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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Cubic Corporation

Principal Software Engineer

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$143K - $175K/yr

The successful candidate will be the lead developer for embedded software within DTECH, as well as supporting other projects. The role is initially technically focussed, but we are looking for a ...

NetApp

Principal Software Engineer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$220K - $372K/yr

Lead design, architecture, implementation, and delivery of complex software engineering projects in the cloud storage service organization. * Serve as a technical leader on demanding, cross ...

Clarity Innovations

Principal Software Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$123K - $308K/yr

Our mission-first software and data engineering platform modernizes data operations, utilizing advanced workflows, CI/CD, and secure DevSecOps practices. We focus on challenges in Information Warfare ...

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Showing results 41-60

All JobsPrincipal Software Engineer JobsPrincipal Software Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA

Principal Software Engineer information

See Reston, VA salary details

$63.1K

$167.7K

$240.8K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Reston, VA is $167,739.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $140,700.00 and $188,600.00 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.
More about Principal Software Engineer jobs
What are popular job titles related to Principal Software Engineer jobs in Reston, VA? For Principal Software Engineer jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Principal Software Engineer jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Software Engineer jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Principal Software Engineer jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Principal Software Engineer job openings:
Principal Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Reston, VA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $167,739 per year, or $80.6 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer

Cubic Corporation

Ashburn, VA • On-site

$143K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Posted 28 days ago

Job description

Business Unit:
Cubic Defense
Company Details:
When you join Cubic, you become part of a company that creates and delivers technology solutions in transportation to make people's lives easier by simplifying their daily journeys, and defense capabilities to help promote mission success and safety for those who serve their nation. Led by our talented teams around the world, Cubic is committed to solving global issues through innovation and service to our customers and partners.
We have a top-tier portfolio of businesses, including Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) and Cubic Defense (CD). Explore more on Cubic.com.
Job Details:
Job Details:
Job Summary:
The successful candidate will be the lead developer for embedded software within DTECH, as well as supporting other projects. The role is initially technically focussed, but we are looking for a candidate who seeks career progression and has the potential to grow into a management role in the future as the team expands. The successful candidate should have a passion for writing effective, reliable software and the ability to foster a collaborative team environment.
The role sits within the DTECH area of Cubic's Defence business. It involves designing embedded software for new products (e.g. microcontroller firmware), as well as maintaining software for the existing devices. The role will suit a self-starting individual with experience debugging low level issues through software and hardware analysis. The development will largely be in C and C++, but experience with other languages would be beneficial. The role requires close coordination with the electrical and systems engineering teams to ensure the software is robust and effective.
Essential Job Duties And Responsibilities
  • Lead software projects, ensuring delivery of high-quality, reliable software
  • Liaise with the wider business to determine requirements for new projects and features, clearly communicating the resources required and potential risks involved
  • Drive usage of software development best practices to ensure code is well structured, unit tested and easy to maintain
  • Integrate and troubleshoot firmware on a target platform in the lab environment using hardware analysis tools
  • Provide guidance on design and implementation to other projects within adjacent software teams
  • Identify new ideas and tools for continuous improvement of development practices
  • Mentor junior engineers, providing help and training suggestions for their ongoing development

Education and Qualifications
  • Four-year college degree in computer engineering or other related technical discipline, plus a minimum of eight years of related experience or a master's degree with at least six years of related experience.
  • Must be eligible for a DOD Security Clearence

Skills Knowledge and Experience
Essential:
  • Strong C/C++ experience
  • Comprehensive understanding of embedded systems, including hardware-software interactions, real-time constraints, and low-level programming concepts
  • Experience debugging in an embedded environment
  • Experience using Unix commands and Linux based operating systems
  • Able to analyse and solve complex software engineering problems
  • Experience writing unit tests and using unit test frameworks

Desirable:
  • Experience using yocto
  • Experience with tools & applications such as JIRA, Confluence and Git

Personal Qualities
  • A driven and self-starting individual, with a desire to write quality, effective software
  • Good analytical skills, with a passion for finding simple solutions to complex problems
  • Able to prioritize work and complete tasks to a deadline
  • Good communication skills and ability to clearly convey complex ideas

The description provided above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties, responsibilities and requirements. Duties, responsibilities and requirements may change over time and according to business need.
#LI-Hybrid
Worker Type:
Employee
Cubic Pay Range:
$143,000.00 - $175,000.00 + benefits.
The Cubic pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.
#LI-MD1
Worker Type:
Employee
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate based on any protected characteristic under applicable law.

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