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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Santa Clarita, CA

Principal Software Engineer

Westlake Village, CA · On-site

$141.50K - $189.70K/yr

We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Software Engineer to lead the evolution of our enterprise service capabilities. In this role, you will architect and optimize the mission-critical ...

Principal Software Engineer

Burbank, CA

$143.60K - $192.60K/yr

Principal Software Engineer - AI Tooling & Quality Engineering Platforms Team : Global Quality Engineering (GQE) Location : New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco Overview Paramount Skydance Corp. ...

Principal Software Engineer

Burbank, CA · On-site

$143.60K - $192.60K/yr

Job Title: Principal Software Engineer - AI Tooling & Quality Engineering Platforms Team: Global Quality Engineering (GQE) Location: New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco OverviewParamount ...

Principal Software Engineer - OMS

Palmdale, CA · On-site

$133.20K - $178.60K/yr

Principal Software Engineer - Open Mission Systems (OMS) Job Title: Principal Software Engineer - Open Mission Systems (OMS) Location: Fort Worth, TX or Palmdale, CA. Salary Range: $160,000 - $200 ...

New

Principal Software Engineer

Encino, CA · On-site

$147K - $237.50K/yr

Principal Software Engineer At Palo Alto Networks ® , we're united by a shared mission--to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real-world ...

Principal Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$145.50K - $195K/yr

Principal Software Engineer Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software, hardware, and physics to produce industrial-scale parts at the speed of human ideation. By treating ...

PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software, hardware, and physics to produce industrial-scale parts at the speed of human ideation. By treating ...

PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software, hardware, and physics to produce industrial-scale parts at the speed of human ideation. By treating ...

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Showing results 1-20

Principal Software Engineer information

See Santa Clarita, CA salary details

$61.4K

$163.3K

$234.4K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Santa Clarita, CA is $163,280.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $137,000.00 and $183,600.00 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 Santa Clarita, CA? For Principal Software Engineer jobs in Santa Clarita, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities near Santa Clarita, CA are hiring for Principal Software Engineer jobs? Cities near Santa Clarita, CA with the most Principal Software Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Santa Clarita, CA as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 9% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $163,280 per year, or $78.5 per hour.
Principal / Sr. Principal Software Engineer

Principal / Sr. Principal Software Engineer

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Los Angeles, CA

$135.20K - $186.40K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Posted 13 days ago


Northrop Grumman rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 336 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

103rd of 511 rated manufacturers


Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescriptionAt Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. Our Engineering and Sciences (E&S) organization pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered with providing the skills, innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter.Come be a part of our mission!

We are looking for you to join our team as a Principal / Sr. Principal Software Engineer based out of Woodland Hills, CA. As a Principal / Sr. Principal Software Engineer at Northrop Grumman, you will have a challenging and rewarding opportunity to be a part of our Enterprise-wide digital transformation. Through the use of Model-based Engineering, DevSecOps and Agile practices we continue to evolve how we deliver critical national defense products and capabilities for the warfighter. Our success is grounded in our ability to embrace change, move quickly and continuously drive innovation. The successful candidate will be collaborative, open, transparent, and team-oriented with a focus on team empowerment & shared responsibility, flexibility, continuous learning, and a culture of innovation.

For this role, responsibilities include but are not limited to:

  • Provide technical leadership for junior software engineers
  • Develop software utilizing C/C++ to modernize and productionize a research codebase with modern C++ features
  • Develop software infrastructure to support CI/CD, software metrics collection, and MLOps
  • Implement software-systems, applications, and architectures that leverage techniques to support achieving increased modularity, scalability, and reliability, while also maintaining precision, accuracy, and speed to meet performance requirements
  • Ensure industry software engineering best practices and standards are applied and maintained
  • Work closely with Software Leads and Architects to understand program intent, system capabilities, and output requirements

This requisition may be filled at a higher grade based on qualifications listed below

This requisition may be filled at either a Principal Level or a Sr. Principal Level.

Basic Qualifications for a Principal Software Engineer (T03)

  • Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline with 5+ years of relative experience; Master's degree in a STEM discipline with 3+ years of relative experience; PhD + 1 year of relative experience
  • Must be a US Citizen
  • Active US Government Secret Clearance
  • Ability to meet customer-specific security screening requirements within a timeframe set forth by management
  • Willingness and ability to work onsite full-time
  • Experience working in C/C++
  • Familiarity with modern C++ standards and features (e.g., C++ 17 onwards)
  • Demonstrated ability to analyze system requirements to derive software design and performance requirements
  • Proven ability to design and code new software, as well as modify existing software to add new features
  • Ability to debug existing software and correct defects
  • Experience with open software/system architecture solutions
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders
  • Experience with developing and maintaining CI/CD pipelines
  • Experience with Git-based or other software configuration management tools

Basic Qualifications for a Sr. Principal Software Engineer (T04)

  • Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline with 8+ years of relative experience; Master's degree in a STEM discipline with 6+ years of relative experience; PhD + 4 years of relative experience
  • Must be a US Citizen
  • Active US Government Secret Clearance
  • Ability to meet customer-specific security screening requirements within a timeframe set forth by management
  • Willingness and ability to work onsite full-time
  • Experience working in C/C++
  • Familiarity with modern C++ standards and features (e.g., C++ 17 onwards)
  • Demonstrated ability to analyze system requirements to derive software design and performance requirements
  • Proven ability to design and code new software or modify existing software to add new features
  • Ability to debug existing software and correct defects
  • Experience with open software/system architecture solutions
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders
  • Experience with developing and maintaining CI/CD pipelines
  • Experience with Git-based or other software configuration management tools

Preferred Qualifications

  • Active Top Secret security clearance and enrolled in Continuous Evaluation
  • Experience leading the performance of tasks on schedule, at cost and achieving specified requirements
  • Experience with modern C++ standards and features (e.g., C++ 20 onwards)
  • Experience with containers (Docker, Kubernetes)
  • Experience with Linux operating systems
  • Experience with CUDA and GPUs
  • Experience with high performance numerical/scientific computing, parallel computing
  • Experience with developing for SWaP-constrained environments
  • Experience with developing and maintaining CI/CD pipelines
  • Familiarity with signal-processing algorithms
  • Familiarity with Agile lifecycle process including Scrum and DevSecOps

This position is contingent upon the successful transfer of an active DoD Top Secret Clearance and the ability to meet customer-specific security screening requirements within a timeframe set forth by management.

This position is contingent upon the successful transfer of an active US Government Secret Clearance and the ability to meet customer-specific security screening requirements within a timeframe set forth by management.

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

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About Northrop Grumman

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Falls Church, VA, US

Year founded

1939