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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Principal Software Engineer

Nashville, TN · On-site

$130K - $174K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (IC4) who operates as an AI native builder. This is not a traditional software engineering role centered on manual coding. Engineers on ...

Principal Software Engineer

Nashville, TN · On-site

$130K - $174K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (IC4) who operates as an AI native builder. This is not a traditional software engineering role centered on manual coding. Engineers on ...

Principal Software Engineer

Pulaski, TN

$132K - $178K/yr

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will shape and improve the experience of key Vertafore customers. You will work cross-functionally across Vertafore, including Customer Support, Account ...

Principal Software Engineer

Goodlettsville, TN · On-site

$126K - $169K/yr

Job Details A Principal Software Engineer (PSE) is recognized as a master software engineer able to solve the most complex technical problems. They lead and manage system-wide/cross-functional teams ...

Principal Software Engineer

Goodlettsville, TN · On-site

$126K - $169K/yr

Job Details A Principal Software Engineer (PSE) is recognized as a master software engineer able to solve the most complex technical problems. They lead and manage system-wide/cross-functional teams ...

Principal Software Engineer

Nashville, TN · On-site

$130K - $174K/yr

... software company in the world. Values are OCI's foundation and how we deliver excellence. We strive ... We are looking for a Principal Engineer with cloud experience to join our development team. The ...

Principal Software Engineer

Nashville, TN

$130K - $174K/yr

... software company in the world. Values are OCI's foundation and how we deliver excellence. We strive ... We are looking for a Principal Engineer with cloud experience to join our development team. The ...

Principal Software Engineer

Nashville, TN · On-site

$130K - $174K/yr

... software company in the world. Values are OCI's foundation and how we deliver excellence. We strive ... We are looking for a Principal Engineer with cloud experience to join our development team. The ...

Principal Software Engineer

Nashville, TN

$130K - $174K/yr

... software company in the world. Values are OCI's foundation and how we deliver excellence. We strive ... We are looking for a Principal Engineer with cloud experience to join our development team. The ...

Principal Software Engineer

Pulaski, TN · On-site

$132K - $178K/yr

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will shape and improve the experience of key Vertafore customers. You will work cross-functionally across Vertafore, including Customer Support, Account ...

Principal Software Engineer

Pulaski, TN

$132K - $178K/yr

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will shape and improve the experience of key Vertafore customers. You will work cross-functionally across Vertafore, including Customer Support, Account ...

Principal Software Engineer

Nashville, TN · On-site

$130K - $174K/yr

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Transformation & Delivery is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join our high-impact team supporting the Zero Process Oracle (ZPO) initiative. This program is ...

Principal Software Engineer

Nashville, TN · On-site

$130K - $174K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (IC4) who operates as an AI native builder. This is not a traditional software engineering role centered on manual coding. Engineers on ...

Principal Software Engineer

Nashville, TN · On-site

$130K - $174K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (IC4) who operates as an AI native builder. This is not a traditional software engineering role centered on manual coding. Engineers on ...

Principal Software Engineer

Nashville, TN

$130K - $174K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (IC4) who operates as an AI native builder. This is not a traditional software engineering role centered on manual coding. Engineers on ...

Principal Software Engineer

Nashville, TN

$130K - $174K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (IC4) who operates as an AI native builder. This is not a traditional software engineering role centered on manual coding. Engineers on ...

Principal Software Engineer

Nashville, TN

$130K - $174K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (IC4) who operates as an AI native builder. This is not a traditional software engineering role centered on manual coding. Engineers on ...

Principal Software Engineer

Nashville, TN · On-site

$130K - $174K/yr

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Transformation & Delivery is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join our high-impact team supporting the Zero Process Oracle (ZPO) initiative. This program is ...

Principal Software Engineer

Nashville, TN · On-site

$130K - $174K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (IC4) who operates as an AI native builder. This is not a traditional software engineering role centered on manual coding. Engineers on ...

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Showing results 1-20

Principal Software Engineer information

See Tennessee salary details

$54.9K

$146.1K

$209.7K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Tennessee is $146,069.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $122,500.00 and $164,300.00 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 cities in Tennessee are hiring for Principal Software Engineer jobs? Cities in Tennessee with the most Principal Software Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Tennessee as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $146,069 per year, or $70.2 per hour.
Principal Software Engineer

Principal Software Engineer

Oracle

Nashville, TN • On-site

$130K - $174K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted yesterday


Oracle rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 151 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

