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Principal Software Development Engineer Jobs in California

Your Role As a Principal Software Engineer , you will be a key technical contributor supporting the ... Support the full software development lifecycle (SDLC) including requirements analysis, design ...

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 ...

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 ...

Principal Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

Description SAIC is seeking a talented and motivated Principal Software Engineer to support ... Support the full software development lifecycle (SDLC) including requirements analysis, design ...

Principal Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

Your Role As a Principal Software Engineer , you will be a key technical contributor supporting the ... Support the full software development lifecycle (SDLC) including requirements analysis, design ...

Principal Software Engineer

Irvine, CA · Hybrid

$144K - $194K/yr

A Principal Software Development Engineer leads the design, development, and testing of complex software systems and applications. This senior-level position is responsible for creating scalable ...

Principal Software Engineer

South San Francisco, CA · On-site

$162K - $217K/yr

Principal Software Engineer Location: South San Francisco, CA preferred; Remote optional Job Type ... AI-Native Development: Build and improve our AI-coding tooling alongside the rest of the team. Help ...

Principal Software Engineer

South San Francisco, CA · Remote

$162K - $217K/yr

Remote optional Job Type: Full-time About the Role We're seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join Natera's R&D Platform Infrastructure team. The team builds the cloud infrastructure, workflow ...

Principal Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$159K - $213K/yr

Principal Software Engineer Location: South San Francisco, CA preferred; Remote optional Job Type ... AI-Native Development: Build and improve our AI-coding tooling alongside the rest of the team. Help ...

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Showing results 1-20

Principal Software Development Engineer information

See California salary details

$59.7K

$158.8K

$228K

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

As of Jul 13, 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.

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.

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, and why are they important?

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.
Principal/ Senior Principal Software Engineer - Kalman Filter

Principal/ Senior Principal Software Engineer - Kalman Filter

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Los Angeles, CA

$135K - $186K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Posted 12 days ago


Northrop Grumman rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 352 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

107th of 527 rated manufacturers


Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: NoCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescriptionAt Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. Our Engineering and Sciences (E&S) organization pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered with providing the skills, innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter. Come be a part of our mission!

We are looking for you to join our team as aPrincipalorSenior Principal Software Engineer - Kalman Filter based out ofWoodland Hills, CA. As a Software Engineer at Northrop Grumman Mission Systems you will have a challenging and rewarding opportunity to be a part of our Enterprise-wide digital transformation. Through the use of Model-based Engineering and Agile practices we continue to evolve how we deliver critical national defense products and capabilities for the warfighter. Our success is grounded in our ability to embrace change, move quickly and continuously drive innovation. The successful candidate will be collaborative, open, transparent, and team-oriented with a focus on team empowerment & shared responsibility, flexibility, continuous learning, and a culture of automation.

What You'll get to Do:

In this position you will be developing, testing, and debugging softwarefor our cutting edge Navigation systems. As a member of our world class software development team, you will have opportunities to improve and expand your capabilities in software design and code development. You will also have opportunities to perform software and system integration on state of the art hardware, learn new software development techniques such as Model Based Engineering (MBE), and work in an agile and collaborative development environment.

As a successful candidate, you will collaborate with peers across our organization and will have clearly demonstrated the strong leadership skills needed to join our top performing team. You will have a track record as an effective communicator and problem solver who is able to develop and maintain good working relationships with our internal and external customers. You will also have demonstrated a commitment to ethics and integrity, and the capability to innovate while challenging our traditional ways of doing business. You will make us even better!

This requisition may be filled as a Principal Software EngineerorSeniorPrincipal Software Engineer

Basic Qualifications for Principal Software Engineer:

  • Bachelors degree in STEM with 5 years of hands on Software Development experience; Masters in STEM with 3 years of hands on Software Development experience; PhD in STEM with 1 year of hands on Software Development experience

  • Experience developing software in MATLAB/Simulink

  • Experience with development in C and Python

  • Experience using software management and workflow automation tools such as ClearCase, Git, ClearQuest, or Jira

  • Experience with using MATLAB to create, process, analyze, and visually represent data

  • Experience with using Simulink to model dynamic systems

  • Experience using Model Based Engineering tools

  • Experience with INS/GPS Kalman filter design and requirements definition

  • Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative development environment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required

  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance is required

  • Required to work on site full-time

Basic Qualifications for Senior Principal Software Engineer:

  • Bachelors degree in STEM with 8 years of hands on Software Development experience; Masters in STEM with 6 years of hands on Software Development experience; PhD in STEM with 4 year of hands on Software Development experience

  • Experience developing software in MATLAB/Simulink

  • Experience with programming (C and Python)

  • Experience using software management and workflow automation tools such as ClearCase, Git, ClearQuest, or Jira

  • Experience using MATLAB to create, process, analyze, and visually represent data.

  • Experience using Simulink to model dynamic systems.

  • Experience with Navigation Systems and INS/GPS Kalman filter design and requirements definition

  • Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative development environment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required

  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance is required

  • Required to work on site full-time

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Current/Active U.S. Government Secret clearance

  • Experience in the development and performance of software tests

  • Experience using DOORS for software requirements management

  • Expertise in Sensor Fusion for Navigation Systems using IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), GPS, barometers, and other sensors

  • Expertise in INS (Inertial Navigation System)

  • Expertise in Embedded INS/GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation systems

  • Demonstrated capability to translate formal software requirements into software designs

  • Demonstrated capability to define software requirements for an INS/GPS system

  • Familiarity with/Experience in INS/GPS Kalman filter design and requirements definition

  • Experience developing, verifying, certifying and releasing mission and safety-critical software systems that comply with RTCA DO-178B/ C or similar guidelines.

  • Demonstrated use of MATLAB for simulation and INS/GPS system performance evaluation

  • Hands-on experience with one or more communication protocols such as MIL-STD-1553, ARINC-429 or RS-422

  • Experience with code analysis tools such as Polyspace and software test tools such as LDRA and VectorCast

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

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About Northrop Grumman

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Falls Church, VA, US

Year founded

1939