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Principal Software Engineering Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Eccalon LLC

Principal Software Engineer- Onsite

Detroit, MI · On-site

$127K - $171K/yr

Principal Software Engineer Location: Detroit, MI- Onsite Type: Full-time Security Clearance: No ... Elevate engineering quality through design reviews and code reviews * Share knowledge through ...

Ministry Brands

Principal Software Engineer

Milton, GA · On-site

$150 - $210/hr

Principal Software Engineer**to join our growing team!**Who we are**Ministry Brands is a leading ... You will drive engineering excellence across multiple teams, influence product strategy through ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineering Manager

Redmond, WA · On-site

$151K - $202K/yr

As a Principal Software Engineering Manager , you will lead the end-to-end software development lifecycle, including requirement gathering, architecture, application and database design, development ...

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How much do principal software engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineering in the United States is $160,936.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $135,000.00 and $181,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal software engineer?

A Principal Software Engineer is a senior-level technical expert responsible for leading complex software projects, setting technical direction, and mentoring engineering teams. They often make high-impact architectural decisions, influence engineering best practices, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable and reliable solutions. In addition to hands-on coding, they play a key role in strategic planning and innovation within an organization. This position typically requires extensive experience in software development and strong leadership skills.

How does a principal software engineer balance hands-on coding with leadership responsibilities?

As a Principal Software Engineer, you'll often split your time between designing and reviewing complex technical solutions and guiding engineering teams through architectural decisions. While you may still write critical code, a significant portion of your role involves mentoring other engineers, influencing technical direction, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure project alignment. This balance allows you to drive technical excellence while fostering team growth and supporting organizational goals. Effective time management and clear communication are key to succeeding in this multifaceted position.

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

To thrive as a Principal Software Engineer, you need advanced programming expertise, deep architectural knowledge, and extensive experience in software development, usually evidenced by a degree in computer science or a related field. Mastery of development frameworks, cloud platforms (like AWS or Azure), and familiarity with tools such as CI/CD pipelines and version control systems are essential, along with relevant certifications. Leadership, strategic thinking, and strong communication skills distinguish top performers in this role. These abilities are crucial for designing scalable solutions, mentoring teams, and driving technical vision that aligns with organizational goals.

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 do principal software engineers do?

Principal software engineers lead technical teams, design complex systems, and set technical standards within an organization. They often mentor junior engineers, review code, and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure project success, requiring strong problem-solving skills and expertise in programming languages and development tools.
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Principal Software Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineering job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $160,936 per year, or $77.4 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer

NAVA Software Solutions

Spring, TX • On-site

$124K - $166K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 28 days ago

Job description

NAVA Software solutions is looking for a Principal Software Engineer - Full Stack
Details:
Principal Software Engineer - Full Stack
Location: Spring TX - Hybrid (3-4 days/week onsite)
Duration: 12 months
Summary
This role is ideal for a software engineer with strong Java and JavaScript fundamentals (or deep C#/.NET experience and a demonstrated ability to transition to Java), and hands-on experience with React is preferred. The successful candidate will have a proven track record applying modern software engineering practices to build and modernize enterprise applications. They are passionate about continuous learning, embrace a growth mindset, and are eager to leverage AI-assisted development tools to accelerate delivery while maintaining high standards of code quality, security, and reliability.
Key Responsibilities
  • Design, develop, and maintain full stack applications using Java (Spring Boot), React, and related technologies

  • Lead the modernization of legacy and monolithic applications into modular services and microservices, including API design, data migration strategies, and gradual decomposition of legacy codebases

  • Build responsive, accessible, and performant React-based UIs with reusable components and maintainable state management.

  • Develop secure, well-structured back-end services and REST APIs, ensuring robust authentication, authorization, and data protection

  • Use AI coding assistants (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Cursor) to improve productivity, documentation quality, test coverage, and refactoring safety, while exercising judgment and code review discipline

  • Champion engineering best practices including code reviews, automated testing, CI/CD, and observability

  • Mentor junior developers and contribute to a culture of learning, experimentation, and continuous improvement

Required Experience & Skills
  • 5-8 years of hands-on software development experience in modern tech stacks

  • Strong proficiency with Java, Spring Boot, and REST API design. Experience with C# and .Net Core will be considered with exposure to Java

  • Solid experience with React, and/or JavaScript; experience migrating from legacy front-end frameworks (e.g., AngularJS) to React is highly desirable.

  • Experience with relational databases (e.g. Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL) and query optimization.

  • Experience with Cloud Development provisioning and configuring resources such as Functions, App Services and APIM in Azure Cloud or AWS equivalent.

  • Previously implemented event-driven architecture

  • Well versed in CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions etc.)

  • Comfortable working in Agile teams and collaborating across product management, QA, and operations

  • Accustomed to collaborating with architecture, security, and DevOps teams

  • Strong communication skills and a growth mindset. actively seeks feedback, experiments with new tools and patterns, and shares learnings with the team

  • Enthusiasm for using AI-based coding assistants responsibly to accelerate delivery, improve code quality, and support knowledge sharing

Nice to Have Experience
  • Exposure to containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes, AKS)

  • Familiar with concepts such as MCP servers, RAG applications and the use of Graph databases

  • Exposure to observability and the use of open telemetry to instrument code

  • Experience with infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., Terraform)

  • Experience modularizing or decomposing monolithic applications (even if partial or within specific domains/modules).
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About NAVA Software Solutions

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

NAVA is a strategic partner for companies seeking to develop or customize software and products. Our team of experts leverages cutting-edge technology and deep industry knowledge to provide customized solutions that drive business success. Whether you're looking to improve your operations, increase efficiency, or bring a new product to market, NAVA has the expertise and resources to help you achieve your goals. Trust us to be your partner in software and product development.

Industry

It services

Company size

51 - 200 Employees

Headquarters location

Rocky Hill, CT, US

Social media

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