ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Senior Principal Hardware Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Medtronic

Prin. Systems Hardware Engineer

Moundsview, MN · On-site

$131K - $172K/yr

Principal Hardware Engineer Careers that Change Lives Medtronic aims to contribute to human welfare by application of biomedical engineering in the research, design, manufacture, and sale of ...

Curtiss-Wright

Principal Hardware Engineer

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

Principal Hardware Engineer - Onsite position Curtiss Wright is expanding and has multiple openings for experienced Principal Hardware Engineer to join our Defense Solutions Group. This role involves ...

Curtiss-Wright

Principal Hardware Engineer

Ashburn, VA

$144K - $190K/yr

Principal Hardware Engineer - Onsite position Curtiss Wright is expanding and has multiple openings for experienced Principal Hardware Engineer to join our Defense Solutions Group. This role involves ...

Curtisswright

Principal Hardware Engineer

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

Principal Hardware Engineer - Onsite position Curtiss Wright is expanding and has multiple openings for experienced Principal Hardware Engineer to join our Defense Solutions Group. This role involves ...

Curtisswright

$144K - $190K/yr

Principal Hardware Engineer - Onsite position Curtiss Wright is expanding and has multiple openings for experienced Principal Hardware Engineer to join our Defense Solutions Group. This role involves ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsPrincipal Hardware Engineer JobsSenior Principal Hardware Engineer Jobs

Senior Principal Hardware Engineer information

See salary details

$82K

$155.4K

$214.5K

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

As of Jul 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior principal hardware 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Principal Hardware Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Principal Hardware Engineer, you need deep expertise in hardware design, circuit analysis, and systems architecture, typically backed by a bachelor’s or master’s degree in electrical or computer engineering. Mastery of design tools like Cadence, Altium, or Mentor Graphics, along with knowledge of industry standards and certifications (such as IPC or IEEE), is highly valued. Leadership, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for driving innovation and leading cross-functional teams. These skills and qualities are critical for delivering reliable, cutting-edge hardware solutions and mentoring engineering teams in complex product development cycles.

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

AspectSenior Principal Hardware EngineerLead Hardware Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in Electrical Engineering or related; extensive industry experienceBachelor's/Master's in Electrical Engineering or related; significant industry experience
Work EnvironmentResearch and development, design, and high-level engineering teamsProject management, team leadership, hands-on hardware design
Industry UsageTechnology, aerospace, automotive, consumer electronicsTechnology, aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics

The Senior Principal Hardware Engineer focuses on high-level design, innovation, and strategic technical decisions, often working across multiple projects. The Lead Hardware Engineer typically manages project teams, oversees hardware development, and ensures project milestones are met. Both roles require advanced technical skills, but the Senior Principal emphasizes strategic influence, while the Lead emphasizes team leadership and project execution.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior Principal Hardware Engineers in high-demand industries such as semiconductor, aerospace, or technology companies can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills, and leadership responsibilities. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, reflecting their advanced expertise and strategic impact within organizations.

What engineers make 200,000 a year?

Senior Principal Hardware Engineers often earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills in circuit design, and certifications. Compensation varies by industry, location, and company size, with roles in high-tech sectors typically offering higher salaries for senior-level engineers with specialized expertise.

What is a Senior Principal Hardware Engineer?

A Senior Principal Hardware Engineer is an advanced-level professional responsible for designing, developing, and overseeing the creation of complex hardware systems and components. They typically lead engineering teams, guide technical direction, and ensure that hardware projects meet performance, cost, and quality goals. Their role often involves collaborating with other departments, mentoring junior engineers, and staying current with emerging technologies to influence product innovation and strategic planning. This position requires extensive experience in hardware engineering and strong leadership skills.

Can you make $500,000 as an electrical engineer?

