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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Louisiana (NOW HIRING)

Principal Software Engineer

Iowa, LA · On-site

$177 - $284/hr

Partner with engineering teams to co‑deliver complex work across platform modernization, product ... Minimum Qualifications: - 8+ years of experience building and scaling complex software systems ...

Requirements: - Bachelor's degree or Diploma in Computer Science, Engineering, related field, or equivalent work experience. - 3+ years of experience in software development, with proficiency in one ...

$80K - $90K/yr

Requirements: - Bachelor's degree or Diploma in Computer Science, Engineering, related field, or equivalent work experience. - 3+ years of experience in software development, with proficiency in one ...

Principal Applied AI Engineer, Finance We are seeking a Principal Applied AI Engineer to lead the ... Software Engineering & AI System Architecture * Design and build scalable AI/ML systems with a ...

Senior Software Engineer

Baton Rouge, LA

$96K - $126K/yr

Description We are seeking an experienced Senior Software Engineer to lead the design and development of complex software systems. In this role, you will serve as a technical leader, mentor junior ...

$120/hr

As a Senior Software Engineer, this professional will lead the design and development of entire computer systems and application software. They will leverage their expertise to create scalable and ...

As a Senior Software Engineer, this professional will lead the design and development of entire computer systems and application software. They will leverage their expertise to create scalable and ...

$120/hr

As a Senior Software Engineer, this professional will lead the design and development of entire computer systems and application software. They will leverage their expertise to create scalable and ...

As a Senior Software Engineer, this professional will lead the design and development of entire computer systems and application software. They will leverage their expertise to create scalable and ...

Senior Software Engineer

New Orleans, LA

$117K - $155K/yr

Mentor other software developers on product team to enhance their skills. * Participate and/or lead sprint demonstrations and facilitate implementation of agreed upon ideas identified at ...

Mentor other software developers on product team to enhance their skills. * Participate and/or lead sprint demonstrations and facilitate implementation of agreed upon ideas identified at ...

New

Software Engineer

Iowa, LA · On-site

$70K - $80K/yr

The Software Engineer will work with colleagues to deliver reliable and scalable applications that contribute to keeping first responders in the field safe, efficient, and informed with mission ...

$70K - $80K/yr

The Software Engineer will work with colleagues to deliver reliable and scalable applications that contribute to keeping first responders in the field safe, efficient, and informed with mission ...

Lead Software Engineer

Iowa, LA · On-site

$111 - $140/hr

The Lead Software Engineer utilizes web and cloud technologies, APIs, and third-party software development frameworks to build and support application solutions. Provides lead support for design and ...

NROWS Software Engineer II Position Overview OST, Inc. is seeking a NROWS Software Engineer II to support and enhance the Navy Reserve Order Writing System (NROWS). The engineer will design, develop ...

Software Engineer

Baton Rouge, LA · On-site

$55K - $70K/yr

Familiar with backend programming languages (e.g., Java, Go, Python, C#) * Familiar with SQL databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) * Familiar with web servers (e.g., Nginx, Apache) * Experienced using ...

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Principal Software Engineer information

See Louisiana salary details

$51.7K

$137.6K

$197.5K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Louisiana is $137,621.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $115,400.00 and $154,800.00 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 are popular job titles related to Principal Software Engineer jobs in Louisiana?

For Principal Software Engineer jobs in Louisiana, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Louisiana as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, and 15% Contract. Highlights an 86% In-person, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $137,621 per year, or $66.2 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer

Workiva Inc.

Iowa, LA • On-site

$177 - $284/hr

Other

Retirement

Posted 7 days ago


Workiva rating

9.9

Company rating: 9.9 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

1st of 246 rated software companies


Job description

N/A At Workiva, we build and scale an enterprise platform that powers complex financial reporting, compliance, and collaboration for some of the world’s largest organizations. We solve for high‑throughput data, strict consistency, and architectural scale while exploring what AI can do to transform how engineering teams work.

What You’ll Do
  • Deliver outcomes: Partner with engineering teams to co‑deliver complex work across platform modernization, product evolution, and new product bets. Adapt your technical approach, planning style, and delivery strategy to match the needs of the work. Use AI‑native development methods to build automation, validation, and engineering harnesses that improve speed, quality, and leverage.
  • Define and drive technical strategy: Lead technical strategy across large, multi‑team initiatives with long‑term impact. Define and evolve system boundaries across complex domains, with a focus on clean interfaces and scalability. Identify and remove bottlenecks in performance, data flow, reliability, and architecture. Lead exploration, prototyping, and validation for ambiguous technical problems. Partner with cross‑functional peers on disaster recovery planning, testing, and optimization.
  • Design AI‑driven systems: Design systems that enable autonomous or semi‑autonomous engineering workflows. Build context‑aware infrastructure that connects code, documentation, and systems to AI tooling. Develop guardrails such as validation layers, static analysis, and automation hooks to ensure safe and reliable AI‑assisted development. Improve how AI is used across the organization for both effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Influence and lead: Raise the technical bar by helping teams think bigger and execute better. Mentor and challenge Staff+ engineers to expand their scope, judgment, and impact. Partner with engineering and product leadership to align technical decisions with business outcomes. Create durable artifacts such as runbooks, decision logs, and tests that can be handed off and evolved by others. Contribute across product domains, bringing context from one area to solve problems in another.
What You’ll Need
  • Minimum Qualifications:
    - 8+ years of experience building and scaling complex software systems.
    - Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or a related field; or 6+ years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 4+ years of experience; or equivalent practical experience.
    - Demonstrated experience using AI as a primary development collaborator, with a strong quality bar for AI‑generated output.
  • Preferred Qualifications:
    - Proven success leading large, cross‑pillar technical initiatives.
    - Track record of working effectively across platform modernization, iterative product development, and greenfield delivery.
    - Strong architectural judgment across distributed systems, APIs, and platform design.
    - Ability to operate as a force multiplier for other engineers.
    - Experience improving engineering testing standards through approaches such as TDD, BDD, load testing, stress testing, chaos testing, invariant testing, or mutation testing.
    - Experience building infrastructure that improves engineering velocity and quality at scale.
    - Strong background in distributed systems and platform architecture.
    - Experience inferring behavioral specifications from existing systems through code, tests, logs, and subject‑matter experts.
    - Ability to deliver production‑quality outcomes in a small, time‑boxed team setting.
    - Strong written communication skills and a habit of creating durable, useful artifacts.
    - A leadership style that empowers others rather than creating dependency.
Compensation and Benefits

Salary range in the US: $177,000.00 – $284,000.00. A discretionary bonus typically paid annually. Restricted Stock Units granted at time of hire. 401(k) match and comprehensive employee benefits package.

Employment decisions are made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status or any other protected characteristic. Workiva is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.

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