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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Menlo Park, CA

Principal Software Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$166.60K - $223.30K/yr

Principal Software Engineer This role has been designed as 'Hybrid' with an expectation that you will work on average 2 days per week from an HPE office. Who We Are: Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the ...

Join Walmart as a Principal Software Engineer, leading the design and development of web e-Commerce features and solutions. This role demands expertise in systems design, debugging, and innovation to ...

Join Walmart as a Principal Software Engineer, leading the design and development of web e-Commerce features and solutions. This role demands expertise in systems design, debugging, and innovation to ...

Join Walmart as a Principal Software Engineer, leading the design and development of web e-Commerce features and solutions. This role demands expertise in systems design, debugging, and innovation to ...

Join Walmart as a Principal Software Engineer, leading the design and development of web e-Commerce features and solutions. This role demands expertise in systems design, debugging, and innovation to ...

Join Walmart as a Principal Software Engineer, leading the design and development of web e-Commerce features and solutions. This role demands expertise in systems design, debugging, and innovation to ...

Join Walmart as a Principal Software Engineer, leading the design and development of web e-Commerce features and solutions. This role demands expertise in systems design, debugging, and innovation to ...

Join Walmart as a Principal Software Engineer, leading the design and development of web e-Commerce features and solutions. This role demands expertise in systems design, debugging, and innovation to ...

Principal Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$159.10K - $213.20K/yr

Principal Software Engineer BackOps AI is transforming supply chain operations with agentic AI solutions that automate complex workflows, freeing operations teams to focus on what matters most.

Principal, Software Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · Remote

$158.40K - $212.40K/yr

Principal Software Engineer Company Description Imagine working in an environment where you can make life easier for hundreds of millions of people and put a smile on their face. That is what we do ...

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Principal Software Engineer information

See Menlo Park, CA salary details

$71.3K

$189.7K

$272.2K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Menlo Park, CA is $189,657.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $159,100.00 and $213,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Is 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 are Principal Software Engineers?

Principal Software Engineers are highly experienced technical leaders responsible for designing, developing, and overseeing complex software systems. They set technical direction, mentor engineering teams, and often collaborate with stakeholders to align technology solutions with business goals. In addition to coding, they play a key role in establishing best practices, reviewing architectural decisions, and ensuring high-quality software delivery. Their expertise and leadership are critical in driving innovation and maintaining technical excellence within an organization.

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 cities near Menlo Park, CA are hiring for Principal Software Engineer jobs? Cities near Menlo Park, CA with the most Principal Software Engineer job openings:
Principal Software Engineer

Principal Software Engineer

HPE

Cupertino, CA • On-site

$166.60K - $223.30K/yr

Other

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Hewlett Packard Enterprise rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 23 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

30th of 137 rated electronics manufacturers


Job description

Principal Software Engineer

This role has been designed as ‘Hybrid’ with an expectation that you will work on average 2 days per week from an HPE office.

Who We Are:

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the global edge-to-cloud company advancing the way people live and work. We help companies connect, protect, analyze, and act on their data and applications wherever they live, from edge to cloud, so they can turn insights into outcomes at the speed required to thrive in today’s complex world. Our culture thrives on finding new and better ways to accelerate what’s next. We know varied backgrounds are valued and succeed here. We have the flexibility to manage our work and personal needs. We make bold moves, together, and are a force for good. If you are looking to stretch and grow your career our culture will embrace you. Open up opportunities with HPE.

Job Description:

We are seeking a talented and motivated Principal Engineer to join our dynamic team in building carrier-grade networking solutions on a multi-tenant SaaS platform. In this role, you will play a pivotal role in designing, developing, and optimizing our core services. As a key member of our engineering group, you will work on cutting-edge technologies, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and drive impactful solutions. You will leverage your deep understanding of networking principles, distributed systems, and cloud technologies to deliver a reliable, performant, and secure solution to our global customer base.

Responsibilities

  • Technical Leadership: Work with product managers, architects, and other engineers to understand the software requirements, and define corresponding functional and design specifications. Drive technical decisions and contribute to the overall strategy. 

  • Software Development: Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain high-quality, production-grade software, with a strong emphasis on backend systems. Write clean, efficient, and well-documented code. 

  • System Design & Optimization: Design and implement micro-services for high availability, scalability, performance, and security within our SaaS platform. Identify and resolve complex performance bottlenecks and system issues. 

  • Networking Expertise: Apply deep knowledge of networking protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, HTTP/S, DNS, NAT), network security, and cloud networking concepts to build robust and secure solutions. 

  • SaaS & Cloud Native Development: Design and implement solutions leveraging cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies (e.g., Kubernetes, Docker). 

