ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

Doist

Senior Software Engineer - Data

Madison, WI · On-site

$140 - $180/hr

# Senior Software Engineer - DataApartmentIQ • Madison , Wisconsin • Real Estate • 4h agoSave this role or tell us whether you want more jobs like it.**We're Changing the Rentals Industry**We're ...

New

SwiftCruit

Senior Software Engineer

Oregon, WI · On-site

$125.24 - $187.86/hr

Partner with analysts, stakeholders, and engineers to translate business problems into working software that delivers real value. * Help build delivery plans that balance trade-offs and align with ...

previous page

Showing results 41-60

All JobsPrincipal Software Engineer JobsPrincipal Software Engineer Jobs in Madison, WI

Principal Software Engineer information

See Madison, WI salary details

$61K

$162.2K

$232.8K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Madison, WI is $162,188.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $136,000.00 and $182,400.00 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.
More about Principal Software Engineer jobs

What job categories do people searching Principal Software Engineer jobs in Madison, WI look for?

The top searched job categories for Principal Software Engineer jobs in Madison, WI are:

Principal Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Madison, WI as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 79% In-person, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $162,188 per year, or $78 per hour.

Principal Agentic Engineer - Remote - USA

FullStack Labs

Madison, WI • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 19 days ago

Job description

About FullStack
FullStack is one of the fastest-growing software consultancy companies in the Americas. We deliver transformational digital solutions to top global companies and Silicon Valley startups. As an employee-first company, we focus on hiring the most talented software designers and developers by creating a positive, respectful, and supportive work environment where they can achieve their greatest potential.
We're most proud of:
  • Offering life-changing career opportunities to talented software professionals across the Americas.
  • Building highly-skilled software development teams for hundreds of the world's greatest companies.
  • Having delivered hundreds of successful custom software solutions, which have positively impacted the lives and careers of millions of users.
  • Our 4.2-star rating on GlassDoor.
  • Our client Net Promoter Score of 68, twice the industry average.

The Position
We're looking to hire a Principal Agentic Engineer to join our team. This is a high-impact, client-facing role designed for a "plus-plus" version of a developer, someone who doesn't just build, but defines the architecture of how global enterprises adopt agentic workflows. You will serve as a strategic consultant and technical lead, helping regulated industries and Fortune 500 clients transition from traditional development to AI-augmented engineering productivity.
What We Are Looking For
  • 8-10+ years of professional software development experience with a deep understanding of full-stack architectures (e.g., Java, Python, C#, React, Node, React Native, etc.).
  • Advanced English is required.
  • Successful completion of a four-year college degree is required.
  • Proven experience as a Solution Architect or Principal Engineer, with the ability to assess current engineering states and define roadmaps for implementing agentic solutions.
  • Deep fluency in Agentic Tooling like Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, or GitHub Copilot, specifically within agentic workflows that coordinate implementation across large, multi-file systems.
  • Ability to engage with engineering leadership (CTOs, VPs of Engineering) to defend architectural decisions, consult on industry best practices, and measure ROI/Developer Productivity (Cycle Time, Lead Time).
  • Experience designing development processes where AI systems generate the majority of implementation code, while maintaining rigorous human-in-the-loop validation.
  • Strong skills in structuring codebases and specifications to produce reliable, context-efficient AI output.
  • Exceptional soft skills; ability to walk clients through complex proposals and represent the FullStack team with confidence.
  • Forensic attention to detail.
  • A positive mindset and a can-do attitude.
  • Experience working on Agile / Scrum teams.
  • Meaningful experience working on large, complex systems.
  • Ability to take extreme ownership of your work. Every day is a challenge to ensure you are performing to the expectations you and your team have agreed upon.
  • Ability to identify with the goals of FullStack's clients, and dedicate yourself to delivering on the commitments you and your team make to them.
  • Ability to consistently work 40 hours per week.

What We Offer
  • Competitive Salary.
  • Paid Time Off (vacation, sick leave. parental leave, and holidays).
  • 100% remote work.
  • The ability to work with leading startups and Fortune 500 companies.
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance.
  • 401(k) w/ 4% match.
  • Ample opportunity for career advancement.
  • Continuing education opportunities.

FullStack is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status.
Learn more about our Applicants Privacy Notice .
FullStack Labs logo

About FullStack Labs

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

FullStack Labs is the fastest-growing software consultancy in the Americas. We help organizations like Uber, GoDaddy, MGM, Siemens, Stanford University, and the State of California, build distributed software development teams, and deliver transformational digital solutions. As an employee-first company, we focus on hiring the most talented software designers and developers in the western hemisphere, by creating a positive, respectful, and supportive work environment where they can achieve their greatest potential.

Industry

It services

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Sacramento, CA, US

Year founded

2013

Social media

FacebookTwitter

View All FullStack Labs Jobs

Apply