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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX (NOW HIRING)

J.P. Morgan

Principal Software Engineer

Houston, TX

$128K - $172K/yr

As a Principal Software Engineer at JPMorgan Chase within the Corporate Sector, you, you provide expertise and engineering excellence as an integral part of an agile team to enhance, build, and ...

Baylor Genetics

Principal Software Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$124K - $166K/yr

As we continue to grow and expand our services, we are seeking an accomplished Principal Software Engineer to work ONSITE to serve as a technical leader and architect across our software ecosystem.

Hp

Principal Software ML Engineer

Spring, TX · On-site

$120K - $161K/yr

Principal Software ML Engineer Description - HP is seeking a Principal Software ML Engineer to define and guide the architecture of modern software platforms within HP's device and services ecosystem.

Raytheon

Principal Software Engineer - Test

Houston, TX

$128K - $172K/yr

Prioritize and handle multiple software engineering tasks concurrently * Troubleshoot software and test equipment instrumentation * Work in a multidiscipline engineering team environment * Develop ...

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All JobsPrincipal Software Engineer JobsPrincipal Software Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX

Principal Software Engineer information

See Houston, TX salary details

$57.8K

$153.7K

$220.6K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Houston, TX is $153,690.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $128,900.00 and $172,800.00 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 Houston, TX? For Principal Software Engineer jobs in Houston, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Principal Software Engineer jobs in Houston, TX look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Software Engineer jobs in Houston, TX are:
What cities near Houston, TX are hiring for Principal Software Engineer jobs? Cities near Houston, TX with the most Principal Software Engineer job openings:
Principal Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Houston, TX as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, and 5% Temporary. Highlights an 84% In-person, 5% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $153,690 per year, or $73.9 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer

NAVA Software Solutions

Spring, TX • On-site

$124K - $166K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

NAVA Software solutions is looking for a Principal Software Engineer - Full Stack
Details:
Principal Software Engineer - Full Stack
Location: Spring TX - Hybrid (3-4 days/week onsite)
Duration: 12 months
Summary
This role is ideal for a software engineer with strong Java and JavaScript fundamentals (or deep C#/.NET experience and a demonstrated ability to transition to Java), and hands-on experience with React is preferred. The successful candidate will have a proven track record applying modern software engineering practices to build and modernize enterprise applications. They are passionate about continuous learning, embrace a growth mindset, and are eager to leverage AI-assisted development tools to accelerate delivery while maintaining high standards of code quality, security, and reliability.
Key Responsibilities
  • Design, develop, and maintain full stack applications using Java (Spring Boot), React, and related technologies

  • Lead the modernization of legacy and monolithic applications into modular services and microservices, including API design, data migration strategies, and gradual decomposition of legacy codebases

  • Build responsive, accessible, and performant React-based UIs with reusable components and maintainable state management.

  • Develop secure, well-structured back-end services and REST APIs, ensuring robust authentication, authorization, and data protection

  • Use AI coding assistants (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Cursor) to improve productivity, documentation quality, test coverage, and refactoring safety, while exercising judgment and code review discipline

  • Champion engineering best practices including code reviews, automated testing, CI/CD, and observability

  • Mentor junior developers and contribute to a culture of learning, experimentation, and continuous improvement

Required Experience & Skills
  • 5-8 years of hands-on software development experience in modern tech stacks

  • Strong proficiency with Java, Spring Boot, and REST API design. Experience with C# and .Net Core will be considered with exposure to Java

  • Solid experience with React, and/or JavaScript; experience migrating from legacy front-end frameworks (e.g., AngularJS) to React is highly desirable.

  • Experience with relational databases (e.g. Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL) and query optimization.

  • Experience with Cloud Development provisioning and configuring resources such as Functions, App Services and APIM in Azure Cloud or AWS equivalent.

  • Previously implemented event-driven architecture

  • Well versed in CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions etc.)

  • Comfortable working in Agile teams and collaborating across product management, QA, and operations

  • Accustomed to collaborating with architecture, security, and DevOps teams

  • Strong communication skills and a growth mindset. actively seeks feedback, experiments with new tools and patterns, and shares learnings with the team

  • Enthusiasm for using AI-based coding assistants responsibly to accelerate delivery, improve code quality, and support knowledge sharing

Nice to Have Experience
  • Exposure to containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes, AKS)

  • Familiar with concepts such as MCP servers, RAG applications and the use of Graph databases

  • Exposure to observability and the use of open telemetry to instrument code

  • Experience with infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., Terraform)

  • Experience modularizing or decomposing monolithic applications (even if partial or within specific domains/modules).
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About NAVA Software Solutions

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

NAVA is a strategic partner for companies seeking to develop or customize software and products. Our team of experts leverages cutting-edge technology and deep industry knowledge to provide customized solutions that drive business success. Whether you're looking to improve your operations, increase efficiency, or bring a new product to market, NAVA has the expertise and resources to help you achieve your goals. Trust us to be your partner in software and product development.

Industry

It services

Company size

51 - 200 Employees

Headquarters location

Rocky Hill, CT, US

Social media

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