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Principal Software Development Engineer Jobs in California

pds

Principal Software Engineer

Woodland Hills, CA · On-site

$165.26/hr

Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams in an Agile development environment ... Senior Principal Software Engineer * Bachelor's degree in a STEM field with 8+ years of software ...

KBR

Principal Software Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site +1

$143K - $192K/yr

Principal Software Engineer Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR! KBR is seeking an experienced ... This role combines hands-on software development, technical leadership, and architecture support ...

KBR, Inc.

Principal Software Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$143K - $192K/yr

Principal Software Engineer Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR! KBR is seeking an experienced ... This role combines hands-on software development, technical leadership, and architecture support ...

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Principal Software Development Engineer information

See California salary details

$59.7K

$158.8K

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How much do principal software development engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software development engineer in California is $158,829.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $133,200.00 and $178,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal software development engineer?

A Principal Software Development Engineer is a senior technical leader responsible for designing, developing, and guiding complex software projects. They often set technical direction, mentor engineering teams, and ensure best practices are followed across projects. Principal engineers collaborate closely with product managers, architects, and other stakeholders to deliver scalable and robust software solutions. Their role usually requires extensive experience in software engineering, deep technical expertise, and strong leadership skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal software development engineer?

To thrive as a Principal Software Development Engineer, you need deep expertise in software architecture, advanced programming skills, and a strong foundation in computer science, typically supported by a bachelor's or master's degree in a related field. Mastery of development frameworks, cloud platforms (such as AWS or Azure), and familiarity with CI/CD tools are commonly required, along with experience leading code reviews and technical teams. Exceptional communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities help you mentor others and drive cross-functional projects to success. These skills and qualities are critical for guiding technical direction, ensuring high-quality solutions, and fostering innovation within engineering teams.

How does a principal software development engineer typically collaborate with other teams within the organization?

As a Principal Software Development Engineer, you will frequently work cross-functionally with product managers, designers, and other engineering teams to align technical solutions with business goals. You may also mentor junior engineers, participate in architectural reviews, and help drive the adoption of best practices across teams. This role often involves leading technical discussions, facilitating communication between stakeholders, and ensuring that projects are delivered efficiently and at a high standard. Collaborative skills and the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly are essential for success in this position.
Principal Software Development Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Software Development Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $158,829 per year, or $76.4 per hour.

Principal Software Development Engineer - Compiler & ML Acceleration

Advanced Micro Devices

San Jose, CA • On-site

$180 - $240/hr

Other

Re-posted 2 hours ago

Advanced Micro Devices rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 13 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

27th of 159 rated electronics manufacturers

Job description

WHAT YOU DO AT AMD CHANGES EVERYTHING

At AMD, our mission is to build great products that accelerate next‑generation computing experiences—from AI and data centers, to PCs, gaming and embedded systems. Grounded in a culture of innovation and collaboration, we believe real progress comes from bold ideas, human ingenuity and a shared passion to create something extraordinary. When you join AMD, you’ll discover the real differentiator is our culture. We push the limits of innovation to solve the world’s most important challenges—striving for execution excellence, while being direct, humble, collaborative, and inclusive of diverse perspectives. Join us as we shape the future of AI and beyond.

THE ROLE:

AMD is building the next generation of compiler and software infrastructure to accelerate Large Language Models (LLMs) and ML workloads on emerging accelerator architectures.

THE PERSON:

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer to lead technical development in compiler technology, MLIR‑based infrastructure, and model‑to‑hardware optimization, with a strong focus on enabling high‑performance execution for AI workloads.

This role sits at the intersection of compiler development, ML frameworks, and AI model execution, supporting advanced acceleration pipelines targeting NPUs and other specialized compute engines.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Lead architecture design and development of compiler components and optimization pipelines for machine learning
  • Design and implement MLIR‑based compiler flows to lower high‑level ML representations into highly optimized hardware‑specific code
  • Drive model compilation and data movement optimization for ML inference workloads
  • Define and implement compiler strategies for operator fusion, memory planning, scheduling, and performance optimization
  • Work cross‑functionally with hardware, runtime, frontend, and systems teams to align compiler capabilities with evolving accelerator architectures
  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship, influencing compiler direction and best practices across the organization
  • Contribute to long‑term roadmap decisions for compiler and ML acceleration software
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
  • Strong experience in compiler development (front‑end, middle‑end, and/or back‑end) and code optimization
  • Hands‑on expertise with MLIR and/or LLVM‑based compiler infrastructure
  • Proven experience working on neural network workloads
  • Deep understanding of graph‑level and compiler‑level optimizations for ML models
  • Strong C++ development skills and experience working in large, complex codebases
  • Ability to operate at Principal‑level technical scope, influencing architecture and direction beyond individual deliverables
  • Experience targeting or optimizing for NPUs or specialized AI accelerators
  • Familiarity with model compilation stacks and custom lowering pipelines
  • Contributions to compiler or ML infrastructure in production environments
ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

AMD and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity, inclusive employers and will consider all applicants without regard to age, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third‑party affiliation, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate applicants’ needs under the respective laws throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

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