  • Collaboration: Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams including product management, QA, SRE, and technical assistance team. 

  • Code Quality & Best Practices: Champion best practices in software development, including code reviews, testing methodologies, CI/CD, and DevOps principles. 

  • Problem Solving: Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in a timely and effective manner, often in production environments. 

  • Innovation & Research: Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends in networking, SaaS, and software engineering. Propose and prototype new ideas and solutions. 

  • Documentation: Create and maintain comprehensive technical documentation for designs, APIs, and operational procedures. 

Qualifications

  • Experience: A minimum of 15 years of professional software development experience, with a significant portion focused on backend systems and distributed applications.

Understanding and

  • Programming Languages: Proven expertise in one or more backend programming languages such as Golang (preferred), Java or Python.

  • Networking Fundamentals: Deep understanding of networking protocols, network architectures, network security, and common networking concepts is essential.

  • Microservices & Orchestration: Proven experience in designing, building, and deploying scalable microservices using Docker, Kubernetes, etc. 

  • SaaS & Cloud Experience: Significant experience in building, deploying, and operating scalable SaaS applications in a Public Cloud (AWS/GCP) environment. 

  • Distributed Systems: Strong understanding of distributed systems principles, including concurrency, scalability, fault tolerance, and consistency. 

  • Databases: Experience with various database technologies, including relational (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL (e.g., DynamoDB, Redis) databases. 

  • APIs & Integrations: Experience designing, building, and consuming RESTful APIs and other integration technologies like WebSocket, Kafka, etc. 

  • Security Focus: Experience with network security principles, threat modelling, and secure coding practices is an added advantage. 

  • Problem-Solving Skills: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to tackle complex technical challenges. 

  • Communication & Collaboration: Strong verbal and written communication skills. Ability to articulate complex technical ideas clearly and concisely. Proven ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment. 

  • Leadership: Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership, mentor other engineers, and drive projects to successful completion. 

Additional Skills:

Cloud Architectures, Cross Domain Knowledge, Design Thinking, Development Fundamentals, DevOps, Distributed Computing, Microservices Fluency, Full Stack Development, Security-First Mindset, Solutions Design, Testing & Automation, User Experience (UX)

What We Can Offer You:

Health & Wellbeing

We strive to provide our team members and their loved ones with a comprehensive suite of benefits that supports their physical, financial and emotional wellbeing.

Personal & Professional Development

We also invest in your career because the better you are, the better we all are. We have specific programs catered to helping you reach any career goals you have — whether you want to become a knowledge expert in your field or apply your skills to another division.

Unconditional Inclusion

We are unconditionally inclusive in the way we work and celebrate individual uniqueness. We know varied backgrounds are valued and succeed here. We have the flexibility to manage our work and personal needs. We make bold moves, together, and are a force for good.

Let's Stay Connected:

Follow @HPECareers on Instagram to see the latest on people, culture and tech at HPE.

#unitedstates

Job:

Engineering

Job Level:

TCP_05 "The expected salary/wage range for this position is provided below. Actual offer may vary from this range based upon geographic location, work experience, education/training, and/or skill level.
– United States of America: Annual Salary USD 172,000 - 349,000 in California
The listed salary range reflects base salary. Variable incentives may also be offered."

Information about employee benefits offered in the US can be found at https://myhperewards.com/main/new-hire-enrollment.html

HPE is an Equal Employment Opportunity/ Veterans/Disabled/LGBT employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, or any other protected category, and all decisions we make are made on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. Our goal is to be one global team that is representative of our customers, in an inclusive environment where we can continue to innovate and grow together. Please click here: Equal Employment Opportunity.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is EEO Protected Veteran/ Individual with Disabilities.

HPE will comply with all applicable laws related to employer use of arrest and conviction records, including laws requiring employers to consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories.

No Fees Notice & Recruitment Fraud Disclaimer

It has come to HPE’s attention that there has been an increase in recruitment fraud whereby scammer impersonate HPE or HPE-authorized recruiting agencies and offer fake employment opportunities to candidates.  These scammers often seek to obtain personal information or money from candidates.

Please note that Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), its direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliated companies, and its authorized recruitment agencies/vendors will never charge any candidate a registration fee, hiring fee, or any other fee in connection with its recruitment and hiring process.The credentials of any hiring agency that claims to be working with HPE for recruitment of talent should be verified by candidates and candidates shall be solely responsible to conduct such verification. Any candidate/individual who relies on the erroneous representations made by fraudulent employment agencies does so at their own risk, and HPE disclaims liability for any damages or claims that may result from any such communication.


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