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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Principal Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$117K - $123K/yr

... software engineering experience in Lead, Principal, Senior, Associate Software Engineer, Developer, or related position; or a Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information ...

Principal Software Engineer

Westchester, IL · On-site

$133K - $179K/yr

About the Role IAA is seeking a Principal Data Engineer to serve as the most senior individual ... Expert-level proficiency in Python and SQL, with strong software engineering fundamentals (testing ...

Principal Software Engineer II

Deerfield, IL · On-site

$137K - $184K/yr

Job Summary Walgreens is seeking a Principal Software Engineer II to serve as a senior technical authority and hands-on engineering leader supporting highly strategic Digital and Store technology ...

Conduct and manage code reviews and Pair-Programming Sessions. * Provide application design expertise for application development, database design and maintenance, software architecture, software ...

Conduct and manage code reviews and Pair-Programming Sessions. * Provide application design expertise for application development, database design and maintenance, software architecture, software ...

Showing results 21-40

Principal Software Engineer information

See Illinois salary details

$58.6K

$156K

$223.8K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Illinois is $155,951.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $130,800.00 and $175,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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.

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 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.

How much does a principal software engineer get paid?

A principal software engineer typically earns between $120,000 and $180,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. They often have advanced skills in software architecture, leadership, and technical expertise in programming languages and tools.

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Principal Software Engineer jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Principal Software Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 71% Full Time, 27% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $155,951 per year, or $75 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer

Morningstar, Inc.

Chicago, IL • On-site

$117K - $123K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 18 days ago


MorningStar Senior Living rating

6.7

Company rating: 6.7 out of 10

Based on 30 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

64th of 245 rated social care providers


Job description

Architect and lead the development of scalable AI and cloud-native Agentic solutions using OpenAI, Azure, and AWS to enhance financial data acquisition and automation capabilities; spearhead the design and implementation of AI-powered transcription platforms, driving significant improvements in speed and efficiency (10%). Design, code, debug, maintain, and upgrade high-performance software systems, ensuring system performance, reliability, and maintainability (10%). Provide technical leadership across multiple engineering teams, guiding day-to-day development activities and architectural decision-making (10%). Lead cross-functional collaboration with Application Architects, Systems Engineers, DevOps/SRE, and business stakeholders to ensure alignment between technical solutions and business objectives (10%). Advocate and enforce global best practices for product performance, reliability, scalability, security, and code reusability (5%). Conduct architectural design and system planning, ensuring scalable solutions that balance technical excellence with financial sector business needs (20%). Enforce coding standards and software engineering best practices for applications across development teams (10%). Lead DevOps efforts with Docker, Kubernetes, and AWS Fargate; implemented CI/CD pipelines with SonarQube and automated infrastructure deployments (10%). Make strategic infrastructure decisions, monitor operational costs, and implement optimizations to reduce spend and improve system efficiency (10%). Attend team meetings to facilitate brainstorming, problem-solving, and project updates, fostering a culture of innovation and technical rigor (5%). ***Remote work requests will be considered consistent with company's remote work policy.
Job Requirements:
This position requires a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a technology-related filed or foreign equivalent and 8 years of software engineering experience in Lead, Principal, Senior, Associate Software Engineer, Developer, or related position; or a Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a technology-related filed or foreign equivalent and 6 years of software engineering experience in Lead, Principal, Senior, Associate Software Engineer, Developer, or related position.
This position also requires 5 years of experience in designing scalable AI and cloud-native solutions using AWS, Azure OpenAI or similar Cloud platforms; 5 years of experience developing commercial quality software products and solutions particularly focused on distributed and real-time systems; 5 years of experience with a variety of technology components and stacks, including Python and Java; 5 years of experience with performance, reliability, scalability, security, and reusability tactics and strategies; 5 years of experience defining, refining, and maintaining application architectures for sophisticated end-user software products; 5 years of experience with troubleshooting and debugging skills; 3 years of experience mentoring and leading engineering teams; 3 years of experience in machine learning, including model development and deployment in production environments; 3 years of experience building and delivering proof-of-concepts (POCs) to validate technical solutions; 3 years of experience with AWS cloud platforms and SaaS architectures; 3 years of experience DevOps, implementing CI/CD pipelines, containerizing using Docker and orchestration using Kubernetes/AWS Fargate; 3 years of experience in agile development practices including scrum and scaled agile. *Will accept any suitable combination of education, training, and experience.
Must possess unrestricted right to work in the U.S. in this position
Base Salary Compensation: $117,957 - $123,010 per year
Compensation and Benefits
At Morningstar we believe people are at their best when they are at their healthiest. That's why we champion your wellness through a wide range of programs that support all stages of your personal and professional life. Here are some examples of the offerings we provide:
  • Financial Health
    • 100% 401k match up to 6% of salary
    • Stock Ownership Potential
    • Company provided life insurance - 1x salary + commission
  • Physical Health
    • Comprehensive health benefits (medical/dental/vision) including potential premium discounts and company-provided HSA contributions (up to $500-$2,000 annually) for specific plans and coverages
    • Additional medical Wellness Incentives - up to $300-$600 annual
    • Company-provided long- and short-term disability insurance
  • Emotional Health
    • Trust-Based Time Off
    • 6-week Paid Sabbatical Program
    • 6-Week Paid Family Caregiving Leave
    • Competitive 8-24 Week Paid Parental Leave
    • Adoption Assistance
    • Leadership Coaching & Formal Mentorship Opportunities
    • Annual Flex Stipend - $1000 annually to cover personal education & well-being expenses
    • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Social Health
    • Charitable Matching Gifts program
    • Dollars for Doers volunteer program
    • Paid volunteering days
    • 15+ Employee Resource & Affinity Groups

Morningstar's hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to collaborate in-person each week as we've found that we're at our best when we're purposely together on a regular basis. In most of our locations, our hybrid work model is four days in-office each week. A range of other benefits are also available to enhance flexibility as needs change. No matter where you are, you'll have tools and resources to engage meaningfully with your global colleagues.
001_MstarInc Morningstar Inc. Legal Entity

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