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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC

Jul 27, 2026 LKC Technologies is seeking an experienced Principal Software Engineer to serve as the technical leader for all software development across the organization. In this onsite role in ...

Principal Software Engineer

Columbia, MD · On-site

$132K - $178K/yr

Residency All applicants must currently reside in the United States Overview BigBear.ai is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to support the exciting Advanced Analytics Team mission. Engineer will ...

Principal Software Engineer

Germantown, MD · On-site

$137K - $184K/yr

LKC Technologies is seeking an experienced Principal Software Engineer to serve as the technical leader for all software development across the organization. In this onsite role in Germantown ...

Residency All applicants must currently reside in the United States Overview BigBear.ai is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to support the exciting Advanced Analytics Team mission. Engineer will ...

Principal Software Engineer

Laurel, MD · On-site

$133K - $179K/yr

Are you a Principal Software Engineer who is ready for a new challenge that will launch your career to the next level? * Tired of being treated like a company drone? * Tired of promised adventures ...

Principal Software Engineer

Laurel, MD · On-site

$133K - $179K/yr

Are you a Principal Software Engineer who is ready for a new challenge that will launch your career to the next level? * Tired of being treated like a company drone? * Tired of promised adventures ...

Principal Software Engineer

Hanover, MD · On-site

$200K - $245K/yr

Overview As a Principal Software Engineer supporting mission-essential national security initiatives, you will design, develop, integrate, and maintain secure, high-performance software solutions ...

Principal Software Engineer

Annapolis Junction, MD · On-site

$137K - $184K/yr

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will work on an Agile Software Team to enhance a metrics and monitoring system, collaborating with engineers to implement secure and high-performing solutions.

Principal Software Engineer

Hanover, MD · On-site

$200K - $245K/yr

Overview As a Principal Software Engineer supporting mission-essential national security initiatives, you will design, develop, integrate, and maintain secure, high-performance software solutions ...

Principal Software Engineer

Annapolis, MD · On-site

$133K - $179K/yr

Learn more at www.clearedgeit.com/careers/ Your Mission As a Principal Software Engineer , you will apply software engineering principles to all phases of the software development lifecycle ...

Showing results 41-60

Principal Software Engineer information

See Washington, DC salary details

$68.5K

$182.2K

$261.5K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Washington, DC is $182,209.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $152,800.00 and $204,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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 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.

How much does a principal software engineer get paid?

A principal software engineer typically earns between $120,000 and $180,000 annually, depending 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 Washington, DC?

For Principal Software Engineer jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Principal Software Engineer jobs in Washington, DC look for?

The top searched job categories for Principal Software Engineer jobs in Washington, DC are:

Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Washington, DC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 79% In-person, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $182,209 per year, or $87.6 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer

AMETEK, Inc.

Germantown, MD • On-site

$190 - $225/hr

Other

Posted 25 days ago


AMETEK rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 45 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

92nd of 159 rated electronics manufacturers


Job description

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Business Unit: Ophthalmic & Precision Solutions

Posting Date: Jul 27, 2026

Job Description:

LKC Technologies is seeking an experienced Principal Software Engineer to serve as the technical leader for all software development across the organization. In this onsite role in Germantown, Maryland, you will help lead the software architecture and development of a new medical technology platform while contributing to the continued evolution of the established RETeval® product portfolio.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer with a proven track record designing and delivering complex embedded systems that acquire and process video data while generating highly accurate, deterministic control signals with microsecond-level timing requirements. This individual will be responsible for critical technology decisions, including selection of processors, image sensors, operating systems, software architecture, development tools, programming languages, and engineering processes.

You will partner with hardware, systems, clinical, quality, regulatory, and product teams to develop medical technologies from concept through commercialization and ongoing lifecycle support.

Responsibilities
  • Serve as the senior software technical authority for LKC Technologies.
  • Lead technology decisions for embedded platforms, operating systems, development tools, software frameworks, and related infrastructure.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams, including hardware, optical, systems, clinical, quality, and regulatory.
  • Mentor software engineers and promote clear standards for design, documentation, testing, and code quality.
  • Lead the software architecture and development of a new, internet-connected, embedded medical device platform.
  • Evaluate and select processors, image sensors, operating systems, middleware, and development frameworks.
  • Design software solutions that capture, process, analyze, and manage image and video data.
  • Develop real-time control systems with precise timing requirements, including microsecond-level control or synchronization.
  • Establish software development infrastructure, including automated testing and deployment practices.
  • Support system design reviews, risk assessments, verification, validation, and regulatory support activities.
  • Architect secure connectivity solutions for connected devices.
  • Architect software licensing and software lifecycle management strategies.
  • Contribute to feature enhancements, performance improvements, system integration, and long-term maintainability for existing product platforms, including the RETeval device and associated manufacturing and analysis tools.
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
  • 10+ years of professional software engineering experience, including significant experience developing embedded systems.
  • Demonstrated experience designing and delivering complex software products from concept through production.
  • Experience developing systems involving image acquisition, video processing, machine vision, or similar technologies.
  • Experience implementing real-time systems with precise timing requirements, including microsecond-scale control or synchronization.
  • Experience and proficiency in C/C++.
  • Strong understanding of embedded software architecture, debugging, optimization, and performance analysis.
  • Experience working closely with hardware engineering teams throughout product development.
  • Effective communication, collaboration, and technical mentoring skills.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience developing connected or cloud-enabled devices.
  • Experience with automated testing, continuous integration, and DevOps practices for embedded systems.
  • Medical device development experience, including familiarity with design controls, risk management, verification, validation, and regulatory requirements.
  • Experience working in regulated industries such as medical devices, aerospace, industrial automation, or automotive systems.
  • Experience serving as a technical lead, principal engineer, or mentor to small engineering teams.
Compensation

Employee Type: Salaried

Currency: USD

Salary Minimum: 190,000

Salary Maximum: 225,000

Incentive: No

Disclaimer:Where a specific pay range is noted, it is a good faith estimate at the time of this posting. The actual salary offered will be based on experience, skills, qualifications, market / business considerations, and geographic location.

For more information on AMETEK's competitive benefits, pleaseclick here .

AMETEK, Inc. is a leading global provider of industrial technology solutions serving a diverse set of attractive niche markets with annual sales over $7.5billion.

AMETEK is committed to making a safer, sustainable, and more productive world a reality. We use differentiated technology solutions to solve our customers’ most complex challenges. We employ 22,000colleagues, in 35countries, that are grounded by our core values: Ethics and Integrity, Respect for the Individual, Inclusion, Teamwork, and Social Responsibility. AMETEK isacomponent of the S&P 500. Visithttps://www.ametek.com/careers for more information.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.Individuals who need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process should call 1 (866) 263-8359.

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