Senior Principal Hardware Engineers, especially those with extensive experience, advanced skills in circuit design, and certifications, can potentially earn $500,000 or more annually, particularly in high-cost-of-living areas or within specialized industries like aerospace or semiconductor manufacturing. However, such compensation levels are typically reserved for senior leadership roles or highly specialized experts and are not common for all electrical engineers.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior Principal Hardware Engineers in high-demand industries such as semiconductor design, aerospace, or advanced electronics can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills, and leadership responsibilities. Compensation often includes bonuses, stock options, and other incentives, reflecting the seniority and complexity of the role.

What are some common challenges faced by Senior Principal Hardware Engineers when leading cross-functional projects?

Senior Principal Hardware Engineers often encounter challenges in aligning cross-functional teams, such as coordinating between hardware, software, and manufacturing departments to ensure timely project delivery. Navigating differing priorities, technical constraints, and communication barriers can be complex, especially when integrating new technologies or managing large-scale product development. Successful engineers leverage strong leadership, technical expertise, and effective communication to mediate issues, keep teams focused on shared goals, and drive innovation. These experiences not only sharpen problem-solving skills but also position engineers for further leadership roles.
What cities are hiring for Senior Principal Hardware Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Senior Principal Hardware Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Principal Hardware Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Principal Hardware Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Senior Principal Hardware Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Senior Principal Hardware Engineer jobs include:
Senior Principal Hardware Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Principal Hardware Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $155,430 per year, or $74.7 per hour.
Senior Principal Hardware Engineer

Senior Principal Hardware Engineer

Cadence Design Systems Inc.

Cary, IL

$136K - $253K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 19 days ago

Cadence Design Systems rating

9.0

Company rating: 9.0 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

33rd of 245 rated software companies

Job description

At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.

Cadence is the leader in hardware emulation-acceleration technologies and products. As a Physical Design Senior Principal Hardware Engineer, you will drive solutions for complex designs from synthesis to GDS through tape-out. You are knowledgeable about floorplan, clock construction, placement, routing, and signoff closure activities such as timing analysis, physical verification, and IR/EM. You have exceptional communication skills and can collaborate with partner RTL, DFT, and Architecture teams. As a principal engineer, you will contribute to further developing our tools and flows to improve design quality and execution. This position is located in our US offices (San Jose, CA or Raleigh, NC).

Our emulation-acceleration system platform is the most advanced industry-leading configurable scalable system, generation after generation, used in labs and datacenters. At the heart of these systems are a multitude of interconnected highly complex high-performance computing (HPC) devices based on a proprietary Boolean processor architecture. This is a role in the core technology team.

Key Responsibilities:

The duties and responsibilities Senior Principal Hardware Engineer include:

  • Drive solutions in logic synthesis, floorplan, place and route (PNR), clock construction
  • Provide continuous improvement to existing tools, flows, and methodologies
  • Optimize power, performance, and area to meet design requirements
  • Experience with advanced process nodes and technologies
  • Collaborate closely with cross functional teams to ensure proper design execution
  • Work with R&D teams to improve Cadence's suite of tools
  • Close designs adhering to timing, power, IR/EM, and foundry specifications

Qualifications

  • BS with a minimum of 10 years of experience OR MS with a minimum of 7 years of experience OR PhD with a minimum of 5 years of experience
  • Successfully owned and driven blocks/SoCs to tape-out
  • Comfortable in the latest advanced technology nodes
  • Experience in at least one scripting language like PERL, Python, TCL, or Shell is preferred
  • Self-motivated, team player with strong problem-solving skills to collaborate with teams to deliver results
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • BS/MS with8-15+ years of relevant hands-on experience in physical design

The annual salary range for California is $136,500 to $253,500. You may also be eligible to receive incentive compensation: bonus, equity, and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the salary range is a guideline and compensation may vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location. Our benefits programs include: paid vacation and paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, employee stock purchase plan, a variety of medical, dental and vision plan options, and more.

We're doing work that matters. Help us solve what others can't.

What Cadence Design Systems employees say

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply