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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Atlanta, GA (NOW HIRING)

We are looking for a Principal Software Architect to provide technical leadership for next ... Partner with product, engineering, cybersecurity, operations, and business teams to translate ...

This is a principal-level opportunity to shape the reliability and reach of PowerPlan's cloud-based ... It is a high-autonomy role for an engineer who raises the bar without being asked and wants their ...

We are looking for a Principal Software Architect to provide technical leadership for next ... You will report directly to our Senior Director of Software Engineering and you'll work out of our ...

We are looking for a Principal Software Architect to provide technical leadership for next ... You will report directly to our Senior Director of Software Engineering and you'll work out of our ...

Showing results 21-40

Principal Software Engineer information

See Atlanta, GA salary details

$58.2K

$154.8K

$222.1K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Atlanta, GA is $154,760.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $129,800.00 and $174,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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.

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 job categories do people searching Principal Software Engineer jobs in Atlanta, GA look for?

The top searched job categories for Principal Software Engineer jobs in Atlanta, GA are:

What cities near Atlanta, GA are hiring for Principal Software Engineer jobs?

Cities near Atlanta, GA with the most Principal Software Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Atlanta, GA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 84% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $154,760 per year, or $74.4 per hour.

Consulting/Principal Software Engineer

RELX Group plc

Alpharetta, GA • On-site

$115K - $192K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 20 days ago


Job description

About the Business
LexisNexis Risk Solutions is the essential partner in the assessment of risk. Within our Business Services vertical, we deliver a wide range of solutions that help businesses drive revenue growth, maximize operational efficiency, and improve customer experience. Our offerings address critical challenges across Anti-Money Laundering / Counter-Terrorist Financing, Identity Authentication & Verification, Fraud and Credit Risk Mitigation, and Customer Data Management.
Learn more at: https://risk.lexisnexis.com
About the Role
We are seeking a highly experienced Consulting / Principal Software Engineer to lead the design, optimization, and management of large-scale database systems and backend platforms. This role requires deep expertise in database architecture, performance tuning, and Java-based application development, along with the ability to advise on best practices across data engineering and system design. You will partner with cross-functional stakeholders to deliver scalable, high-performance data solutions and provide technical leadership across critical initiatives.
Responsibilities:
  • Design and build database schemas, tables, indexes, and constraints while ensuring efficient data modeling across both OLTP and OLAP environments
  • Write, troubleshoot, and optimize complex SQL queries using joins, subqueries, CTEs, and window functions to improve performance and reliability
  • Perform hands-on database programming by developing and maintaining stored procedures, triggers, and functions, with strong ownership of transaction management and concurrency control
  • Actively debug and resolve production issues, including slow queries, deadlocks, locking problems, and high CPU, memory, or I/O utilization
  • Implement and enhance Java-based data access layers using JDBC and ORM frameworks such as Hibernate or JPA to ensure efficient and scalable database interaction
  • Build and support ETL pipelines, handling data extraction, transformation, migration, and batch processing for large datasets
  • Perform hands-on data analysis, validation, and reporting to ensure data accuracy and support business needs
  • Write and maintain Bash or shell scripts to automate database operations, including backups, job scheduling (cron), data processing, and monitoring within Linux or Unix environments

Requirements:
  • 8+ years of experience in software engineering with a strong database focus
  • Expertise in relational databases (MySQL preferred) and data modeling
  • Advanced proficiency in SQL development and performance tuning
  • Strong experience with Java, JDBC, and ORM frameworks (Hibernate/JPA)
  • Proven experience diagnosing and resolving complex production issues
  • Solid understanding of transaction management, concurrency, and system performance
  • Hands-on experience with Unix/Linux environments and shell scripting

Working for you:
We know that your wellbeing and happiness are key to a long and successful career. These are some of the benefits we are delighted to offer:
  • Health Benefits: Comprehensive, multi-carrier program for medical, dental and vision benefits
  • Retirement Benefits: 401(k) with match and an Employee Share Purchase Plan
  • Wellbeing: Wellness platform with incentives, Headspace app subscription, Employee Assistance and Time-off Programs
  • Short-and-Long Term Disability, Life and Accidental Death Insurance, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity
  • Family Benefits, including bonding and family care leaves, adoption and surrogacy benefits
  • Health Savings, Health Care, Dependent Care and Commuter Spending Accounts
  • In addition to annual Paid Time Off, we offer up to two days of paid leave each to participate in Employee Resource Groups and to volunteer with your charity of choice

U.S. National Base Pay Range: $115,400 - $192,300. Geographic differentials may apply in some locations to better reflect local market rates.This job is eligible for an annual incentive bonus.
We know your well-being and happiness are key to a long and successful career. We are delighted to offer country specific benefits. Click here to access benefits specific to your location.
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