1

Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

Principal Software Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

$150 - $230/hr

As a principal software engineer at Liberty Mutual, you'll consult on highly complex projects and solve technical problems, while working in an agile environment that has the creative energy of a ...

Principal Software Engineer

Waltham, MA · Hybrid

$145K - $195K/yr

Xometry is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join our Xometry Partner Experience Technology Organization. In this role as a senior individual contributor, you will guide software ...

Principal Software Engineer

Boston, MA · Hybrid

$146K - $196K/yr

As a principal software engineer at Liberty Mutual, you'll consult on highly complex projects and solve technical problems, while working in an agile environment that has the creative energy of a ...

Principal Software Engineer

Boston, MA · Hybrid

$146K - $196K/yr

As a principal software engineer at Liberty Mutual, you'll consult on highly complex projects and solve technical problems, while working in an agile environment that has the creative energy of a ...

Principal Software Engineer

Woburn, MA · On-site

$107.50 - $204.50/hr

Principal Software Engineer - Missile Defense Sensors (MDS) Software Department What You Will Do * Lead the design, development, testing, and deployment of complex software solutions in support of ...

Principal Software Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$147K - $197K/yr

Prior experience operating at Principal Engineer / Staff+ scope at a highly technical company * Deep understanding of how enterprise software systems are built and evolved at scale, including ...

Principal Software Engineer (Cloud)

Boston, MA · On-site

$146K - $196K/yr

We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to help define and build the technical foundation of our AI-native cybersecurity platform. As a Principal Engineer, you will lead the design and ...

Principal Software Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$148K - $199K/yr

They are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to take full, hands-on ownership of critical production-grade systems and deliver high-leverage features that improve customer outcomes and engineering ...

Principal Software Engineer

Wellesley Hills, MA · On-site

$146K - $196K/yr

CVS Health is building a world of health around every individual, seeking a Principal Software Development Engineer for their Utilization Management Analytics Engineering team. This role involves ...

Principal Software Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

$146K - $196K/yr

They are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join their Engineering team, responsible for building and scaling the pipelines that power the Security Intelligence Graph, ensuring the platform ...

Prior experience operating at Principal Engineer / Staff+ scope at a highly technical company * Deep understanding of how enterprise software systems are built and evolved at scale, including ...

Principal Software Engineer

Mansfield, MA · On-site +1

$142K - $191K/yr

As a Principal Full Stack Software Engineer , you will be a technical leader within the elluminate Product Development team. You'll help design and build the core services and user experiences of a ...

Showing results 21-40

Principal Software Engineer information

See Boston, MA salary details

$65.7K

$174.8K

$250.9K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Boston, MA is $174,832.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $146,700.00 and $196,600.00 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 Boston, MA?

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

What cities near Boston, MA are hiring for Principal Software Engineer jobs?

Cities near Boston, MA with the most Principal Software Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Boston, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 50% In-person, and 50% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $174,832 per year, or $84.1 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

Boston, MA • On-site

$150K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 16 hours ago


Key responsibilities

  • Lead the design and development of scalable, cloud-native applications on Microsoft Azure.

  • Partner with enterprise architects and product managers to translate business requirements into software components.

  • Design, maintain, and improve automated CI/CD pipelines and champion DevOps principles.


Job description

Who are we?

A strategic and trusted insurance partner, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI), provides a broad range of commercial property, casualty and specialty insurance coverages and outstanding service to customers and brokers around the world. Part of Berkshire Hathaway’s insurance operations, we bring our solutions to market with our stellar brand name, top-rated balance sheet, and the expertise of our global team of professionals, who exude excellent capabilities and strong character.

We are a values-based organization where respect, integrity, excellence, collaboration, and passion define who we are and how we do business. We value diversity of backgrounds, experience, and perspectives and strive to foster an inclusive environment that enables all our team members to bring their best selves to work. We are one team committed to building a culture where every teammate has the opportunity to contribute and be recognized. Want to be part of the team building the finest property, casualty, and specialty lines insurance company in the world?

Learn more about our unique culture and history.

Job Opportunity: 

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Technology professional to join its Enterprise Solutions (ES) team as a Principal Software Engineer based in Boston. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the strategic evolution of enterprise technology by leading the design and implementation of scalable, cloud-native solutions that support the dynamic needs of a fast-growing Surety business.

The position demands a hands-on, solution-oriented mindset and a passion for delivering business value through technology. It offers the opportunity to influence architectural decisions, mentor engineering teams, and contribute to BHSI’s long-term digital transformation. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, bringing strong leadership, technical depth, and a commitment to engineering excellence. This role is ideal for someone who values autonomy, architectural ownership, and the chance to work on meaningful, high-impact problems that drive real business outcomes.

Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Spearhead the design and development of scalable, cloud-native applications on Microsoft Azure, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture principles and evolving business needs.
  • Lead front-end engineering efforts using Angular or React to craft responsive, accessible, and user-friendly interfaces across platforms.
  • Design and fine-tune database architectures with a focus on performance, scalability, data integrity, and security, leveraging SQL Server and modern ORM tools.
  • Operate within an empowered engineering environment supported by modern platforms and tooling, enabling focus on impactful problem-solving over process overhead.
  • Partner with enterprise architects and product managers to convert business requirements and architectural blueprints into robust, high-quality software components.
  • Partner with business stakeholders to understand needs and translate them into scalable, high‑quality technical solutions that deliver measurable business value. 
  • Design and maintain automated CI/CD pipelines with clear quality gates and repeatable release workflows; champion DevOps principles and DevEx improvements that increase velocity, reliability, and maintainability at scale.
  • Take ownership of the complete software development lifecycle, emphasizing test-driven development, secure coding, and long-term maintainability.
  • Assess and adopt modern frameworks for Dev Ex and tools that enhance development velocity, system scalability, and operational resilience.
  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams, conduct code reviews, and champion best practices that foster a culture of excellence and continuous learning.
  • Communicate architectural decisions and technical strategies to the Enterprise Architecture Review Board, ensuring alignment with organizational standards.
  • Proactively identify and resolve system performance issues, architectural inefficiencies, and reliability concerns through targeted improvement initiatives.
  • Develop and maintain detailed documentation covering system architecture, development workflows, and operational procedures to support scalability and onboarding.
  • Uphold compliance with cybersecurity protocols, data governance standards, and regulatory requirements throughout the software delivery process.

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience:

  • 10+ years of progressive, hands-on experience in software engineering and system administration, with a strong track record of delivering enterprise-grade solutions.
  • Proven success in a Principal Engineer or equivalent leadership role, with deep expertise in designing and building scalable applications and integrating third-party platforms to meet complex business needs.
  • Extensive experience in API-first, cloud-native, event driven architecture with a focus on designing resilient, distributed systems that support high availability and performance.
  • Advanced proficiency in Java, C#, and the .NET ecosystem, including .NET Core and ASP.NET, with a commitment to writing clean, maintainable, and secure code.
  • Strong front-end development experience using Angular (latest versions), with a focus on building responsive, accessible, and user-centric interfaces.
  • Deep knowledge of relational databases, particularly SQL Server, including schema design, query optimization, stored procedures, and performance tuning using modern ORM frameworks.
  • Hands-on expertise with Microsoft Azure services, including Azure Functions, App Services, Azure SQL, and Azure Storage, with a strong understanding of cloud-native development patterns.
  • Comprehensive understanding of microservices architecture, including inter-service communication (REST, gRPC), message queues, and orchestration strategies.
  • Strong foundation in system design and architectural patterns, with the ability to evaluate trade-offs and make informed decisions that balance scalability, maintainability, and performance.
  • Technically versatile with a hands-on approach, capable of contributing across the full software development lifecycle—from architecture and design to implementation and support.
  • Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with a meticulous attention to detail and a proactive mindset toward identifying and resolving technical challenges.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, with experience collaborating across distributed teams, engaging with stakeholders, and working with external vendors.
  • Business-oriented mindset, with a demonstrated ability to understand and align technical solutions with business objectives and operational goals.
  • Self-motivated and collaborative, with a strong sense of ownership, adaptability, and a team-first mentality focused on delivering high-quality outcomes.

BHSI Offers:

  • A competitive package and exciting growth opportunities for career-oriented teammates
  • A dynamic, action oriented, and thoughtful environment centered on always doing the right thing for our customers, teammates and our other stakeholders
  • A purposely non-bureaucratic organization that embraces simplicity over complexity and emphasizes individual excellence in a team framework
  • Benefits that support your life and well-being, which include:
  • Comprehensive Health, Dental and Vision benefits
  • Disability Insurance (both short-term and long-term)
  • Life Insurance (for you and your family)
  • Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (for you and your family)
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Health Reimbursement Account
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Retirement Savings 401(k) Plan with Company Match
  • Generous holiday and Paid Time Off
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Paid Parental Leave

The base salary range for this position in Boston is $150,000 to $180,000, along with annual bonus eligibility. Total compensation for a candidate is determined by their relevant skills, location, and experience. We value our teammates – both their capabilities and character – as demonstrated by our amazing culture.

NOTE: Compensation will be commensurate with experience. This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Team Member may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.