56th of 245 rated software companies


Job description


Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is building the next generation of AI native engineering systems powering cloud operations, infrastructure automation, and developer productivity at scale.
We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (IC4) who operates as an AI native builder. This is not a traditional software engineering role centered on manual coding. Engineers on this team use AI assisted development, coding agents, and automation first workflows as the default mode of software creation.
This role focuses on rapidly building intelligent systems, internal platforms, operational tooling, and cloud native services using modern AI driven engineering practices. You will work across distributed systems, automation platforms, developer experience, and operational intelligence to dramatically improve engineering velocity, reliability, and scale.
Engineers on this team are expected to deeply integrate LLMs, coding copilots, agentic IDEs, and AI orchestration workflows into their daily development process. Success in this role is measured not only by code written, but by the ability to effectively leverage AI systems to accelerate delivery, automate repetitive engineering work, and solve high impact operational problems.
Responsibilities
As a Principal Software Development Engineer, you will:
  • Design and build scalable cloud native systems, automation platforms, and intelligent operational tooling.
  • Use AI assisted development workflows as the primary engineering model for software design, implementation, debugging, testing, and documentation.
  • Build systems where humans supervise and orchestrate intelligent automation rather than manually executing repetitive engineering tasks.
  • Rapidly prototype and productionize solutions using modern AI native development environments and agentic workflows.
  • Develop internal developer platforms, APIs, operational workflows, and AI enabled engineering systems.
  • Improve engineering productivity through intelligent automation, workflow orchestration, and self service tooling.
  • Partner across engineering, infrastructure, and operations teams to solve complex technical and operational challenges.
  • Drive operational excellence through observability, automated remediation, telemetry, and resilient system design.
  • Contribute to architecture, technical strategy, and engineering best practices across the organization.
  • Mentor engineers in modern AI native development practices and automation first engineering approaches.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related technical field.
  • 5+ years of software engineering experience building scalable production systems.
  • Strong programming skills in Java, Python, Go, or JavaScript/TypeScript.
  • Experience building distributed systems, cloud native applications, APIs, or automation platforms.
  • Experience with CI/CD systems, cloud infrastructure, containers, and modern software development practices.
  • Strong systems thinking, debugging, and problem solving skills.
  • Ability to independently drive projects in fast moving and ambiguous environments.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Deep experience using AI assisted development tools such as Cursor, Copilot, Claude, Codex or similar agentic engineering environments.
  • Strong understanding of AI native software development workflows, prompt driven engineering, and LLM assisted system design.
  • Experience building developer productivity tooling, workflow automation systems, or operational intelligence platforms.
  • Familiarity with Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform, and Infrastructure as Code technologies.
  • Experience with observability platforms, telemetry systems, and production operations.
  • Knowledge of LLM orchestration frameworks, retrieval systems, vector databases, or AI infrastructure concepts is a plus.
  • Demonstrated ability to rapidly ship high quality production systems using AI accelerated engineering workflows.
  • Strong communication and cross functional collaboration skills.

Qualifications
Disclaimer:
Certain U.S. based or U.S. customer or client-facing roles may be required to comply with applicable requirements, such as immunization/occupational health mandates, and/or drug testing requirements.
Range and benefit information provided in this posting are specific to the stated locations only
US: Hiring Range in USD from: $114,600 to $234,600 per annum. May be eligible for bonus, equity, and compensation deferral.
Oracle maintains broad salary ranges for its roles in order to account for variations in knowledge, skills, experience, market conditions and locations, as well as reflect Oracle's differing products, industries and lines of business.
Candidates are typically placed into the range based on the preceding factors as well as internal peer equity.
Oracle US offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes the following:
1. Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including expert medical opinion
2. Short term disability and long term disability
3. Life insurance and AD&D
4. Supplemental life insurance (Employee/Spouse/Child)
5. Health care and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts
6. Pre-tax commuter and parking benefits
7. 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan with company match
8. Paid time off: Flexible Vacation is provided to all eligible employees assigned to a salaried (non-overtime eligible) position. Accrued Vacation is provided to all other employees eligible for vacation benefits. For employees working at least 35 hours per week, the vacation accrual rate is 13 days annually for the first three years of employment and 18 days annually for subsequent years of employment. Vacation accrual is prorated for employees working between 20 and 34 hours per week. Employees working fewer than 20 hours per week are not eligible for vacation.
9. 11 paid holidays
10. Paid sick leave: 72 hours of paid sick leave upon date of hire. Refreshes each calendar year. Unused balance will carry over each year up to a maximum cap of 112 hours.
11. Paid parental leave
12. Adoption assistance
13. Employee Stock Purchase Plan
14. Financial planning and group legal
15. Voluntary benefits including auto, homeowner and pet insurance
The role will generally accept applications for at least three calendar days from the posting date or as long as the job remains posted.
Career Level - IC4
About Us
Only Oracle brings together the data, infrastructure, applications, and expertise to power everything from industry innovations to life-saving care. And with AI embedded across our products and services, we help customers turn that promise into a better future for all. Discover your potential at a company leading the way in AI and cloud solutions that impact billions of lives.
True innovation starts when everyone is empowered to contribute. That's why we're committed to growing a workforce that promotes opportunities for all with competitive benefits that support our people with flexible medical, life insurance, and retirement options. We also encourage employees to give back to their communities through our volunteer programs.
We're committed to including people with disabilities at all stages of the employment process. If you require accessibility assistance or accommodation for a disability at any point, let us know by emailing accommodation-request_mb@oracle.com or by calling 1-888-404-2494 in the United States.
Oracle is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and protected veterans' status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Oracle will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records pursuant to applicable law.

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About Oracle

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

An Oracle career can span industries, roles, Countries and cultures, giving you the opportunity to flourish in new roles and innovate, while blending work life in. Oracle has thrived through 40+ years of change by innovating and operating with integrity while delivering for the top companies in almost every industry. In order to nurture the talent that makes this happen, we are committed to an inclusive culture that celebrates and values diverse insights and perspectives, a workforce that inspires thought leadership and innovation. Oracle offers a highly competitive suite of Employee Benefits designed on the principles of parity, consistency, and affordability. The overall package includes certain core elements such as Medical, Life Insurance, access to Retirement Planning, and much more. We also encourage our employees to engage in the culture of giving back to the communities where we live and do business. At Oracle, we believe that innovation starts with diversity and inclusion and to create the future we need talent from various backgrounds, perspectives, and abilities. We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to successfully participate in the job application, interview process, and in potential roles. to perform crucial job functions. That's why we're committed to creating a workforce where all individuals can do their best work. It's when everyone's voice is heard and valued that we're inspired to go beyond what's been done before.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Redwood City, CA, US

Year founded

1977

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