs which are independent and easily upgradeable adhering to cloud native development principles; Lead cross functional initiatives by collaborating with teams, product owners and other engineers to drive to common solutions. Mentor junior staff; Provide informed guidance and direction in code reviews; write unit and automation tests to ensure a high-quality end product; Actively participate in the agile software development process by adhering to the CRD Scrum methodology, including attending all daily standups, sprint planning, backlog grooming, and retrospectives; Assume Scrum master responsibilities when required; Provide thought leadership in the design of product architecture within the team's scope of responsibility; work under minimal supervision to build out the next generation of our software test automation infrastructure as part of our Quality Assurance Infrastructure team to test, and debug medium to large software enhancements and solutions within Charles River's business and technical problem domains; responsible for designing, developing, delivering and supporting the software infrastructure that enables automated product validation to Charles River's customer and to the rest of the development community at Charles River Development; assist in driving mature test automation capabilities, such as BDD/ATDD capabilities that allow teams to shift testing and test automation as far left as possible; improve the Testing/automation architecture by continuously reducing the testing cycle time enabling the CI/CD models by working closely with various teams; assist in improving development test methodologies, and contribute to related test methodology frameworks; conduct manual tests to ensure a high-quality end product; contribute to written design and API documentation, and participate in customer testing process; and Directly manage team members as needed. Hybrid-remote telecommuting permitted pursuant to Company policy.
Minimum Requirements: Bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related technical field; plus 10 years of experience in professional software engineering.
Total required experience above must include the following (can be gained concurrently): 8 years of experience working with Core and Enterprise Java technologies with hands on abilities in designing and writing Java code using complex data structures, multi-threading, efficient memory management and highly performant algorithms; 10 years of experience developing extensible software modules using object oriented development and SOLID principles; 5 years of experience developing solutions in highly transactional environments involving database concurrency; 2 years of technical leadership experience in guiding, coaching and mentoring team members; 5 years of experience with various automation tools; and 2 years of experience in Micro services, Web services testing using SOAP and REST based service & XML, JSON.
Must also have the following: strong programming skills to be able to develop automation infrastructure effectively; experience with PowerShell and batch scripts; experience with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins and GIT and other relevant tools; demonstrated experience using SQL and SQL server; demonstrated experience with JavaScript; demonstrated ability to work on medium to large sized projects with moderate supervision; demonstrated solid written and verbal communication skills; proven ability with object-oriented programming, data structures, compiler or interpreter technologies, embedded systems, operating systems, relational databases (RDBMS), scripting and new/advanced programming languages; demonstrated ability to work well with peers in a collaborative team environment; demonstrated ability working with an Agile development methodology; experience with multi-threaded programming with JAVA; and experience in cloud application projects such as Azure. (Unless otherwise indicated, State Street is seeking the stated ability in the skills listed above with no specific number of years or amount of experience required. All experience can be gained concurrently.)
To apply to this position, you must click the "Apply" button on this page and complete the online application. An EOE.
#LI-DNI
Salary Range:
$178,131 - $230,000 Annual
The range quoted above applies to the role in the primary location specified. If the candidate would ultimately work outside of the primary location above, the applicable range could differ.
Employees are eligible to participate in State Street's comprehensive benefits program, which includes: our retirement savings plan (401K) with company match; insurance coverage including basic life, medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, and other optional additional coverages; paid-time off including vacation, sick leave, short term disability, and family care responsibilities; access to our Employee Assistance Program; incentive compensation including eligibility for annual performance-based awards (excluding certain sales roles subject to sales incentive plans); and, eligibility for certain tax advantaged savings plans.
For a full overview, visit https://hrportal.ehr.com/statestreet/Home.
About State Street
Across the globe, institutional investors rely on us to help them manage risk, respond to challenges, and drive performance and profitability. We keep our clients at the heart of everything we do, and smart, engaged employees are essential to our continued success.
We are committed to fostering an environment where every employee feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. As an essential partner in our shared success, you'll benefit from inclusive development opportunities, flexible work-life support, paid volunteer days, and vibrant employee networks that keep you connected to what matters most. Join us in shaping the future.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we consider all qualified applicants for all positions without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, marital status, domestic partnership or civil union status, familial status, military and veteran status, and other characteristics protected by applicable law.
Discover more information on jobs at StateStreet.com/careers
Read our CEO Statement
Job Application Disclosure:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

State Street logo

About State Street

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

State Street is one of the largest custodian banks, asset managers and asset intelligence companies in the world. From technology to product innovation, we're making our mark on the financial services industry. For more than two centuries, we've been helping our clients safeguard and steward the investments of millions of people. We provide investment servicing, data & analytics, investment research & trading and investment management to institutional clients.

Industry

Finance and insurance

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Boston, MA, US

Year founded

1792

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