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Principal Software Developer Jobs in Minneapolis, MN

Shutterfly

Senior Principal Software Engineer

Eden Prairie, MN · Remote

$128K - $176K/yr

We are seeking a Senior Principal Software Engineer to lead the design and development of next-generation Agentic AI platforms and applications that power personalization, lifecycle engagement, and ...

Thomson Reuters

Principal Engineer

Eagan, MN · On-site

As a Principal Software Engineer focused on Security & Compliance, you will set the technical direction for how CoCounsel earns and maintains the trust of law firms, corporate legal departments, and ...

THOMSON REUTERS

Principal Engineer

Eagan, MN · On-site

As a Principal Software Engineer focused on Security & Compliance, you will set the technical direction for how CoCounsel earns and maintains the trust of law firms, corporate legal departments, and ...

Backburner Labs, Inc

Software Engineer II

Saint Paul, MN · On-site

$100K - $125K/yr

Principal Software Engineer * Team: ~7 * Status: Full-time employee * Salary range: $!00,000 - $125,000 * Interview process: (~2.5 weeks): * Head of Talent - video call * Principal Software Engineer ...

Backburner Labs, Inc

Software Engineer II

Saint Paul, MN · On-site

$100 - $125/hr

Principal SoftwareEngineer- video call * Panel interview and tour - in person * Peers * Leadership * Decision * Reports to: Principal Software Engineer * Team: ~7 * Status: Full-time employee

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Principal Software Developer information

See Minneapolis, MN salary details

$98.6K

$147.4K

$193.6K

How much do principal software developer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software developer in Minneapolis, MN is $147,354.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $128,900.00 and $161,800.00 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 are popular job titles related to Principal Software Developer jobs in Minneapolis, MN?

For Principal Software Developer jobs in Minneapolis, MN, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Principal Software Developer jobs in Minneapolis, MN look for?

The top searched job categories for Principal Software Developer jobs in Minneapolis, MN are:

Principal Software Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Software Developer job openings in Minneapolis, MN as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, and 14% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $147,354 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Senior Software Engineer

Saint Paul, MN • On-site

Backburner Labs, Inc
IT Services • 1 - 10 employees
Learn more about Backburner Labs, Incexternal

Full-time

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

Welcome to Backburner Labs 

Metal to Mobile 

Some companies build software. Others build hardware. We build whatever the problem demands. 

Backburner Labs is a multidisciplinary engineering consultancy where mechanical, electrical, systems, and software engineers work together to solve complex technical challenges. From embedded systems and industrial automation to robotics, medical devices, IoT, cloud platforms, and AI-enabled applications, we help our clients build products that often don't exist yet. 

Our clients come to us when the engineering is difficult, the timeline is ambitious, and there isn't a roadmap waiting to be followed. They're looking for engineers who can create one. 

If that sounds exciting rather than intimidating, you'll probably enjoy working here. 

You'll collaborate with talented engineers across disciplines, influence technical decisions, learn new technologies, and help turn ideas on a whiteboard into products used in the real world. We move quickly, trust our engineers, and expect everyone to contribute ideas, not just code, designs, or specifications. 

If you're the kind of engineer who asks, "What's the hardest problem we're solving?" before asking, "What's the tech stack?", you'll probably feel right at home. 

Come build what doesn't exist yet. 
Quick Facts

  • Founded: 2019  
  • Company: ~50 people (full-time and contract employees)  
  • Current location: St Paul - St Anthony Park area 
  • Future location: Minneapolis - Prospect Park area (we have leased a 43,000 sq ft building) 
  • Revenue: doubled every year for 5 years (more details shared later) 
  • Client retention: 93% 
The Position

Backburner Labs is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to become an integral part of our team! You will be responsible for creating and modifying computer application software for embedded, industrial, medical, IoT, Cloud, Linux and real-time systems. 

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who can operate at a Senior Software Engineer level. 

You will work closely with four principal-level software engineers. Because our engineering projects are diverse and complex, you will need to be very open to learning new technologies. You are expected to bring a wealth of valuable career knowledge to bear in solving software systems engineering problems for our customers. 

Details:

  • Reports to: Principal Software Engineer
  • Team: ~8
  • Status: Full-time employee
  • Salary range: $!20,000 - $170,000
  • Interview process: (~2.5 weeks):
    • Head of Talent - video call
    • Principal Software Engineer - video call
    • Panel interview and tour - in person
      • Peers
      • Leadership
    • Decision

Responsibilities: 

  • Write great code 

  • Analyze requirements and needs and develop software solutions 

  • Work with the project manager or product owner to meet specification needs 

  • Lead teams of engineers 

  • Research open source technologies to find the best solution to a problem 

  • Design and implement large software systems 

  • Document all programming tasks and procedures 

  • Perform software maintenance 

Qualifications: 

  • 8+ Years of related industry experience 

  • Degree in electrical, software, or computer engineering. Experience in software development or computer engineering 

  • Strong proficiency with C, C++, C#, and Python 

  • Experience with Rust is preferable 

  • Experience with Dart (Flutter) is a plus 

  • Strong understanding and proficiency with Linux 

  • Experience developing GUI and parallelized high-performance software 

  • FPGA and electrical experience is a plus 

  • Knowledge of cloud technologies 

  • Kubernetes and IAC is a plus 

  • Familiarity with relational, graph, vector, and time series databases such as Postgres, MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, NoSQL technologies, InfluxDB, Neo4j, pgvector. 

  • Deadline and detail-oriented 

  • Self-starter and excited to learn 

  • Ability to work within multi-discipline engineering teams (mechanical and electrical) 

  • Strong analytical and critical thinking skills 

  • Strong math skills a plus 

  • Strong communication and documentation skills 


ALL ARE WELCOME
We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome people of all backgrounds and believe different experiences, perspectives, and ideas make our team and our work better. If you're excited about the role, we encourage you to apply.

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