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Principal Software Developer Jobs in Oklahoma (NOW HIRING)

Software Engineer Principal - Mainframe

Ponca City, OK · On-site +1

$105K - $141K/yr

As a Software Engineer Principal-Mainframe within PNC's C/IB organization, you will be based in ... Ensure adherence to SDLC, DevOps practices, and enterprise governance standards * Collaborate cross ...

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Showing results 1-20

Principal Software Developer information

See Oklahoma salary details

$87.3K

$130.3K

$171.3K

How much do principal software developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software developer in Oklahoma is $130,348.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $114,000.00 and $143,100.00 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 does a Principal Software Developer do?

A Principal Software Developer is a senior-level engineer responsible for leading complex software projects, setting technical direction, and mentoring other developers. They design and architect software solutions, ensure best coding practices, and collaborate with stakeholders to align technical strategy with business goals. Principal Software Developers often influence company-wide technology decisions and help solve the most challenging engineering problems. Their role typically combines hands-on coding with leadership and strategic planning.

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.
What job categories do people searching Principal Software Developer jobs in Oklahoma look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Software Developer jobs in Oklahoma are:
Infographic showing various Principal Software Developer job openings in Oklahoma as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 64% Full Time, 30% Part Time, 5% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,348 per year, or $62.7 per hour.
Principal / Sr. Principal Simulation Software Engineer

Principal / Sr. Principal Simulation Software Engineer

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Oklahoma City, OK

$116K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Posted 21 days ago


Northrop Grumman rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 342 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

108th of 520 rated manufacturers


Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescriptionAt Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Principal Simulation Software Engineer / Sr. Principal Simulation Software Engineer - to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals within our Software organization in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Accomplish:

In this role you will design, develop, integrate and test software for our end-user customers and businesses. Specifically, you will be responsible for the design, architecture, application development, and flight simulation. You will work with multi-disciplinary teams, such as with Systems Engineering, Cloud & Application, Test Automation, DevSecOps and Systems Test, in an Agile software development environment. Our simulation software is critical to the current and future company projects. You will analyze system capabilities to resolve problems on program intent, output requirements, input data acquisition, programming techniques and controls.

Essential Functions:

  • Work in an innovative environment, on significantly diverse assignments, and in collaborative team settings across all levels
  • Participate in the full software development life cycle including requirements, design, implementation, qualification, and delivery of software products to our customers
  • Architect and develop embedded mission systems software applications on a real time operating system
  • Be a part of Agile Scrum teams to develop software products for multiple software baselines

This requisition may be filled at either a Principal Software Engineer level 3 or a Sr. Principal Software Engineer level 4

Basic Qualifications for a Principal Software Engineer (level 3):

  • Bachelor's Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 5 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master's degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and 1 years of related engineering experience.
  • Experience with the full Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) - software design requirements, application development, integration, testing, and deployment
  • Experience with at least one of the following programming or scripting languages: C, C++, and Python
  • Experience with two or more of the following tools: Jira, Crucible, Bitbucket, Subversion, Bamboo, Jenkins, Gitlab, Sonarqube, Fortify, or Coverity
  • Must have an active U.S. Government Secret or higher clearance.
  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance prior to the commencement of employment.

Basic Qualifications for a Sr. Principal Software Engineer (level 4):

  • Bachelor's Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 8 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master's degree in a STEM discipline and 6 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and 4 years of related engineering experience.
  • Experience with the full Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) - software design requirements, application development, integration, testing, and deployment
  • Experience with at least one of the following programming or scripting languages: C, C++, and Python
  • Experience with two or more of the following tools: Jira, Crucible, Bitbucket, Subversion, Bamboo, Jenkins, Gitlab, Sonarqube, Fortify, or Coverity
  • Must have an active U.S. Government Secret or higher clearance.
  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance prior to the commencement of employment.

Preferred Qualifications for level 3 and level 4:

  • Strong understanding of C and C++ languages including templates, memory storage, and compiler/linker
  • Experience with or knowledge of Joint Simulation Environment (JSE), Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS), or High-Level Architecture (HLA)
  • Experience with Full-Motion Flight Training Systems
  • Experience with simulated threat environments such as AFSIM or NGTS
  • Experience with Infrastructure as Code & configuration management
  • Experience with Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment concepts and tools such as Gitlab, Bamboo, or Jenkins
  • Ability to collaborate with systems engineers, hardware designers and integration/test engineers to develop and maintain complex software systems
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal skills, and the ability to interface with all levels of employees and management
    Primary Level Salary Range: $93,300.00 - $139,900.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $116,300.00 - $174,500.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

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    About Northrop Grumman

    Sourced by ZipRecruiter

    At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible.

    Industry

    Space research administration

    Company size

    10,000+ Employees

    Headquarters location

    Falls Church, VA, US

    Year founded

    1939