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Principal Software Developer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Principal Engineer, Software

Reston, VA · Hybrid

$142.70K - $191.30K/yr

POSITION SUMMARY The Principal Software Engineer is responsible for shaping the technical direction and ensuring successful delivery of high-quality software solutions that result in remarkable user ...

Team Lead - Principal Software Engineer

Arlington, VA · Hybrid

$155.30K - $208.20K/yr

The Defense Sector at Leidos is currently seeking a Team Lead - Principal Software Engineer with 12+ years of professional experience to lead multiple Agile teams and drive the technical and ...

Team Lead - Principal Software Engineer

Alexandria, VA · Hybrid

$144.50K - $193.70K/yr

The Defense Sector at Leidos is currently seeking a Team Lead - Principal Software Engineer with 12+ years of professional experience to lead multiple Agile teams and drive the technical and ...

Team Lead - Principal Software Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$155.30K - $208.20K/yr

The Defense Sector at Leidos is currently seeking a Team Lead - Principal Software Engineer with 12+ years of professional experience to lead multiple Agile teams and drive the technical and ...

Principal CNO Software Engineer

Arlington, VA

$155.30K - $208.20K/yr

Principal CNO Software Engineer Zetier is seeking Principal CNO Software Engineers to develop operationally critical cyber capabilities. Candidates will demonstrate practical experience designing ...

Principal CNO Software Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$155.30K - $208.20K/yr

Principal CNO Software Engineer Zetier is seeking Principal CNO Software Engineers to develop operationally critical cyber capabilities. Candidates will demonstrate practical experience designing ...

Principal CNO Software Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$155.30K - $208.20K/yr

Principal CNO Software Engineer Zetier is seeking Principal CNO Software Engineers to develop operationally critical cyber capabilities. Candidates will demonstrate practical experience designing ...

They are seeking a Principal Software Reverse Engineer who will reverse engineer complex software or firmware, develop innovative cybersecurity solutions, and lead multi-discipline teams to tackle ...

Job Summary : STR is hiring a Principal Software Reverse Engineer who has a passion for research and analysis of vulnerabilities in cyber physical systems. This position offers an excellent ...

STR is hiring a Principal Software Reverse Engineer who has a passion for research and analysis of vulnerabilities in cyber physical systems. This opportunity will be part of a multidisciplinary team ...

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Showing results 1-20

Principal Software Developer information

See Virginia salary details

$93.7K

$140K

$183.9K

How much do principal software developer jobs pay per year?

As of May 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software developer in Virginia is $139,960.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $122,400.00 and $153,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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 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 Virginia as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 88% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $139,960 per year, or $67.3 per hour.
Principal Engineer, Software

Principal Engineer, Software

AdventHealth

Reston, VA • Hybrid

$142.70K - $191.30K/yr

Other

Posted 5 days ago


AdventHealth rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 1,221 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

249th of 864 rated healthcare providers


Job description

SES Space & Defense is a trusted partner ensuring mission success for our customers by blanketing the globe with multi orbit end to end satellite and technology solutions which provide reliable, secure, and high bandwidth connectivity. We strive to be the only solution when success is critical, and we will take care of our employees because we recognize they are our competitive advantage. The SES S&D Team, along with our customers and partners, will achieve success through integrity, honor, and commitment. 

POSITION  SUMMARY

The Principal Software Engineer is responsible for shaping the technical direction and ensuring successful delivery of high-quality software solutions that result in remarkable user and customer experiences within a highly collaborative agile software development environment. Collaboration is with the Director of Software Solutions, within the team and with business partners to architect and build innovative solutions driven by thoughtful, scalable technical designs. This is a position for a highly motivated and influential individual that thrives in fast-paced environments that can mentor and raise the technical performance of the team.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Lead the design, development, and deployment of complex solutions in alignment with strategic technical objectives.
  • Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineering teams, fostering a culture of technical excellence and best practices.
  • Drive the adoption and successful execution of the SDLC and Agile methodologies.
  • Resolve technical challenges and roadblocks, ensuring the successful delivery of projects.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders across the organization to align technical solutions with business goals.
  • Implement and enforce company quality and security standards in software development.
  • Participate in cross-functional teams to develop diverse software solutions, including web applications, system integrations, and data solutions.
  • Conduct code reviews and mentor team members to improve quality and development practices.
  • Develop and maintain a deep understanding of multiple development paradigms, design patterns, and cloud-native architectures.
  • Create technical documentation and guides to set engineering best practices.
  • Review internal and partner system specifications and material requirements and create work from them.
  • Consistently find and deliver new ways to develop and improve processes and technology.
  • Interact with company leadership and departmental leads to coordinate and report on technical activities.
  • Support, communicate, reinforce, and defend the mission, values, and culture of the organization.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • US Citizenship with the ability and willingness to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
  • A bachelor's degree in computer science, or related technical work experience.
  • Minimum 10 years of experience in applications development, design and deployment.
  • Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal with the ability to clearly translate technical concepts to non-technical users.
  • Ability to develop applications in multiple system architectures.
  • Expertise with multiple programming languages which must include modern JavaScript frameworks in Typescript (React, Angular) and Python.
  • Thorough understanding of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) stages.
  • Expertise in SOLID principles and software design patterns.
  • Expertise in data engineering concepts of SQL, ETL, data warehousing and data streaming.
  • Development & Deployment experience with Docker or Kubernetes.
  • Familiarity with cloud-native architectures.
  • Strong knowledge of secure development best practices.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • 3 or more years of experience developing custom solutions in SaaS platforms like Salesforce, ServiceNow or D365.
  • Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.

SES Space & Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.  #LI-Hybrid #LI-DR1


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