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Principal Software Engineering Manager Jobs in California

Alphatec Spine

Principal Software Engineer

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$140K - $187K/yr

The Principal Software Engineer is a senior individual contributor responsible for defining the ... Test Engineering, Clinical, Quality, Regulatory, and Product Management. * Translate clinical ...

Alphatec Spine

Principal Software Engineer

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$140K - $187K/yr

The Principal Software Engineer is a senior individual contributor responsible for defining the ... Test Engineering, Clinical, Quality, Regulatory, and Product Management. * Translate clinical ...

Alphatec Spine

Principal Software Engineer

Carlsbad, CA

$140K - $187K/yr

The Principal Software Engineer is a senior individual contributor responsible for defining the ... Test Engineering, Clinical, Quality, Regulatory, and Product Management. * Translate clinical ...

Alphatec Spine

Principal Software Engineer

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$140K - $187K/yr

The Principal Software Engineer is a senior individual contributor responsible for defining the ... Test Engineering, Clinical, Quality, Regulatory, and Product Management. * Translate clinical ...

Namely

Principal Software Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$125 - $150/hr

Principal Software Engineer About the Team: This role is for the Cloud Engineering team within ... Own and manage the lifecycle of specific automation tools. * Collaborate with Engineering, QA, ...

KBR

Principal Software Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site +1

$143K - $192K/yr

Principal Software Engineer Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR! KBR is seeking an experienced ... KBR's work is at the forefront of engineering, logistics, operations, science, program management ...

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All JobsPrincipal Software Engineering JobsPrincipal Software Engineering Manager JobsPrincipal Software Engineering Manager Jobs in California

Principal Software Engineering Manager information

What is a principal software engineering manager?

A Principal Software Engineering Manager is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing multiple engineering teams, setting technical direction, and ensuring the successful delivery of complex software projects. They combine deep technical expertise with strong leadership skills to mentor engineers, drive architectural decisions, and collaborate with stakeholders across the organization. This role often involves strategic planning, talent development, and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the engineering department.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal software engineering manager?

To thrive as a Principal Software Engineering Manager, you need deep expertise in software development, strong architectural knowledge, and significant leadership experience, often supported by a relevant degree and years of technical management. Familiarity with cloud platforms (such as Azure or AWS), advanced programming languages, and project management tools (like Jira or Azure DevOps) is typically required. Outstanding communication, team-building, and strategic thinking skills set top performers apart in this role. These skills ensure effective technical direction, successful project delivery, and cohesive, high-performing engineering teams.

How does a principal software engineering manager typically balance technical leadership with people management responsibilities?

A Principal Software Engineering Manager often balances technical leadership and people management by dedicating time to both architectural decision-making and team development. This involves participating in high-level design discussions, guiding technical strategy, and ensuring best practices are followed, while also conducting regular one-on-ones, mentoring engineers, and supporting professional growth. Effective delegation, clear communication, and collaboration with cross-functional teams are key to managing this dual scope. Many find that prioritizing transparency and empowering team leads helps maintain this balance and drive both project and people success.

What is the difference between Principal Software Engineering Manager vs Software Development Manager?

AspectPrincipal Software Engineering ManagerSoftware Development Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees multiple teams, sets technical strategy, influences product architectureManages a single development team, focuses on project delivery and team performance
Required CredentialsTypically requires extensive software engineering experience, leadership skills, often a bachelor's or master's degree in CS or related fieldUsually requires experience in software development and team management, with similar educational background
Work EnvironmentStrategic, cross-team collaboration, high-level decision makingOperational, project-focused, team management
Industry UsageCommon in large tech companies and organizations with multiple product linesWidely used across various companies for team-level management

The main difference between a Principal Software Engineering Manager and a Software Development Manager lies in scope and strategic influence. The Principal role involves overseeing multiple teams and shaping technical direction, while the Software Development Manager focuses on managing a single team and project execution.

What cities in California are hiring for Principal Software Engineering Manager jobs?

Cities in California with the most Principal Software Engineering Manager job openings:

Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineering Manager job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 79% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution.

Principal Software Engineer

Carlsbad, CA • On-site

Alphatec Spine
Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing • 501 - 1,000 employees
Learn more about Alphatec Spineexternal

$140K - $187K/yr

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

The Principal Software Engineer is a senior individual contributor responsible for defining the technical direction of the software platform and solving the organization's most complex engineering challenges. This role provides technical leadership across multiple product areas, influences architecture and engineering practices, and partners with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable, reliable, and clinically meaningful software solutions. The Principal Software Engineer serves as a trusted technical advisor, mentors engineers, and helps shape the long-term evolution of the software organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
  • Define and drive the long-term software architecture and technical roadmap across multiple product releases.
  • Lead the design, implementation, and delivery of complex software systems and critical technical initiatives.
  • Serve as the technical authority for key platform technologies and provide guidance on architecture, algorithms, performance, scalability, and system integration.
  • Solve the organization's most challenging technical problems through hands-on engineering, system design, and root cause analysis.
  • Establish and promote software engineering best practices, including software architecture, design patterns, code quality, testing, automation, and CI/CD.
  • Mentor and coach software engineers through technical guidance, design reviews, code reviews, and knowledge sharing.
  • Drive technical alignment across Software, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Test Engineering, Clinical, Quality, Regulatory, and Product Management.
  • Translate clinical workflows, customer feedback, and business needs into scalable technical solutions.
  • Lead technical planning and influence engineering decisions that improve product quality, development efficiency, and long-term maintainability.
  • Identify and drive platform investments, reusable frameworks, and engineering tools that improve productivity across teams.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend innovations that support future product capabilities.
  • Support product development through participation in system integration, surgeon labs, field observations, and clinical evaluations.
Expected Impact
  • Defines the technical direction for major software platforms and future product generations.
  • Influences engineering decisions across multiple teams and organizations.
  • Raises the technical capability of the engineering organization through mentorship and technical leadership.
  • Delivers scalable, maintainable, and high-quality software that improves patient outcomes and customer experience.
  • Anticipates future technical challenges and proactively develops solutions before they become business constraints.
  • Represents software engineering in cross-functional planning, technical reviews, and executive discussions.

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