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Principal Software Developer Jobs in Ontario (NOW HIRING)

As we scale up, we are looking for a Software Developer to help us build the software that is ... principal architect and product team to enhance the efficacy and accuracy of our ProSense HD ...

Software Developer - HD

Kitchener, ON · On-site

CA$70K - CA$90K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

As we scale up, we are looking for a Software Developer to help us build the software that is ... principal architect and product team to enhance the efficacy and accuracy of our ProSense HD ...

Lead Principal Platform Software Engineer

Toronto, ON

CA$123K - CA$203K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

We are looking for a Lead Principal Software Engineer to help define and build the next generation of Oracle AI Data Platform - Agent Hub. This is a high-impact IC5 role for a senior engineer who ...

Lead Principal Platform Software Engineer

Toronto, ON

CA$123K - CA$203K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

We are looking for a Lead Principal Software Engineer to help define and build the next generation of Oracle AI Data Platform - Agent Hub. This is a high-impact IC5 role for a senior engineer who ...

Software Developer (Entry Level)

Toronto, ON · Hybrid

CA$85K - CA$95K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

About The Role As an entry level Software Developer you'll be tasked with working on both mobile ... Fundamental knowledge of core web principals (HTTP, the DOM, SSL, web servers) * Fluency with ...

Come join Intuit's community of 'Builder Catalysts' as a Senior Staff/ Principal Software Developer and help us power prosperity around the world. Intuit's Builder Catalysts co-create with cross ...

Your Moneris Career - The Opportunity We are looking for a Principal Salesforce Software Developer who is a senior technical leader responsible for designing, developing, and guiding enterprise grade ...

Job Summary We're hiring a Principal Software Engineer to guide the design and evolution of large-scale platform systems across Kaseya's engineering organization. This role focuses on distributed ...

Principal Mobile Developer

Toronto, ON

CA$131K - CA$181K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

This opportunity allows those passionate about Agile software development on Android to work with a ... As a member of the engineering team, you will develop critical software components for direct real ...

Principal Mobile Developer

Toronto, ON · On-site

CA$131K - CA$181K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

This opportunity allows those passionate about Agile software development on Android to work with a ... As a member of the engineering team, you will develop critical software components for direct real ...

Principal Mobile Developer

Waterloo, ON · On-site

CA$131K - CA$181K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

This opportunity allows those passionate about Agile software development on Android to work with a ... As a member of the engineering team, you will develop critical software components for direct real ...

Showing results 41-60

Principal Software Developer information

See Ontario salary details

$81.5K

$146K

$268.5K

How much do principal software developer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software developer in Ontario is $146,026.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $109,000.00 and $168,500.00 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 job categories do people searching Principal Software Developer jobs in Ontario look for?

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

What cities in Ontario are hiring for Principal Software Developer jobs?

Cities in Ontario with the most Principal Software Developer job openings:

Infographic showing various Principal Software Developer job openings in Ontario as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 78% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $146,026 per year, or $70.2 per hour.

Principal Software Development Engineer

Nokia

Kanata, ON

Full-time

Re-posted yesterday


Nokia rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

30th of 99 rated telecommunications companies


Job description

Join Nokia's SDK team and help develop cutting-edge SDKs for Client and DSP ASICs. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams-including ASIC, Firmware, Hardware Design, and Architecture-to drive innovation from pre-silicon through post-silicon stages, ensuring seamless integration into final products.

 

You have:

  • Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
  • 12+ years of experience in developing device drivers and software for high-speed coherent DSPs, including DSP firmware and low-level software development.
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience in C/C++ development on Linux and DSP platforms.
  • Proven experience in New Product Introduction (NPI) and ASIC SDK development, integration, and deployment.
  • Strong understanding of embedded software architecture, hardware/software interaction, and performance optimisation techniques.

Nice to Have:

  • Experience in SDK API design, development, and maintenance.
  • Knowledge of DSP algorithms and algorithm development for optical networking and communication systems.
  • Expertise in test strategy, test plan definition, validation, and execution.
  • Hands-on experience with high-speed interfaces and mixed-signal components, including ADCs, DACs, and SerDes.
  • Familiarity with ASIC bring-up, debugging, and post-silicon validation activities.
  • Experience with Ethernet, optical transport, or coherent communication systems.
  • Strong problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate across hardware, firmware, and software teams.


  • Design, develop, and maintain high-quality ASIC SDK software using C/C++ on Linux platforms.
  • Drive pre-silicon software development and validation using architectural models, simulators, and hardware emulation environments.
  • Lead post-silicon bring-up, testing, debugging, and performance optimisation activities for next-generation coherent DSP and ASIC products.
  • Collaborate closely with ASIC, firmware, systems, and architecture teams throughout the product lifecycle to enable successful new product introduction (NPI).
  • Define comprehensive SDK validation strategies, develop test plans, and execute test suites to ensure product quality and feature completeness.
  • Develop and enhance SDK APIs, software frameworks, and DSP-related algorithms based on product and system requirements.
  • Analyse complex hardware-software interactions, diagnose system-level issues, and drive resolution across cross-functional teams.
  • Produce clear and comprehensive design specifications, architecture documents, API documentation, and technical reports.
  • Contribute to software architecture decisions, coding standards, and best practices to ensure scalable and maintainable solutions.
  • Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership through design reviews, code reviews, problem-solving guidance, and knowledge sharing.
  • Drive engineering excellence by improving software quality, automation, development processes, and overall team productivity.
  • Work effectively with global engineering teams to deliver high-performance solutions on schedule and with high quality.

What Nokia employees say

Hours and flexibility

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