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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Wintrust

Principal Software Engineer

Rosemont, IL · On-site

$199K/yr

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

Cengage Learning, Inc.

Principal Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$139K - $186K/yr

As a successful technology leader, you will build and lead remote software engineering organizations using agile principles to architect and deliver high availability enterprise software. You will ...

Northern Trust

Principal, Software Engineering

Chicago, IL · On-site

$139K - $186K/yr

They are seeking a highly experienced Principal Software Engineer to provide technical leadership and hands-on execution across complex, cloud-native software initiatives, while mentoring and ...

Northern Trust

Principal, Software Engineering

Chicago, IL · On-site

$139K - $186K/yr

Role Summary We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Software Engineer to provide technical leadership and handson execution across complex, cloudnative software initiatives. This role combines ...

Northern Trust

Principal, Software Engineering

Chicago, IL · On-site

$139K - $186K/yr

Role Summary We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Software Engineer to provide technical leadership and hands-on execution across complex, cloud-native software initiatives. This role ...

Northern Trust

Principal, Software Engineering

Naperville, IL · On-site

$134K - $180K/yr

Role Summary We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Software Engineer to provide technical leadership and handson execution across complex, cloudnative software initiatives. This role combines ...

Northern Trust

Principal, Software Engineering

Chicago, IL · On-site

$139K - $186K/yr

Role Summary We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Software Engineer to provide technical leadership and hands-on execution across complex, cloud-native software initiatives. This role ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsPrincipal Software Engineer JobsPrincipal Software Engineer Jobs in Illinois

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 Aug 11, 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.

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
What are popular job titles related to Principal Software Engineer jobs in Illinois? For Principal Software Engineer jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Principal Software Engineer jobs in Illinois look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Software Engineer jobs in Illinois are:
What cities in Illinois are hiring for Principal Software Engineer jobs? Cities in Illinois with the most Principal Software Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Principal Software Engineer jobs in IL? For Principal Software Engineer jobs in IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Principal Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 86% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $155,951 per year, or $75 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer

Wintrust

Rosemont, IL • On-site

$199K/yr

Full-time

Posted 9 days ago

Wintrust rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 20 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

72nd of 171 rated banks

Job description

Wintrust provides community and commercial banking, specialty finance and wealth management services through its 16 bank charters and nine non-bank businesses. Wintrust delivers the sophisticated solutions of a large bank while staying true to the relationship-focused, personalized service of our community banking roots. We serve clients in all 50 states with more than 200 branch banking locations in Illinois, southwestern Florida, northwestern Indiana, west Michigan and southern Wisconsin and commercial banking offices in Chicago, Denver, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Mich., and in key branch banking locations throughout Illinois. Our people are the heart of our business and we are proud to rank consistently as a top place to work. Wintrust is a $66 billion financial institution based in Rosemont, Illinois, and listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "WTFC."
Location:
Job location - Rosemont, IL- The position is based in Rosemont, IL, but remote work anywhere in the U.S. will be considered.
Responsibilities:
  • Responsible for technical development, implementation, administration and support of Salesforce CRM, using leading-edge technologies. Participate in the development and deployment new features to support business initiatives, playing a leading role in the design of new/improved interfaces to Salesforce.
  • Develop new applications and functionality, including modifying existing websites, micro-sites, and application sites for Salesforce. Develop and document functional specifications.
  • Lead a team of Developers to fulfill requested enhancements.
  • Conduct and manage code reviews and Pair-Programming Sessions.
  • Provide application design expertise for application development, database design and maintenance, software architecture, software development lifecycle management and application monitoring for the relevant platform(s). Help architect efficient and scalable software solutions for business application platforms.
  • Responsible for the software release management of team projects including packaging for deployment and working with Configuration Management for the release of, and integration of released applications into open web projects.
  • Provide production support for Salesforce CRM, including after-hours support when necessary.
  • Participate in the full SDLC (Agile), including requirement analysis, design and implementation, estimations and other aspects of iterative development.
  • Develop production application support plans, schedules, and assignments as required. Estimate the level of effort related to technical design, coding, and unit testing.
  • Report status to development management and project/systems management.
  • Develop specification documents outlining technical requirements with associated solutions.
  • Provide technical support for maintenance of existing applications.
  • Manage project development efforts of supplier partnership agreements.
  • Write technical specifications.
  • Able to effectively communicate across teams and roles.
  • Coach and mentor a team of 5 Software Developers to fulfill requested enhancements.
  • Conduct and manage code reviews and Pair-Programming Sessions.
  • Manage development teams and pipelines.
  • Supervise 2 employees

Requirements:
Requires a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field of study plus 5 years of experience in a related position. As an equivalent alternative, the employer will also accept a Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field of study plus 3 years of experience in a related position.
The position also requires:
  • 3 years of experience with Salesforce CRM.
  • 3 years of experience with Lightning Web Components.
  • 3 years of experience with Software development lifecycle methodologies and discipline utilizing Agile (Scrum) methodologies.
  • 3 years of experience following DevOps principles and maintaining strict adherence to coding standards.
  • 3 years of experience with version control policies and release management disciplines.
  • 3 years of experience with APEX, Agile, Git, and Visual Studio Code.
  • 3 years of experience with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
  • 3 years of experience with Object-oriented analysis and design principles and design patterns to build reusable code in Apex.
  • 3 years of experience with Salesforce Object Model structure and development of RESTful integrations for data exchange with external systems.
  • 3 years of experience using core Salesforce development concepts such as breakpoints, stack trace, watchpoints, unit tests, browser devtools, and network trace.

Compensation
The salary for this role is $199,902.23, along with eligibility to earn an annual bonus.
From our first day in business, Wintrust has been proud to serve a variety of unique communities and people from all walks of life. To build a company that reflects the communities we serve, we believe that fostering a unique and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed will support our ongoing success. Wintrust Financial Corporation, including community banking and financial services subsidiaries, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.

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