1

Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

OR

$134K - $180K/yr

We're looking for a Principal Software Engineer to join our CSP Engagements team as the technical focal point for rack-scale system SW/FW, working with CSP engineering teams to ensure they can deploy ...

Principal Software Solutions Engineer

$134K - $180K/yr

Our end client who specializes in Software Development for Insurance is looking to expand their team with a Direct Hire for a Principal Software Solutions Engineer. This is a Remote US role. End ...

OR · On-site

We're looking for a Principal Software Engineer to join our CSP Engagements team as the technical focal point for GPU firmware and GPU system software, working directly with engineering teams of key ...

OR

$134K - $180K/yr

CiscoIsovalentbuilds open-source software and enterprise solutions solving networking, security ... AsaPrincipal Engineer, you will be at the forefront of advancing Tetragon's capabilities. You will ...

Principal Engineer

OR · On-site +1

$184K/yr

Principal Engineer Location: Corona Del Mar, CA Responsibilities ... Design, develop, and enhance Medical Practice Software Platform, including building a performance ...

We're looking for a Principal Engineer to join our CSP Engagements team as the technical focal ... Conduct cross-CSP performance comparison and pattern analysis - identify configuration, software ...

OR · On-site

$125K - $172K/yr

Significant software engineering experience with substantial focus on healthcare data engineering or EHR integration (Senior: 5+ years; Principal: 8+ years). * Expert-level proficiency in Python ...

We have an unusually talented and accomplished team of engineers who've held lead, staff, principal ... Our software platform is well established and our user base is already quite large, but we're still ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Principal Software Engineer information

See Oregon salary details

$64K

$170.2K

$244.2K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Oregon is $170,156.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $142,700.00 and $191,400.00 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.

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 can include base salary, bonuses, and stock options, particularly at large tech companies or startups with significant funding.

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 engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Principal Software Engineers at large technology companies or in specialized fields such as machine learning, cloud computing, or cybersecurity can earn $500,000 or more annually, often including bonuses and stock options. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills, and leadership responsibilities within high-demand environments.

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 do principal software engineers get paid?

Principal software engineers typically earn between $120,000 and $180,000 annually, with total compensation often including bonuses and stock options. Salaries vary based on experience, location, industry, and company size, with some earning over $200,000 in high-demand markets.

Can you make $500,000 as a software engineer?

Principal Software Engineers at senior levels in large companies or with specialized skills such as machine learning or cloud architecture can earn $500,000 or more annually, often including bonuses and stock options. However, such high compensation is typically reserved for experienced professionals in high-cost-of-living areas or executive-level roles, and not common for entry- or mid-level positions.
What are popular job titles related to Principal Software Engineer jobs in Oregon? For Principal Software Engineer jobs in Oregon, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Principal Software Engineer, Rack-Scale System Software - CSP Engagements

Principal Software Engineer, Rack-Scale System Software - CSP Engagements

Nvidia

OR

$134K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Posted 22 days ago


Nvidia rating

9.3

Company rating: 9.3 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

15th of 209 rated software companies


Job description

We're looking for a Principal Software Engineer to join our CSP Engagements team as the technical focal point for rack-scale system SW/FW, working with CSP engineering teams to ensure they can deploy, monitor, and operate these systems reliably at fleet scale. In this role, you will collaborate with NVIDIA's cross-functional rack-scale system SW/FW engineering teams with dedicated CSP-facing technical leadership. Your focus is on the system-level software that manages, monitors, and recovers the rack as a whole - fabric management, GPU/NVSwitch error handling and recovery, health telemetry APIs, firmware update orchestration, and SW-driven serviceability. You will drive work streams with CSP engineering teams to build shared understanding of the architecture, incorporate their operational feedback, and ensure integration readiness.

