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Senior Principal Data Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Principal, Data Engineer

Woburn, MA · On-site

$170K - $213K/yr

A minimum of 8 years of data engineering or data platform development experience with at least 5 years as a senior or principal-level technical leader required. * Expert-level proficiency in ...

Principal Engineer

Creve Coeur, MO · On-site

$157.25 - $185/hr

Job Title Principal Data Engineer Summary The Principal Data Engineer at Cushman & Wakefield is a senior, high‑impact technical leader responsible for solving complex data engineering challenges ...

* Design and deliver advanced data solutions that enhance warfighter readiness and decision‑making * Provide technical leadership and mentorship to an engineering team * Leverage expertise in ...

The Enterprise Corporate Data Team is looking for a Principal Data Engineer, a senior technical leader responsible for architecting the core data infrastructure and platforms that power enterprise ...

The Enterprise Corporate Data Team is looking for a Principal Data Engineer, a senior technical leader responsible for architecting the core data infrastructure and platforms that power enterprise ...

The Enterprise Corporate Data Team is looking for a Principal Data Engineer, a senior technical leader responsible for architecting the core data infrastructure and platforms that power enterprise ...

The Principal Data Engineer Opportunity Okta's Data Engineering team is on a mission to accelerate ... Raise the technical bar by mentoring senior engineers, leading cross functional task forces, and ...

You will set technical direction, mentor senior engineers, and ensure the platform achieves ... data architecture, with 5 years at principal or staff scope Proven expertise in cloud-native data ...

As a Principal Data Engineer , you will be a senior technical contributor who partners closely with data, analytics, and product teams. You will bring deep technical expertise, operate with a high ...

Showing results 41-60

Senior Principal Data Engineer information

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$82K

$155.4K

$214.5K

How much do senior principal data engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior principal data engineer in the United States is $155,430.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $125,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior principal data engineer?

Senior Principal Data Engineers are experienced professionals who design, develop, and oversee large-scale data systems and architectures for organizations. They lead teams in building robust data pipelines, ensure data quality, and implement best practices for data storage, processing, and security. Their role often involves collaborating with data scientists, analysts, and other stakeholders to support data-driven decision-making. They also mentor junior engineers and help set the technical vision for data engineering projects.

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

To thrive as a Senior Principal Data Engineer, you need deep expertise in data architecture, data modeling, distributed systems, and strong proficiency in programming languages like Python, Java, or Scala, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with big data technologies (e.g., Hadoop, Spark, Kafka), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), and relevant certifications such as AWS Certified Data Analytics or Google Professional Data Engineer is highly valuable. Leadership, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills help you guide teams and align data solutions with business goals. These capabilities are crucial for designing scalable, robust data infrastructure and driving data-driven decision-making at an organizational level.

How does a senior principal data engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams on large-scale projects?

Senior Principal Data Engineers often serve as technical leaders, working closely with data scientists, software engineers, product managers, and business stakeholders to design and implement robust data architectures. They facilitate communication across teams to ensure data solutions align with both technical requirements and business goals. Collaboration may involve leading design discussions, reviewing code, mentoring junior engineers, and establishing best practices for data quality and scalability. Their role is crucial in bridging gaps between technical and non-technical teams, ensuring successful project delivery.

What is the difference between Senior Principal Data Engineer vs Lead Data Engineer?

AspectSenior Principal Data EngineerLead Data Engineer
CredentialsAdvanced degrees (MSc/PhD), extensive experienceBachelor's or Master's, significant data engineering experience
Work EnvironmentStrategic, architecture design, cross-team collaborationProject execution, team coordination, technical leadership
Industry UsageUsed in large organizations for high-level technical rolesCommon in tech companies and data-driven industries

The Senior Principal Data Engineer focuses on strategic architecture and high-level technical decisions, often working across teams. In contrast, the Lead Data Engineer manages project execution and team coordination. Both roles require strong technical skills, but the Senior Principal typically has more experience and a broader scope of responsibilities.

How much does a senior principal data engineer make?

