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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

Principal Software Engineer

Madison, WI · On-site

$136K - $182K/yr

The Principal Software Engineer will serve as a technical authority within the IT Software Engineering team, focusing on Digital Engineering and Integrations, and will be responsible for shaping ...

Principal Software Engineer

Madison, WI · On-site

$136K - $182K/yr

Position Overview The Principal Software Engineer is a senior Individual Contributor and cross-cutting technical authority within our product-led IT Software Engineering team, focused on Digital ...

Principal Software Engineer

Madison, WI

$136K - $182K/yr

Position Overview The Principal Software Engineer is a senior Individual Contributor and cross-cutting technical authority within our product-led IT Software Engineering team, focused on Digital ...

SR Software Engineer position with project lead experience. We offer: What We Offer: * Career Development * Competitive Compensation and Benefits * Pay Transparency * Global Opportunities Learn More ...

SR Software Engineer position with project lead experience. We offer: What We Offer: * Career Development * Competitive Compensation and Benefits * Pay Transparency * Global Opportunities Learn More ...

SR Software Engineer position with project lead experience. We offer: What We Offer: * Career Development * Competitive Compensation and Benefits * Pay Transparency * Global Opportunities Learn More ...

Join Baxter Healthcare Corporation as a Principal Software Engineer- Android Development in Milwaukee, where you will play a pivotal role in transforming healthcare solutions. This is a ground ...

As a Principal Software Architect, you will be part of the Engineering Department supporting cross-functional product teams. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strategic thinking, collaborative ...

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Showing results 1-20

Principal Software Engineer information

See Wisconsin salary details

$61.1K

$162.4K

$233.2K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Wisconsin is $162,442.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $136,300.00 and $182,700.00 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 Wisconsin? For Principal Software Engineer jobs in Wisconsin, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in Wisconsin are hiring for Principal Software Engineer jobs? Cities in Wisconsin with the most Principal Software Engineer job openings:
Principal Software Engineer

Principal Software Engineer

Exact Sciences

Madison, WI • On-site

$136K - $182K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago


Exact Sciences rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 54 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

21st of 105 rated laboratories


Job description

Job Summary:
Exact Sciences is dedicated to changing how the world prevents, detects, and guides treatment for cancer. The Principal Software Engineer will serve as a technical authority within the IT Software Engineering team, focusing on Digital Engineering and Integrations, and will be responsible for shaping architecture decisions and driving meaningful change across the organization.
Responsibilities:
• Apply expert knowledge, skills, and practices to diverse programs and complex initiatives demonstrating creativity and mastery of specialized techniques, processes, procedures. Exercise independent judgment in methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and diagnose issues of high complexity for major software platforms.
• Provide guidance to engineers and technical expertise and coaching to product team.
• Design lasting platforms in collaboration with product teams on large scale business or technology project(s).
• Drive the quality of platforms and organizational practices that impact and influence the department’s delivery and approach.
• Contribute, interpret, and communicate enterprise, technical, project, and operational strategies, taking into account company dynamics.
• Build successful internal partnerships with IT leadership, peers, SMEs, stakeholders, and decision-makers. Manage vendor and external partnerships.
• Work on projects of high complexity with multiple business units, ongoing acquisition integration activity, or large cross-functional program implementations.
• Exercise independent judgment in methods, techniques and evaluation criteria that affect schedules, operations, and functional activities.
• Ability to work nights and/or weekends, as needed.
• Uphold company mission and values through accountability, innovation, integrity, quality, and teamwork.
• Support and comply with the company’s Quality Management System policies and procedures.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance.
• Ability to act with an inclusion mindset and model these behaviors for the organization.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelor’s Degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Information Systems, Mathematics, or Engineering; or High School Diploma/General Education Degree and 12 years of relevant experience as outlined in the essential duties in lieu of Bachelor’s Degree.
• Expert in 1 or more object-oriented programming languages.
• RESTful web services, Relational Databases (Postgres, SQL Server), and ORM technologies (JPA2, Hibernate, Entities Framework).
• Designing and developing apps that access and or utilize cloud-based frameworks (e.g., Azure, Amazon AWS Services/SDKs, etc.).
• Agile development tools; including, but not limited to, JIRA, Confluence repository.
• Programming languages such as C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, SQL, PL/SQL, .NET, Google Web Toolkit.
• Demonstrated ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodation.
Preferred:
• Demonstrated experience assessing and designing systems for international scale, including data residency, localization, latency, and regulatory variance across multiple regions.
• Experience defining and championing non-functional requirements (NFRs) such as performance, scalability, availability, observability, and security as first-class engineering concerns across multiple teams.
• Experience leading or contributing to team design and domain ownership efforts, including service decomposition and establishing clear boundaries in complex enterprise environments.
• Expertise with integration architecture patterns including HL7, FHIR, middleware technologies, and event-driven platforms such as Kafka.
• Familiarity with UX design systems and the engineering practices that support consistent, scalable user experiences in a product-led organization.
• Experience in healthcare, life sciences or other internationally regulated industries.
Company:
Exact Sciences offers a portfolio of cancer screening and diagnostic tests that span from early detection to treatment monitoring. It is a sub-organization of Abbott. Founded in 1995, the company is headquartered in Madison, USA, with a team of 5001-10000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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