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

Senior Principal Software Engineer

Durham, NC · On-site +1

$168.15K - $277.35K/yr

Provide senior technical leadership and mentorship to the Ansible engineering team, guiding both ... About Red Hat Red Hat is the world's leading provider of enterprise open source software solutions ...

Principal Engineer, AI Platform

Cary, NC · On-site

$125.10K - $167.70K/yr

Roost - cryptographically signed software distribution and the Claude Code plugin marketplace This ... As a Principal Engineer on the AI Platform team, you'll own the technical direction of our agent ...

Q2 is seeking an ambitious and adaptable Software Engineer experienced in the ins and outs of development in a team setting. As part of our Engineering Development group based in Cary, NC, you will ...

Principal UI Software Engineer

Durham, NC · Remote

$100.50K - $134.30K/yr

Looking for a Principal UI Software Engineer to build a new platform that supports Global Sales and Services for up to 50 countries. The UI Software Engineer will be the expert as a solutions driven ...

Principal Semantic Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$131.20K - $175.90K/yr

CAPTRUST is seeking a Principal Semantic Engineer to design, build, and govern the semantic and knowledge foundations that make AI trustworthy, explainable, and scalable across the firm. This role ...

Your Superhero Uniform Includes (Required Experience and Skills) * 2+ years of experience as a full stack software engineer developing scalable and resilient event-driven and API-based microservices ...

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Showing results 1-20

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 May 31, 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.

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 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 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 May 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Contract. Highlights an 50% In-person, and 50% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $156,443 per year, or $75.2 per hour.

Senior Principal Software Engineer

Redhat

Durham, NC • On-site, Remote

$168.15K - $277.35K/yr

Other

Posted 14 days ago


Job description

Responsible for the architecture and design of specific component areas within Ansible Automation Platform. Provide technical leadership and guidance to maintain alignment with the Product Strategy through technical and architectural documentation.

*Telecommuting permitted: work may be performed within normal commuting distance to the Red Hat, LLC office in Durham, NC.

What You Will Do:

  • Provide senior technical leadership and mentorship to the Ansible engineering team, guiding both senior and junior engineers in advanced design principles and implementation of best practices.
  • Evaluate the benefits and risks of technical solutions to customer needs and analyze and present comprehensive technical assessments of complex software solutions to internal stakeholders, customers, and partners.
  • Support customer success by communicating the product portfolio, longer term technical vision in briefing sessions, and customer/field feedback sessions.
  • Represent Ansible as a technical leader in strategic upstream communities.
  • Develop and articulate cross-portfolio technical strategy in collaboration with Red Hat and IBM engineering peers to ensure product alignment.
  • Translate business unit goals into actionable engineering strategies, partnering with engineering and business leadership to drive product and organizational priorities.
  • Work with open-source communities to evaluate new AI technologies and create examples of integrations between the novel AI technologies for inclusion in the Ansible platform.
  • Present and evangelize Ansible at related technology conferences and internally within communities of practice.

What You Will Bring:

  • Bachelor's degree (U.S. or foreign equivalent) in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or related field and ten (10) years of experience in the job offered or related role.
  • Must have eight (8) years of experience programming in Python.
  • Must have five (5) years of experience with: designing for distributed systems; automation tools, specifically their internal workings; working with upstream communities; coaching and mentoring junior engineers; and cross-portfolio and / or cross-company collaborative technical design.
  • Must have two (2) years of experience programming in Typescript.

#LI-DNI

The salary range for this position is $168,150 - $277,350/year. Actual offer will be based on your qualifications.

Pay Transparency

Red Hat determines compensation based on several factors including but not limited to job location, experience, applicable skills and training, external market value, and internal pay equity. Annual salary is one component of Red Hat's compensation package. This position may also be eligible for bonus, commission, and/or equity. For positions with Remote-US locations, the actual salary range for the position may differ based on location but will be commensurate with job duties and relevant work experience.

About Red Hat

Red Hat is the world's leading provider of enterprise open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to deliver high-performing Linux, cloud, container, and Kubernetes technologies. Spread across 40+ countries, our associates work flexibly across work environments, from in-office, to office-flex, to fully remote, depending on the requirements of their role. Red Hatters are encouraged to bring their best ideas, no matter their title or tenure. We're a leader in open source because of our open and inclusive environment. We hire creative, passionate people ready to contribute their ideas, help solve complex problems, and make an impact.

Inclusion at Red Hat
Red Hat's culture is built on the open source principles of transparency, collaboration, and inclusion, where the best ideas can come from anywhere and anyone. When this is realized, it empowers people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to come together to share ideas, challenge the status quo, and drive innovation. Our aspiration is that everyone experiences this culture with equal opportunity and access, and that all voices are not only heard but also celebrated. We hope you will join our celebration, and we welcome and encourage applicants from all the beautiful dimensions that compose our global village.

Equal Opportunity Policy (EEO)
Red Hat is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer. We review applications for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, veteran status, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, or any other basis prohibited by law.


Red Hat does not seek or accept unsolicited resumes or CVs from recruitment agencies. We are not responsible for, and will not pay, any fees, commissions, or any other payment related to unsolicited resumes or CVs except as required in a written contract between Red Hat and the recruitment agency or party requesting payment of a fee.Red Hat supports individuals with disabilities and provides reasonable accommodations to job applicants. If you need assistance completing our online job application, email application-assistance@redhat.com. General inquiries, such as those regarding the status of a job application, will not receive a reply.