A senior principal data engineer typically earns between $130,000 and $180,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. They often have advanced skills in data architecture, cloud platforms, and programming languages like Python or Scala, which can influence compensation levels.
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Cities with the most Senior Principal Data Engineer job openings:

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What states have the most Senior Principal Data Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Senior Principal Data Engineer jobs include:

Infographic showing various Senior Principal Data Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $155,430 per year, or $74.7 per hour.

Principal / Sr. Principal Data Scientist - ML and Predictive Analytics

Northrop Grumman Corporation

San Diego, CA • Hybrid

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 25 days ago


Northrop Grumman rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 363 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

88th of 540 rated manufacturers


Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: NoCLEARANCE TYPE: Top SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 25% 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 is seeking an experienced,Principal or Senior Principal Data Scientist to support our Product Support Analytics and Innovation team.

This position is required full-time, in-office. Hybrid scheduling (time split between in-office and work-from-home) may become available depending on future project needs.

This position is located on-site at our facility in Rancho Bernardo, CA.

Accomplish

We are seeking a first-principles thinker and skilled data scientist to solve complex data challenges. This is not a role for operating pre-built tools; this is an opportunity to architect and build the core data logic of our systems. You will be responsible for creating custom, high-performance statistics and machine learning tools from the ground up, making meaning of complex data sets. Your work will involve deep data modeling, abstracting reusable patterns, and writing modular, maintainable code that stands the test of time.

Essential Functions:

  • Collaborate closely with software engineers, analysts, and other data scientists to understand data requirements and deliver robust, integrated solutions.

  • Architect and develop custom, maintainable data science solutions from the ground up.

  • Write and maintain tests and documentation for data architecture, workflows, and processes.

  • Champion software engineering best practices within the data domain, including comprehensive unit/integration testing, CI/CD automation (Git, Docker), and robust documentation.

  • Tune and optimize complex algorithms within our on-premise infrastructure.

Succeed:

The individual we seek will be self-motivated, proactive, goal-oriented to help us grow our services, become even better at what we do and will possess the following qualifications.

***This role may be filled at the Principal or Sr. Principal Level.***

Basic Qualifications for a Principal Data Scientist:

  • Bachelor's Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics discipline from an accredited university, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, OR Master of STEM with 3 years of relevant experience.

  • Deep understanding of Machine Learning and Deep Learning.

  • Recent professional experience in software development and/or data engineering.

  • Strong programming skills in Python and SQL.

  • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and version control (e.g., Git, Docker, etc.)

  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Top Secret clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.

Basic Qualifications for a Sr Principal Data Scientist:

  • Bachelor's Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics discipline from an accredited university, with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, OR Master of STEM with 6 years of relevant experience, OR PhD/Doctorate degree in STEM with 4 years of relevant experience.

  • Deep understanding of Machine Learning and Deep Learning

  • Recent professional experience in software development and/or data engineering.

  • Strong programming skills in Python and SQL.

  • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and version control (e.g., Git, Docker, etc.)

  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Top Secret clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) within a reasonable amount of time as determined by business needs.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master's degree or higher, in Data Science or related discipline.

  • Experience with C/C++.

  • Experience with machine learning pipelines and data science workflows.

  • Familiarity with SQL Alchemy, Numpy, Pandas, SKLearn, PyTorch.

  • Ability to troubleshoot and optimize complex data queries and workflows.

  • Familiarity with big data concepts, machine learning pipelines, and MLOps.

  • Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot and optimize across the entire data stack.

  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

  • Current, Active, DoD Top Secret clearance and Special Program Access

Thrive with Us

At Northrop Grumman we are invested in the growth and well-being off all our employees. We offer flexible work arrangements, phenomenal learning opportunities, exposure to a wide variety of projects and customers, and a very friendly team environment.

Our Total Rewards Program offers a comprehensive employee benefits package, including a Retirement and Savings Plan, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts.

Primary Level Salary Range: $125,300.00 - $187,900.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $156,400.00 - $234,600.00The 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