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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

Prometheus Group

Principal Software Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$131K - $175K/yr

Principal Software Engineer About Prometheus Group: Prometheus Group is a team of self-starters centered on being resourceful, accountable, and results focused. Career progress is based on merit and ...

Bertelsmann

Principal Software Engineer

Morrisville, NC · On-site

$126K - $169K/yr

Are you looking for a high energy, strategic, and fast-paced position as a Principal Software Engineer? Join Relias, the company changing lives throughout the world by helping healthcare ...

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All JobsPrincipal Software Engineer JobsPrincipal Software Engineer Jobs in Raleigh, NC

Principal Software Engineer information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$58.8K

$156.4K

$224.5K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Raleigh, NC is $156,434.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $131,200.00 and $175,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 engineers make $500,000?

Principal Software Engineers and senior technical leaders in high-demand industries can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills in areas like cloud computing or AI, and often in large tech companies or executive roles. Compensation packages may include base salary, bonuses, and stock options, reflecting their expertise and leadership responsibilities.

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 engineers make $300,000 a year?

Principal Software Engineers and senior technical leaders in high-demand industries such as technology, finance, and cloud computing often earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills in areas like distributed systems or machine learning, and relevant certifications. Compensation varies based on company size, location, and individual expertise.

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.

Is it possible to make 300k as a software engineer?

Principal Software Engineers in high-demand industries or at large tech companies can earn salaries of $300,000 or more, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills, and stock options. Achieving this level often requires advanced expertise in areas like cloud computing, machine learning, or leadership roles, along with a strong track record of project success.

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.

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 Raleigh, NC? For Principal Software Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Principal Software Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Software Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
What cities near Raleigh, NC are hiring for Principal Software Engineer jobs? Cities near Raleigh, NC with the most Principal Software Engineer job openings:
Principal Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Raleigh, NC as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $156,434 per year, or $75.2 per hour.
Principal Software Engineer

Principal Software Engineer

Prometheus Group

Raleigh, NC • On-site

$131K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 21 days ago

Job description

Principal Software Engineer
About Prometheus Group:
Prometheus Group is a team of self-starters centered on being resourceful, accountable, and results focused. Career progress is based on merit and not years of service or attaining certifications. Our drive and dedication to creating great products for our global customers are at the heart of all we do! In joining Prometheus, you will become a part of the largest global provider of comprehensive enterprise asset management (EAM) software solutions that support the management life cycle for equipment maintenance and operations.
We are seeking an experienced Principal Software Engineer to join our innovative development team. The ideal candidate will be a software craftsman, and excellence champion, and an expert in advanced object-oriented programming and related concepts (OOP to DDD) and .NET technologies, with exposure to modern frontend development (React or Angular, cross platform), and cloud. This role involves tackling complex technical challenges, mentoring team members, implementing industry best practices, and collaborating closely with various product stakeholders.
You will be expected to take on the most complicated features while also mentoring less senior developers on coding practices, design patterns, and the overall processes to follow that lead to high quality code.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Lead the design and development of complex, scalable software solutions using OOP principles in .NET and front-end engineering areas.
  • Go beyond OOP and own the excellence with Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture and Domain-Driven Design; these skills are especially critical to communicate effectively on architectural matters in the application code.
  • Be a champion in engineering excellence, which starts from clean, testable code and spans through unit tests.
  • Go beyond unit tests with the Test-First approaches like Test-Driven Development and Behavior-Driven Development.
  • Lead by example in all things engineering excellence! Do what you know best, know what you do best, and have the mindset for continuous learning while mentoring junior and mid-level engineers in the team, fostering their professional growth and technical skills.
  • Execute spikes / POCs to prove, or disprove, an architecture, design, or concept.
  • Conduct thorough code reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members.
  • Collaborate closely with product managers, architects, UX designers, and other stakeholders to define and implement software functionality, architecture, and system designs.
  • Lead the team in the implementation of security best practices and mentor others on their use.
  • Stay aware of and have an opinion about emerging technologies and industry trends and blend it with our application portfolio state - to effectively participate in conversations that help uplift our application portfolio; - to institute changes that maximize velocity and achieve a constant rate from sprint to sprint; - to contribute to the ongoing improvement of development processes and methodologies; - to drive technical decision-making and provide expert advice to various departments within the organization.
  • You will tackle the most challenging and intricate tasks within the development lifecycle.

Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's Software Engineering, or a related field
  • 10+ years of experience in software development, with at least 7 years focusing on .NET technologies on a commercial software product.
  • Expert-level knowledge of C# and .NET Framework/Core
  • Expert-level knowledge of React with Typescript
  • Expert in writing and mentoring team members in the creation of unit tests
  • Expertise in troubleshooting performance problems and identifying and implementing a remediation.
  • Strong understanding of OOP principles and design patterns
  • Extensive experience with software architecture and system design, including concepts from Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture.
  • Proficiency in developing and consuming RESTful APIs
  • Experience with relational databases (e.g., SQL Server, Postgres) and ORM frameworks
  • Proven track record of implementing and maintaining test-driven development practices.
  • Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
  • Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to mentor and guide team members
  • Experience working with cross-functional teams and various stakeholders.
  • Knowledge of microservices architecture and containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
  • Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS)
  • Experience setting up CI/CD pipelines and utilizing DevOps practices.
  • Strong understanding of Agile methodologies

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience with ERP integrations (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Maximo)

Benefits Overview:
We offer an attractive benefits program to meet the diverse needs of our teammates:
  • Employee base HSA plan, dental, life and short-term disability coverage 100% paid for by Prometheus Group
  • HSA & FSA plan options
  • Retirement Savings with Generous Company Match & Immediate Vesting
  • Gym membership to O2 Fitness
  • Casual dress attire
  • Half-Day Fridays
  • Generous Paid Time Off
  • Company Outings, Trips & Activities

Prometheus Group is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
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