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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

Shutterfly

Senior Principal Software Engineer

Phoenix, AZ · Remote

$122K - $169K/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 ...

Shutterfly

Senior Principal Software Engineer

Phoenix, AZ · Remote

$122K - $169K/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 ...

Shutterfly

Senior Principal Software Engineer

Tempe, AZ · Remote

$122K - $168K/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 ...

AURA

Principal Software Architect

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$155K - $189K/yr

Working closely with scientists, software engineers, data specialists, and operations teams, you ... Architect, Principal Engineer, Distinguished Engineer, or similar technical leadership role.

NSF's NOIRLab

Principal Software Architect

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$155K - $189K/yr

Working closely with scientists, software engineers, data specialists, and operations teams, you ... Architect, Principal Engineer, Distinguished Engineer, or similar technical leadership role.

NOAO

Principal Software Architect

Tucson, AZ

Working closely with scientists, software engineers, data specialists, and operations teams, you ... Architect, Principal Engineer, Distinguished Engineer, or similar technical leadership role.

Rubin Obs

Principal Software Architect

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$155.67 - $189.56/hr

Working closely with scientists, software engineers, data specialists, and operations teams, you ... Architect, Principal Engineer, Distinguished Engineer, or similar technical leadership role.

Raytheon

Principal Software Engineer - Test

Phoenix, AZ

$134K - $179K/yr

Prioritize and handle multiple software engineering tasks concurrently * Troubleshoot software and test equipment instrumentation * Work in a multidiscipline engineering team environment * Develop ...

Raytheon

Principal Software Engineer - Test

Tucson, AZ

$127K - $171K/yr

Prioritize and handle multiple software engineering tasks concurrently * Troubleshoot software and test equipment instrumentation * Work in a multidiscipline engineering team environment * Develop ...

Raytheon

Principal Software Engineer - Test

Tucson, AZ

$127K - $171K/yr

Prioritize and handle multiple software engineering tasks concurrently * Troubleshoot software and test equipment instrumentation * Work in a multidiscipline engineering team environment * Develop ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsPrincipal Software Engineer JobsPrincipal Software Engineer Jobs in Arizona

Principal Software Engineer information

See Arizona salary details

$56.4K

$150K

$215.3K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Arizona is $149,975.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $125,800.00 and $168,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a principal software engineer typically balance hands-on coding with leadership responsibilities?

Principal Software Engineers often split their time between technical contributions—such as designing system architecture and reviewing complex code—and guiding teams through mentorship, technical direction, and cross-functional collaboration. While they may not code as much as junior engineers, they remain highly involved in critical implementations and code reviews. Balancing these responsibilities requires strong time management, clear communication, and the ability to prioritize tasks that have the highest impact on project and team success.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal software engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Software Engineer, you need deep expertise in software architecture, programming languages, and system design, often supported by a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or a related field. Advanced proficiency with development frameworks, cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure), and familiarity with DevOps tools and agile methodologies are typically required. Exceptional leadership, mentorship, and communication skills help facilitate cross-functional collaboration and guide technical teams. These skills are crucial for driving technical vision, ensuring scalable solutions, and fostering innovation within complex projects.

What is the difference between Principal Software Engineer vs Senior Software Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Software EngineerSenior Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in CS or related field; extensive experienceBachelor's or Master's in CS; several years of experience
Work EnvironmentLeadership roles, strategic planning, cross-team collaborationDesign, develop, and troubleshoot software; mentorship
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, large enterprises, startupsMost industries, including tech, finance, healthcare

The main difference between a Principal Software Engineer and a Senior Software Engineer lies in their level of responsibility and scope. Principal Software Engineers typically lead technical strategy, influence architecture decisions, and mentor multiple teams, whereas Senior Software Engineers focus on coding, design, and individual project contributions. Both roles require strong technical skills, but the Principal role emphasizes leadership and strategic impact.

What is a principal software engineer?

A principal software engineer is in charge of software development. In this career, you guide the software design process and inspect software programs to make suggestions for improvements. Principal software engineers also process complex data and may need to enforce software design, development, and maintenance requirements. Your job requires a high level of technical knowledge and skills and a thorough understanding of the software development process. Your employer may require you to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in software development. Similar job titles include software architect and principal software developer.

How much does a principal software engineer get paid?

A principal software engineer typically earns between $120,000 and $180,000 annually in the United States, with salaries varying based on experience, location, and company size. They often have advanced skills in software architecture, leadership, and technical expertise in programming languages and tools.
More about Principal Software Engineer jobs
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What cities in Arizona are hiring for Principal Software Engineer jobs? Cities in Arizona with the most Principal Software Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Principal Software Engineer jobs in AZ? For Principal Software Engineer jobs in AZ, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Principal Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Arizona as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,975 per year, or $72.1 per hour.

