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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Indiana (NOW HIRING)

Principal Software Engineer

Fort Wayne, IN · On-site

$124K - $166K/yr

Raytheon, the world's largest aerospace and defense company, is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join their Battle Management Software team in Ft. Wayne, IN. The role involves participating ...

Principal Software Engineer

Fort Wayne, IN

$133K - $178K/yr

Wayne, IN is looking to add a Software Engineer to their development team. We align to the core Agile and DevSecOps principles of collaborative operation across the entire value stream, delivering ...

Principal Software Engineer

Wayne, IN · On-site

$119K - $160K/yr

Wayne, IN is looking to add a Software Engineer to their development team. We align to the core Agile and DevSecOps principles of collaborative operation across the entire value stream, delivering ...

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Principal Software Engineer information

See Indiana salary details

$57.6K

$153.1K

$219.8K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Indiana is $153,141.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $128,500.00 and $172,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Principal Software Engineers?

Principal Software Engineers are highly experienced technical leaders responsible for designing, developing, and overseeing complex software systems. They set technical direction, mentor engineering teams, and often collaborate with stakeholders to align technology solutions with business goals. In addition to coding, they play a key role in establishing best practices, reviewing architectural decisions, and ensuring high-quality software delivery. Their expertise and leadership are critical in driving innovation and maintaining technical excellence within an organization.

What engineers make $500,000?

Principal Software Engineers and senior technical leaders in high-demand industries can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills in areas like cloud computing or AI, and often in large tech companies or executive roles. Compensation packages may include base salary, bonuses, and stock options, reflecting their expertise and leadership responsibilities.

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 engineers make $300,000 a year?

Principal Software Engineers and senior technical leaders in high-demand industries such as technology, finance, and cloud computing often earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills in areas like distributed systems or machine learning, and relevant certifications. Compensation varies based on company size, location, and individual expertise.

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.

Is it possible to make 300k as a software engineer?

Principal Software Engineers in high-demand industries or at large tech companies can earn salaries of $300,000 or more, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills, and stock options. Achieving this level often requires advanced expertise in areas like cloud computing, machine learning, or leadership roles, along with a strong track record of project success.

What Is 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.
What are popular job titles related to Principal Software Engineer jobs in Indiana? For Principal Software Engineer jobs in Indiana, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Principal Software Engineer jobs in Indiana look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Software Engineer jobs in Indiana are:
Principal Software Engineer

Principal Software Engineer

Raytheon

Fort Wayne, IN • On-site

$124K - $166K/yr

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago


Raytheon rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Based on 81 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

3rd of 518 rated manufacturers


Job description

Job Summary:
Raytheon, the world's largest aerospace and defense company, is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join their Battle Management Software team in Ft. Wayne, IN. The role involves participating in collaborative product teams to develop, test, and integrate complex software solutions for surveillance and warning systems, adhering to Agile and DevSecOps principles.
Responsibilities:
• Participation in collaborative, cross-disciplined integrated product teams, employing agile software development techniques and resources to plan, design, develop, test, and integrate complex software and systems solutions for aerospace and defense applications.
• Participate in agile execution and continuous improvement.
• Work collaboratively with systems and SI&T engineers to analyze, implement, and test system modification requests to the existing system baseline.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 8 years of prior relevant experience unless prohibited by local laws/regulations.
• Experience with software development, test, and/or integration using C, C++, Python, Ada, or similar.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret issued security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.
Preferred:
• An Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years experience.
• Experience working in Agile environments such as scrum, scrum at scale, SAFe and DevSecOps.
• Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment with time-critical requirements.
• Experience contributing to a team environment for the purpose of developing creative solutions to difficult technical problems.
• Experience with tools such as Atlassian Suite (e.g., Bitbucket/Artifactory, Confluence, Crucible, Fisheye, Jira), Jenkins, Eclipse, and Ansible.
• Experience working in a continuous integration/continuous development environment; experience with CI/CD pipelines.
• Knowledge of Red Hat and Linux Operating Systems.
• Exposure to Open Systems Architectures and modular design principles.
• Experience with design, code, integration, and test of large systems
Company:
Raytheon, an RTX business, creates next-generation defense solutions that are smarter, faster and better than previously thought possible. Founded in 1948, the company is headquartered in Waltham, USA, with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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