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Principal Software Development Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Principal SDET

Westlake, TX ยท On-site

$129K - $173K/yr

Principal Software Development Engineer in Test /Westlake Who We Are Solera is a global leader in data and software services that strives to transform every touchpoint of the vehicle lifecycle into a ...

Principal SDET

Westlake, TX ยท On-site

$129K - $173K/yr

Principal Software Development Engineer in Test /Westlake Who We Are Solera is a global leader in data and software services that strives to transform every touchpoint of the vehicle lifecycle into a ...

Principal Software Engineer

Nashville, TN ยท On-site

$130K - $174K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (IC4) who operates as an AI native builder. This is not a traditional software engineering role centered on manual coding. Engineers on ...

Principal Software Engineer

Nashville, TN ยท On-site

$130K - $174K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (IC4) who operates as an AI native builder. This is not a traditional software engineering role centered on manual coding. Engineers on ...

Principal Software Development Engineer

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$158K - $212K/yr

Role We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer to join our team. This is a hybrid role based in San Jose, CA role, reporting to the Senior Director, Software Engineering in the ...

Principal Software Engineer

Seattle, WA ยท On-site

$153K - $206K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (IC4) who operates as an AI native builder. This is not a traditional software engineering role centered on manual coding. Engineers on ...

Principal Software Engineer

Austin, TX ยท On-site

$133K - $179K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (IC4) who operates as an AI native builder. This is not a traditional software engineering role centered on manual coding. Engineers on ...

SDET

$51.25 - $66/hr

You will be under the guidance of a Principal SDET of a team with an already-established, mature testing process. Your role will be that of a "full-stack" QA Engineer - someone who has a strong ...

Principal Software Engineer

Seattle, WA ยท On-site

$153K - $206K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (IC4) who operates as an AI native builder. This is not a traditional software engineering role centered on manual coding. Engineers on ...

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Principal Software Development Engineer information

See salary details

$60.5K

$160.9K

$231K

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

As of Jul 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software development engineer in the United States is $160,936.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $135,000.00 and $181,000.00 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.
What states have the most Principal Software Development Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Principal Software Development Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Principal Software Development Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $160,936 per year, or $77.4 per hour.
Principal Software Development Engineer

Principal Software Development Engineer

Metabolon, Inc.

Raleigh, NC โ€ข On-site

$131K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago


Job description

Overview
Metabolon is seeking an experienced and driven Principal Software Development Engineer to join our team. This is a full-stack role, requiring expertise across both back-end and front-end technologies to deliver end-to-end solutions. In this role, you will lead engineering efforts across multiple teams, guiding the design, architecture, and deployment of critical systems. This role requires a strategic, hands-on technical leader with a focus on scalability, performance, and effective system architecture. You will act as a trusted advisor, helping teams and managers overcome complex challenges and align technical decisions with business objectives.
This is a hybrid position based at our headquarters in Morrisville, NC.
Responsibilities
Technical Excellence
  • Lead the design, implementation, and evolution of enterprise-level systems that are resilient, scalable, and cost-effective.
  • Ensure code quality through exemplary practices in code clarity, organization, error handling, and documentation.
  • Stay current with emerging technologies, bringing in relevant knowledge to help improve company-wide engineering practices.

Innovation & Simplification
  • Drive innovation while simplifying complex systems and processes, consistently finding straightforward solutions to multifaceted challenges.
  • Contribute to the company's intellectual property through original ideas, tools, or technologies that elevate the organization's technical capabilities.

Strategic Influence
  • Continuously bring a business-centric perspective to technical decisions, balancing innovation with practicality and cost-effectiveness.
  • Act as a key contributor to your department's strategic planning, impacting both the technical roadmap and organizational growth.
  • Influence cross-functional initiatives, contributing to the broader technology and product strategy.

Technical Leadership
  • Provide engineering leadership across multiple teams, offering guidance on complex technical challenges and system architectures.
  • Oversee design reviews for critical projects within the department and participate in company-wide technology reviews.
  • Establish and maintain high standards for performance, scalability, and robustness in system design.

Mentorship & Development
  • Mentor engineers on technical and professional growth, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
  • Collaborate with managers to support career development pathways for team members, focusing on skill development and knowledge sharing.

Qualifications
  • BA/BS degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related STEM field.
  • 7+ years of experience in software engineering, with a proven record in architecting and delivering large-scale systems.
  • Strong foundation in .NET, Python, AWS, Django, and a front end JS technology such as React/Angular, or comparable technologies.
  • Experience leveraging modern coding agents and generative AI technologies to improve products, automate workflows, and accelerate engineering productivity.
  • Experience in providing technical leadership, with a demonstrated ability to mentor and influence at an organizational level.
  • Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
  • Strong problem-solving skills with an emphasis on systems design, scalability, and performance.
  • Proven ability to navigate ambiguity, quickly develop expertise in unfamiliar areas, and lead the resolution of complex technical and operational challenges.
  • Demonstrated growth mindset, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to continuous learning, with a track record of adapting to evolving technologies and business needs.

About Us
Metabolon, Inc., is the global leader in revealing biological insights on disease state and physiological reactions in the present time through metabolomics. Leveraging one of the world's most diverse and rich patient data sets, Metabolon is equipped to deliver biologically relevant evidence to address some of the most difficult and pressing questions in the life sciences. Every day, our work is helping to accelerate research and product development success in the biopharma, population health, consumer products, agriculture, wellness, and academic research sectors.
Metabolon was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina with an international headquarters in Germany. For more information, please visit www.metabolon.com.
Metabolon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status prohibited under Federal, State, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job-related requirements.