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

Progress

Principal Software Engineer (Identity)

Raleigh, NC · On-site +1

$153K - $189K/yr

Join us as a Principal Software Engineer - Identity & Authentication and help us do what we do best: propelling business forward. This will be a hybrid role, splitting your time between your home ...

Progress

Principal Software Engineer (Identity)

Raleigh, NC · On-site +1

$153K - $189K/yr

Join us as a Principal Software Engineer - Identity & Authentication and help us do what we do best: propelling business forward. This will be a hybrid role, splitting your time between your home ...

Progress

Principal Software Engineer (Identity)

Raleigh, NC · On-site +1

$153K - $189K/yr

Join us as a Principal Software Engineer - Identity & Authentication and help us do what we do best: propelling business forward. This will be a hybrid role, splitting your time between your home ...

Elsevier

Principal Software Engineer-Agentic AI

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$131K - $175K/yr

We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join our team and play a key role in designing and delivering scalable, high-impact software solutions. In this role, you will lead the development of ...

RELX

Principal Software Engineer-Agentic AI

Raleigh, NC

$131K - $175K/yr

We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join our team and play a key role in designing and delivering scalable, high-impact software solutions. In this role, you will lead the development of ...

Redhat

Sr Principal Software Engineer (Azure)

Raleigh, NC · On-site +1

$193K - $318K/yr

About the Job The Azure Red Hat OpenShift (ARO) Engineering team is looking for a Senior Principal Software Engineer. In this high-impact role, you will be a lead technical voice in the development ...

Samprasoft

Software Engineer (Java)

Durham, NC · On-site

$47 - $64.25/hr

Principal Software Engineer Defined Benefit Platform Technology team is seeking highly motivated, Principal Software Engineer to join its dynamic, globally distributed team of IT professionals ...

IONNA LLC

Principal Charging Software Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$131K - $175K/yr

Position Summary The Principal Charging Software Engineer owns charger software end-to-end: firmware quality, the charging-software roadmap, cross-cutting software architecture, and the full software ...

IONNA LLC

Principal Charging Software Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$131K - $175K/yr

Position Summary The Principal Charging Software Engineer owns charger software end-to-end: firmware quality, the charging-software roadmap, cross-cutting software architecture, and the full software ...

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Showing results 1-20

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 26, 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 (Identity)

Principal Software Engineer (Identity)

Progress

Raleigh, NC • On-site, Remote

$153K - $189K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 24 days ago

Job description

We are Progress (Nasdaq: PRGS) - the trusted provider of software that enables our customers to develop, deploy and manage responsible, AI-powered applications and experiences with agility and ease.
We're proud to have a diverse, global team where we value the individual and enrich our culture by considering varied perspectives, because we believe people power progress. Join us as a Principal Software Engineer - Identity & Authentication and help us do what we do best: propelling business forward. This will be a hybrid role, splitting your time between your home office and our Raleigh, NC office. Candidates must already reside in the area to be considered, as we are unable to offer relocation assistance at this time.
In this role, you will be a technical authority and strategic leader responsible for the design, reliability, scalability, and security of ShareFile's identity and authentication platform. You will lead the evolution of our authentication architecture, ensuring secure, seamless access for millions of users across enterprise SaaS environments. This role requires deep hands-on expertise combined with the ability to set technical direction, mentor senior engineers, and influence architecture at scale.

In this role, you will:

  • Own and architect ShareFile's identity, authentication, and authorization systems
  • Design and evolve secure, scalable solutions supporting SAML, OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, JWT, MFA, and social login
  • Lead and support enterprise SSO integrations with major identity providers (Okta, Azure AD / Entra ID, Ping, Google, etc.)
  • Ensure high availability, performance, and operational resilience of identity services in a large-scale SaaS environment
  • Drive security best practices, including token lifecycle management, key rotation, secrets handling, and compliance alignment (SOC 2, ISO, etc.)
  • Partner with product, platform, and security teams to deliver robust identity solutions aligned with business and compliance needs
  • Resolve complex production issues and participate in escalation and on-call rotations
  • Define and promote standards, patterns, and reference architectures for authentication and authorization
  • Mentor senior and mid-level engineers and contribute to architectural reviews and platform roadmaps
  • Champion automation, observability, and operational excellence for identity services

Your background:

  • 5+ years of professional software engineering experience with a strong focus on identity and authentication
  • Deep hands-on experience with SAML 2.0, OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, JWT, and modern authentication flows
  • Proven experience building and operating SSO and identity platforms at scale in SaaS environments
  • Strong backend development experience (e.g., C#, Java, Go, or Node.js) and API design
  • Solid understanding of authentication security principles, threat models, and mitigations
  • Experience integrating with enterprise identity providers
  • Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and cloud-native architectures
  • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code practices

Additionally, it would be beneficial if you have:

  • Experience with IAM platforms such as Auth0, Okta, Azure AD B2C, or Amazon Cognito
  • Familiarity with zero-trust architectures and modern authorization models
  • Experience supporting compliance-driven environments (SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR)
  • Experience troubleshooting distributed systems
  • Experience building modern web applications using React
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to influence across teams
  • A customer-focused mindset with a passion for secure, intuitive user experiences
Base Salary Range: $153,000 - $189,000
This position is also eligible to participate in our performance-based annual corporate bonus plan. Final base compensation is determined by a number of factors, including but not limited to job-related skills, education, demonstrable experience, and allowance for future and continued salary growth. We also offer a robust benefits package, with details below.

If this sounds like you and fits your experience and career goals, we'd be happy to chat. What we offer in return is the opportunity to experience a great company culture with wonderful colleagues to learn from and collaborate with and also to enjoy:

  • Medical, dental, vision, life & disability, and financial benefits (including 401(k) retirement savings plan. Tuition Reimbursement program. Additional voluntary benefits including crucial illness/hospital indemnity, identity theft protection, auto & home insurance, legal, and pet insurance.
  • Competitive salary, bonus, and best-in-class Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP) with a 27-month lookback
  • Flexible paid vacation time, paid day off for your birthday, and company holidays. A variety of leave plans, including Parental Leave.
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and an employee well-being program focusing on physical, mental, and financial health.

Apply Now!
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Employment Type: Full-Time Regular Employee

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