Senior Principal Software Engineer

Shutterfly

Phoenix, AZ • Remote

$122K - $169K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

Posted 8 days ago

Shutterfly rating

6.7

Company rating: 6.7 out of 10

Based on 43 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

210th of 731 rated retailers

Job description

At Shutterfly, we make life’s experiences unforgettable. We believe there is extraordinary power in the self-expression. That’s why our family of brands helps customers create products and capture moments that reflect who they uniquely are.

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 customer journeys across Shutterfly. This is a high-impact, hands-on technical leadership role responsible for shaping the architecture, design and implementation of AI systems that directly drive conversion, customer satisfaction, and long-term growth.

Note: We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position at this time. This position is a remote role that will be based in the United States with preference given to candidates in the metro areas of Phoenix, AZ; Dallas, TX and/or Charlotte, NC areas.

What You’ll Do

Own and Build Agentic AI Platforms

  • Architect and build scalable agentic AI systems that power various seamless experiences for customers that drive conversion and customer delight.
  • Develop multi-agent systems that reason, plan, and take actions across tools and services
  • Build Autonomous agents operating across end-to-end customer journeys
  • Build reusable platforms, not one-off solutions
  • Enable multiple teams to innovate independently

Drive End-to-End Technical Strategy

  • Define platform abstractions and reusable capabilities that enable teams across the organization to build and deploy AI-powered experiences independently
  • Contribute to, define and lead architecture for AI platforms integrated into Shutterfly
  • Build foundational capabilities including:
    • Evaluation frameworks for AI quality, safety, and business impact
    • Scalable inference and orchestration infrastructure
  • Ensure systems are highly available, performant, and production-grade at scale

Be Deeply Hands-On

  • Maintain deep hands-on involvement in prototyping, architecture, and critical production systems, setting the standard for engineering excellence.
  • Leverage modern AI tooling (LLMs, agents, vector databases, orchestration frameworks)
  • Set the standard for AI-driven engineering productivity and development practices
  • Lead by example in coding, design reviews, and system debugging

Deliver Measurable Business Impact

  • Define and track AI-specific success metrics, including model quality, latency, cost efficiency, and business KPIs
  • Partner with Product, UX, and Data teams to translate AI capabilities into:
    • Increased conversion and revenue
    • Improved customer experience and engagement
    • Faster time-to-market for new capabilities
  • Drive experimentation (A/B testing) and ensure AI systems deliver quantifiable outcomes

Lead Across the Organization

  • Influence architecture and execution across multiple teams and domains:
    • Ecommerce platform (shopping, cart, checkout)
    • Creation flows and personalization systems
    • Marketing technology and lifecycle platforms
  • Mentor senior engineers and leaders; raise the bar on AI and system design excellence
  • Champion adoption of agentic AI and AI-first development practices across engineering

What Success Looks Like

  • Agentic AI systems measurably improve conversion, AOV, and engagement
  • AI capabilities are deeply embedded across customer journeys
  • Teams adopt AI-first development practices at scale
  • Platform enables rapid experimentation and innovation across orgs

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelors degree in an Engineering discipline or Computer Science
  • 12+ years of software engineering experience with deep expertise in distributed systems
  • Proven track record of architecting and delivering large-scale, high-impact systems
  • Experience influencing and leading cross-organizational technical strategy
  • Strong hands-on coding and system design skills
  • Experience operating large-scale, highly available cloud systems
  • Demonstrated ability to translate advanced technology into business impact

Preferred Qualifications

  • Masters degree in an Engineering discipline or Computer Science
  • Experience building 0→1 AI platforms or products in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
  • Experience building AI/ML systems, especially with:
    • LLMs, agent frameworks, and retrieval systems
    • Multi-agent architectures and orchestration
  • Experience in consumer-facing products or ecommerce platforms

Supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce is important to Shutterfly not only because it directly reflects our value of Embracing our Differences, but also because it’s the right thing to do for our business and for our people. We welcome all applicants and evaluate them based on their qualifications. Learn more about our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on our Career Site.

The compensation package for this role is based on multiple factors, such as job level, responsibilities, location, and candidate experience. The base pay ranges included below are specific to the locations listed, and may not be applicable to other locations.

California : [$170,000-240,750]

Connecticut and New York: [$170,000-220,250]

Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and Washington: [$170,000-204,000]

Nevada: [$159,750-220,250]

Maryland and New Jersey: [$183,500-220,250]

Hawaii : [$159,750-191750]

This position may be eligible for a bonus incentive, health benefits, a 401K program, and other employee perks. More details about our company benefits can be found at https://shutterflyinc.com/benefits/.

This opportunity can be remote, but candidates must reside in a state in which Shutterfly is registered to do business. This includes all US states except District of Columbia, North Dakota, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming.

This position will accept applications on an ongoing basis until filled.

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