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

Xometry

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 ...

Blitzy

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 ...

SevenAI

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 ...

CVS Health

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 ...

Recorded Future

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 ...

Xometry

Principal Software Engineer

Waltham, MA · On-site

$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 ...

eClinical Solutions

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 ...

eClinical Solutions

Principal Software Engineer

Mansfield, MA · On-site

$142K - $191K/yr

As a Principal Full Stack Software Engineer, you will be a technical leader responsible for designing and building core services and user experiences for a next-generation clinical data and analytics ...

eClinical Solutions

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 ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsPrincipal Software Engineer JobsPrincipal Software Engineer Jobs in Boston, MA

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 Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Boston, MA is $174,820.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $146,600.00 and $196,600.00 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.
More about Principal Software Engineer jobs
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 job categories do people searching Principal Software Engineer jobs in Boston, MA look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Software Engineer jobs in Boston, MA 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:
Principal Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Boston, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, and 8% Contract. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $174,820 per year, or $84 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer/Developer

Fidelity Investments

Boston, MA • On-site

$158K - $166K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 13 days ago

Fidelity Investments rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 271 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

15th of 150 rated financial services

Job description


Position Description:
Builds and supports resilient and scalable Cloud-based platforms on Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Azure. Designs and enhances Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and REST APIs. Leverages Object Oriented Design and Service Oriented Architecture in software development in an Agile environment. Develops RESTful APIs using JSON and Node.js. Uses business knowledge to translate the vision for divisional initiatives into business solutions by developing complex or multiple software applications and conducting studies of alternatives. Analyzes and recommends changes in project development policies, procedures, standards, and strategies to development experts and management.
Primary Responsibilities:
  • Participates in architecture design teams.
  • Defines and implements application-level architecture.
  • Develops applications on complex projects, components, and subsystems for the division.
  • Recommends development testing tools and methodologies and reviews and validates test plans.
  • Responsible for QA readiness of software deliverables.
  • Develops comprehensive documentation for multiple applications or subsystems.
  • Establishes full project life cycle plans for complex projects across multiple platforms.
  • Responsible for meeting project goals on-time and on-budget.
  • Advises on risk assessment and risk management strategies for projects.
  • Plans and coordinates project schedules and assignments for multiple projects.
  • Acts as a primary liaison for business units to resolve various project/technology issues.
  • Provides technology solutions to daily issues and technical evaluation estimates on technology initiatives.
  • Advises senior management on technical strategy.
  • Mentors junior team members.
  • Performs independent and complex technical and functional analysis for multiple projects supporting several divisional initiatives.
  • Develops original and creative technical solutions to on-going development efforts.

Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Information Systems, or a closely related field (or foreign education equivalent) and five (5) years of experience as a Principal Software Engineer/Developer (or closely related occupation) architecting distributed web applications using Node.js or JavaScript and HTML within an Agile environment.
Or, alternatively, Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Information Systems, or a closely related field (or foreign education equivalent) and three (3) years of experience as a Principal Software Engineer/Developer (or closely related occupation) architecting distributed web applications using Node.js or JavaScript and HTML within an Agile environment.
Skills and Knowledge:
Candidate must also possess:
  • Demonstrated Expertise ("DE") developing highly performant and concurrent RESTful Web Services and GraphQL queries; and developing applications with low latency and vertical or horizontal scalability using Typescript, JavaScript, or Node.js.
  • DE performing full stack development including analysis, design, unit, integration, and functional testing, and deployment (to AWS, GCP or Azure), using Java, Node.js, Angular, Vue.js, and RESTful Web Services; and building and maintaining Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines using Enterprise Jenkins.
  • DE creating, training, and coordinating conversational chatbots to return static and dynamic responses, using functions (AWS or GCP), APIs, Nuance Mix, or Google DialogFlow; and developing and deploying cross-channel voice assistant experiences (with common capabilities).
  • DE building and maintaining the runtime platform used to orchestrate conversation-first interactions, including defining intents, intent structures, and entity recognition patterns; and integrating applications with Natural Language Processor (NLP) and Natural Language Understanding (NLU) providers - Amazon Lex and Nuance Mix.

Salary: $158,500.00 to $166,000.00/year
#PE1M2
#LI-DNI
Fidelity's Onsite Working Model
Fidelity is transitioning to a full-time onsite working model through a phased rollout across regions and roles. Currently, some roles and locations require 100% onsite presence, while others require less. Onsite expectations are likely to evolve as the rollout continues. This transition does not apply to fully remote roles.
Certifications:
Category:
Information Technology
Please be advised that Fidelity's business is governed by the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Investment Company Act of 1940, ERISA, numerous state laws governing securities, investment and retirement-related financial activities and the rules and regulations of numerous self-regulatory organizations, including FINRA, among others. Those laws and regulations may restrict Fidelity from hiring and/or associating with individuals with certain Criminal Histories.

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