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

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Principal Software Engineer information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$58.8K

$156.4K

$224.6K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Raleigh, NC is $156,443.00, 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.

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.
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:
Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Raleigh, NC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $156,443 per year, or $75.2 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer/Developer

Fidelity Investments

Durham, NC • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 9 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:
Note: Fidelity will not provide immigration sponsorship for this position.
Develops and enhances Android applications using Kotlin and modern frameworks. Improves multi-module components with open-source libraries including Retrofit and Android Jetpack. Establishes engineering standards and best practices, using design patterns and toolkits (Coroutines and Jetpack Compose). Delivers resilient, future-ready User Interfaces (UIs) through principles including trunk-based development and feature toggles. Builds Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) automation pipelines to streamline delivery. 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:
  • Builds and supports stable, robust, and resilient mobile applications to improve online experiences for customers.
  • Augments accessible mobile experiences through Android's Accessibility features.
  • Engages in code reviews, pull requests, and pair programming with other Android developers.
  • Analyzes information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.
  • Analyzes information to determine, recommend, and plan computer software specifications on major projects and proposing modifications and improvements based on user need.
  • Develops software system testing and validation procedures, programming, and documentation.
  • 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 complex 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 Principal Software Engineer/Developer (or closely related occupation) developing and deploying Android applications in a financial services environment, using Android Studio, Jetpack compose, Kotlin, Jenkins, and Git.
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) developing and deploying Android applications in a financial services environment, using Android Studio, Jetpack compose, Kotlin, Jenkins, and Git.
Skills and Knowledge:
Candidate must also possess:
  • Demonstrated Expertise ("DE") performing hybrid mobile application development and unit testing (in a Monorepo structure) within a financial services environment, using programming languages (Typescript, Java, and Kotlin).
  • DE integrating native code for Android (Java and Kotlin) when needed for platform-specific features; and creating reusable, maintainable, and testable code components that can be shared across platforms without duplication, using Capacitor.
  • DE working with state management solutions (NgRx - actions, effects, reducers, selectors, and providers) across platforms to ensure efficient data flow and to maintain application consistency; and structuring the application with modular, scalable architecture patterns (Model-View-Controller (MVC) and Model-View-View Model (MVVM)) that can be maintained and extended.
  • DE building CI/CD pipelines for mobile applications using GitHub Actions and Jenkins; performing automated testing, building, and deployment for Android using CI/CD pipelines; and automating application release processes for the Google Play Store.

#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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