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Senior Principal Engineer Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

Hazen and Sawyer

Senior Principal Engineer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$110K - $152K/yr

Seeking Professional Licensed Engineer with 5 - 15 years of experience in the water industry. Background and experience in municipal or industrial water, wastewater, reclaimed water, stormwater ...

City of Durham, NC

Principal Engineer

Durham, NC · On-site +1

$87K - $135K/yr

This position will also be posted as a Sr. Engineer. Only one position will be filled depending on qualifications. You must apply for both positions to be considered for either the Principal Engineer ...

City of Durham

Principal Engineer

Durham, NC

$87K - $135K/yr

This position will also be posted as a Sr. Engineer. Only one position will be filled depending on qualifications. You must apply for both positions to be considered for either the Principal Engineer ...

Relias US

Principal Software Engineer

Morrisville, NC · Hybrid

$126K - $169K/yr

The Principal Engineer will collaborate closely with other senior leaders to align technological developments with the organization's long-term goals. WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING: * Architectural Leadership:

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All JobsPrincipal Engineer JobsSenior Principal Engineer JobsSenior Principal Engineer Jobs in Raleigh, NC

Senior Principal Engineer information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$72.4K

$137.2K

$189.4K

How much do senior principal engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior principal engineer in Raleigh, NC is $137,231.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,800.00 and $152,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Senior Principal Engineer?

A Senior Principal Engineer is a highly experienced technical leader who is responsible for guiding the overall engineering direction and strategy within an organization. They typically possess deep expertise in their field, provide mentorship to other engineers, and influence major architectural and technical decisions. Senior Principal Engineers often collaborate with cross-functional teams, ensure best practices are followed, and play a critical role in driving innovation. Their work has a significant impact on the company's products and technical vision.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Principal Engineer, and why are they important?

To excel as a Senior Principal Engineer, you need deep technical expertise in your engineering discipline, advanced problem-solving abilities, and typically a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard design and simulation software, project management tools, and relevant certifications (such as PMP or PE) are often required. Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and strong communication skills distinguish top performers in this role. These competencies are vital for leading complex projects, driving innovation, and effectively guiding engineering teams to achieve organizational goals.

How does a Senior Principal Engineer typically contribute to cross-functional projects within an organization?

Senior Principal Engineers often serve as technical leaders on cross-functional projects, collaborating closely with product managers, architects, and development teams to define technical direction and ensure architectural consistency. They provide deep expertise to solve complex engineering challenges, mentor other engineers, and help align project goals with the organization's strategic vision. Their role frequently involves facilitating communication between different departments and ensuring technical decisions support both immediate project needs and long-term scalability.

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

AspectSenior Principal EngineerLead Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, with extensive industry experienceSimilar educational background, often with additional certifications or specialized training
Work EnvironmentFocuses on high-level technical strategy, innovation, and mentorship across projectsLeads specific projects or teams, overseeing technical execution and coordination
Industry UsageCommon in large corporations and R&D settingsFound in both startups and established companies, often in project-based roles

While both roles require strong technical expertise, the Senior Principal Engineer typically focuses on strategic technical leadership and innovation at an organizational level, whereas the Lead Engineer manages project execution and team coordination. The Senior Principal Engineer often operates at a higher, more strategic level within the engineering hierarchy.

What are popular job titles related to Senior Principal Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC? For Senior Principal Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Principal Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Principal Engineer jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
What cities near Raleigh, NC are hiring for Senior Principal Engineer jobs? Cities near Raleigh, NC with the most Senior Principal Engineer job openings:
Senior Principal Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Principal Engineer job openings in Raleigh, NC as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 78% In-person, 7% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $137,231 per year, or $66 per hour.

Cloud Senior Principal Engineer

The UNC System Office

Raleigh, NC • On-site

$122K - $168K/yr

Other

Posted 3 days ago

Job description

The Cloud Senior Principal Engineer serves as the organization's highest-level technical contributor and engineering leader for cloud platforms, artificial intelligence solutions, enterprise applications, and digital transformation initiatives. This position provides strategic technical direction, establishes engineering standards and architecture practices, and leads the design and implementation of complex, enterprise-wide technology solutions.The Senior Principal Engineer oversees the technical work of Cloud and AI Engineering team while fostering a culture of innovation, engineering excellence, and continuous improvement. The role serves as the primary technical advisor for emerging technologies, cloud architecture, AI strategy, enterprise platform modernization, and system-wide digital initiatives.

Working closely with executive leadership, business stakeholders, and technology teams, the Senior Principal Engineer translates strategic objectives into scalable, secure, and sustainable technical solutions. This position maintains deep technical expertise while providing mentorship, architectural governance, and leadership across multiple technology domains including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, application development, enterprise integration, cybersecurity, and platform engineering.

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