What you'll be doing:

  • Drive rack-scale SW/FW architecture alignment across CSP engagements - including fabric management software, link health monitoring, GPU/NVSwitch error handling, SW/FW serviceability features (e.g., hot-plug support, component isolation, firmware-driven recovery), and multi-component firmware orchestration

  • Drive technical work streams with CSP engineering teams on rack-scale system software - ensuring they deeply understand fabric management, NVSwitch behavior, error handling and recovery policies, health telemetry APIs, and SW/FW-controlled recovery operation

  • Capture and synthesize CSP engineering feedback on rack-scale system software - health monitoring APIs, SW-driven serviceability workflows, firmware update orchestration, and error recovery behavior - champion that feedback into NVIDIA's architecture decisions

  • Collaborate with multi-functional teams to ensure customer operational requirements are reflected in system software and firmware development

  • Identify cross-CSP patterns in rack-scale SW/FW issues, error handling behavior, and system configuration practices - drive documentation, tooling, and test strategy improvements as a result

  • Collaborate with execution teams on left-shift strategy - ensuring customer-side SW/FW integration work is identified early and completed ahead of hardware availability

  • Make critical technical decisions on rack-scale system SW/FW tradeoffs and mitigate execution risks through early engagement with CSP engineering teams

What we need to see:

  • 15+ years of experience in system software, platform firmware, or large-scale distributed systems engineering. BS or MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)

  • Deep understanding of rack-scale system software challenges: multi-component coordination, error propagation, health monitoring, and serviceability / reliability

  • Experience with fabric management software, cluster management, or system-level orchestration frameworks. Familiarity with firmware architectures and update lifecycle management (multi-component update sequencing, rollback, recovery)

  • Understanding of error handling and recovery design patterns in distributed systems - fault isolation, retry policies, graceful degradation

  • Experience with health monitoring and telemetry systems: health scoring, event correlation, API design for fleet-level observability

  • Understanding of GPU or accelerator system software (drivers, device management, power management) is a strong plus

  • Customer obsession - genuine passion for understanding how CSPs operate sophisticated systems at fleet scale and simplifying their experience

  • Proven success providing technical leadership across organizational boundaries and influencing system software design without direct authority. Strong communication - ability to translate complex system software architecture into actionable mentorship for customer engineering teams

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

  • Experience with NVIDIA NVSwitch, NVOS, or GPU fabric management software

  • Background in system software for large-scale clusters at a hyperscaler (cluster management, fleet orchestration, health platforms)

  • Experience crafting error handling and recovery frameworks for multi-component systems (hundreds or thousands of coordinating devices)

  • Familiarity with GPU or accelerator fleet operations - driver lifecycle, firmware rollout strategies, health-based scheduling

  • Understanding of how system software decisions impact serviceability, availability, and operational cost at fleet scale

NVIDIA's invention of the GPU in 1999 fueled the growth of the PC gaming market, redefined modern computer graphics, and revolutionized parallel computing. More recently, GPU deep learning ignited modern deep learning - the next era of computing - with the GPU acting as the brain of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can perceive and understand the world. Today, we are increasingly known as "the AI computing company." We're looking to grow our company and establish teams with the most thoughtful people in the world. Are you ready to change the next generation of computing? Join us at the forefront of technological advancement.

NVIDIA data center systems, such as DGX and HGX, have become core to NVIDIA's rapidly growing enterprise and cloud provider businesses. These platforms bring together the full power of NVIDIA GPUs, NVIDIA NVLink, NVIDIA InfiniBand networking, NVIDIA Grace CPUs, and a fully optimized NVIDIA AI and HPC software stack.

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 272,000 USD - 431,250 USD.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until July 19, 2026.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.

NVIDIA is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.

What Nvidia employees say

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Nvidia logo

About Nvidia

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than 25 years. It's a unique legacy of innovation that's fueled by great technology--and amazing people. Today, we're tapping into the unlimited potential of AI to define the next era of computing. An era in which our GPU acts as the brains of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can understand the world. Doing what's never been done before takes vision, innovation, and the world's best talent.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Santa Clara, CA, US

Year founded

1993