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Principal Software Developer Jobs in Plano, TX (NOW HIRING)

Principal Software Engineer

Dallas, TX · On-site

$133K - $179K/yr

The Principal Software Engineer is a visionary with a strong foundation in software design ... Working knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and DevOps practices. * Experience with ...

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Principal Software Developer information

See Plano, TX salary details

$88.3K

$132K

$173.4K

How much do principal software developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software developer in Plano, TX is $131,972.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $115,500.00 and $144,900.00 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 engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Principal Software Developers in high-demand industries or senior leadership roles can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills, and stock options or bonuses. Compensation varies based on company size, location, and individual performance.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Principal Software Developers and senior engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills, and leadership responsibilities can earn $300,000 or more annually. High compensation often depends on factors such as industry, location, company size, and expertise in areas like cloud computing, machine learning, or distributed systems.

Can you make $500,000 as a software engineer?

Principal Software Developers and experienced software engineers in high-demand industries or senior roles can potentially earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with bonuses, stock options, or in high-cost-of-living areas. Achieving this level typically requires advanced skills, extensive experience, and often leadership responsibilities or specialized expertise in areas like cloud computing or AI.

What does a principal software developer do?

A principal software developer leads the design, development, and implementation of complex software systems, often providing technical guidance to teams. They analyze requirements, set technical standards, and ensure code quality, typically using programming languages, development tools, and version control systems. This role requires strong problem-solving skills and experience in software architecture and project management.

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 are popular job titles related to Principal Software Developer jobs in Plano, TX? For Principal Software Developer jobs in Plano, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities near Plano, TX are hiring for Principal Software Developer jobs? Cities near Plano, TX with the most Principal Software Developer job openings:
Infographic showing various Principal Software Developer job openings in Plano, TX as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $131,972 per year, or $63.4 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer/Developer

Fidelity Investments

Westlake, TX

Full-time

Re-posted 25 days ago


Fidelity Investments rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 270 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

15th of 149 rated financial services


Job description

Job Description:

Note: Fidelity will not provide immigration sponsorship for this position.

Position Description:

Integrates best-of-breed software as a service (SaaS) software product to provide solutions to users, using Docker and Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS). Develops software applications using Java and REST-based services. Sends messages between applications and builds streaming data pipelines, using Enterprise Streaming/Messaging technologies -- Kafka, Amazon Web Services (AWS) SQS, and Active MQ. Conducts DevOps and Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD), using Jenkins Core, Git, Artifactory and Jira, or automation tools and frameworks (including Unit, Component, Functional, Performance, and Security testing). Uses business knowledge to translate the vision for divisional initiatives into business solutions by developing complex or multiple software applications and conducting studies of alternatives. Analyzes and recommends changes in project development policies, procedures, standards, and strategies to development experts and management.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Participates in architecture design teams.

  • Defines and implements application-level architecture.

  • Develops applications on complex projects, components, and subsystems for the division.

  • Recommends development testing tools and methodologies and reviews and validates test plans.

  • Responsible for QA readiness of software deliverables.

  • Develops comprehensive documentation for multiple applications or subsystems.

  • Establishes full project life cycle plans for complex projects across multiple platforms.

  • Responsible for meeting project goals on-time and on-budget.

  • Advises on risk assessment and risk management strategies for projects.

  • Plans and coordinates project schedules and assignments for multiple projects.

  • Acts as a primary liaison for business units to resolve various project/technology issues.

  • Provides technology solutions to daily issues and technical evaluation estimates on technology initiatives.

  • Advises senior management on technical strategy.

  • Mentors junior team members.

  • Performs independent and complex technical and functional analysis for multiple projects supporting several divisional initiatives.

  • Develops original and creative technical solutions to on-going development efforts.

Education and Experience:

No degree and seven (7) years of experience as a Principal Software Engineer/Developer (or closely related occupation) developing automation for User Interfaces (UIs), mobile applications, and Web services.

Or, alternatively, Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Information Systems, Management or a closely related field (or foreign education equivalent) and five (5) years of experience as a Principal Software Engineer/Developer (or closely related occupation) developing automation for User Interfaces (UIs), mobile applications, and Web services.

Or, alternatively, Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Information Systems, Management or a closely related field (or foreign education equivalent) and three (3) years of experience as a Principal Software Engineer/Developer (or closely related occupation) developing automation for User Interfaces (UIs), mobile applications, and Web services.

Skills and Knowledge:

Candidate must also possess:

  • Demonstrated Expertise ("DE") designing and developing cloud-native, web-based applications using microservices on platforms, including AWS, Azure, IKS, and Pivotal Cloud Foundry (PCF); building responsive UIs and scalable backend services with RESTful APIs, HTML5, Angular, and JavaScript; and implementing modern DevOps practices including CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes, and Agile to ensure secure, high-performance enterprise systems.

  • DE developing enterprise-grade Spring Boot applications using MyBatis, Hibernate, and Java Persistence API (JPA); building high-performance batch solutions with Spring Batch, Java, and multithreading; integrating services across diverse systems by way of Mule ESB and IBM DataPower to enable secure, reusable service layers; and modernizing legacy applications and coordinating cloud migrations (re-platforming, containerization, and refactoring) to AWS, Azure, IKS, Redshift, and PCF.

  • DE designing and deploying scalable cloud infrastructure on AWS, including provisioning services to support secure and resilient applications; configuring AWS EKS clusters and deploying Docker images for container orchestration; and implementing serverless architecture patterns using AWS Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, and S3, to build event-driven, cost-efficient solutions with minimal operational overhead and low latency.

  • DE designing relational and distributed databases (Oracle, MongoDB, and Cassandra), integrating real-time and asynchronous data streams (Kafka, RabbitMQ, SQS, SNS, and Kinesis), applying enterprise architecture patterns (Apache and Camel), and implementing automated testing (JUnit and Protractor) and chaos testing, using Chaos Mesh in EKS; and designing secure systems aligned with enterprise standards using AWS KMS, Secrets Manager, and Cognito.

#PE1M2

#LI-DNI

Fidelity's Onsite Working Model
Fidelity is transitioning to a full-time onsite working model through a phased rollout across regions and roles. Currently, some roles and locations require 100% onsite presence, while others require less. Onsite expectations are likely to evolve as the rollout continues. This transition does not apply to fully remote roles.

Certifications:Category:Information Technology

Please be advised that Fidelity's business is governed by the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Investment Company Act of 1940, ERISA, numerous state laws governing securities, investment and retirement-related financial activities and the rules and regulations of numerous self-regulatory organizations, including FINRA, among others. Those laws and regulations may restrict Fidelity from hiring and/or associating with individuals with certain Criminal Histories.


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