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Senior Principal Network Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

We are looking for a Principal Network Engineer to help build and evolve an enterprise network that ... This is a senior technical individual contributor role. You will provide technical leadership ...

We are looking for a Principal Network Engineer to help build and evolve an enterprise network that ... This is a senior technical individual contributor role. You will provide technical leadership ...

Principal Network Engineer (Plano Texas, In-Office) Upbound Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPBD) is a technology and data-driven leader in accessible and inclusive financial solutions that address the evolving ...

They are seeking a Principal Network Engineer to design, deploy, and operate networking services for both internal management platforms and customer-facing cloud infrastructure. Responsibilities ...

Serve as the principal technical authority for enterprise networking, defining long-term network ... Mentor senior and staff-level network engineers, raising the technical bar and building ...

Principal Network Engineer

Denver, CO · Hybrid

$160K - $180K/yr

Overview/ Job Responsibilities We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal Network Engineer to support the US Space Force meshONE-T program. The ideal candidate will be responsible for ...

Principal Network Engineer

Denver, CO · Hybrid

$160K - $180K/yr

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal Network Engineer to support the US Space Force meshONE-T program. The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing, implementing, and ...

Serve as the principal technical authority for enterprise networking, defining long-term network ... Mentor senior and staff-level network engineers, raising the technical bar and building ...

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Senior Principal Network Engineer information

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$21K

$133.2K

$204.5K

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

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior principal network engineer in the United States is $133,243.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $117,000.00 and $158,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Senior Principal Network Engineer vs Network Architect?

AspectSenior Principal Network EngineerNetwork Architect
CredentialsBS in Computer Science or related, Cisco/Juniper certificationsSimilar certifications, often with additional design or architecture credentials
Work EnvironmentHands-on network management, troubleshooting, and optimizationDesigning network solutions, planning infrastructure, and strategic development
Employer & Industry UsageUsed across large enterprises, telecoms, and tech companiesCommon in organizations focusing on network infrastructure design and planning
Search & Comparison IntentFocuses on technical expertise and operational rolesFocuses on design, planning, and high-level network architecture

The Senior Principal Network Engineer primarily handles advanced network operations and troubleshooting, while the Network Architect focuses on designing and planning network infrastructure. Both roles require similar certifications and are vital in large organizations, but they differ in scope—one is more operational, the other strategic.

How does a Senior Principal Network Engineer typically collaborate with other IT teams within an organization?

As a Senior Principal Network Engineer, collaboration with other IT teams is a key aspect of the role. You will regularly work alongside security, systems, and cloud engineering teams to design, implement, and troubleshoot complex network solutions. This often involves participating in cross-functional meetings, providing technical leadership on major projects, and ensuring network infrastructure aligns with organizational goals and security policies. Effective communication and strong interpersonal skills are essential, as you'll frequently serve as an advisor and mentor to both network team members and other departments.

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

To thrive as a Senior Principal Network Engineer, you need deep expertise in network architecture, protocol design, troubleshooting, and extensive experience with large-scale enterprise networks, typically supported by a bachelor's degree in computer science or related field and advanced certifications like CCIE or JNCIE. Mastery of network management tools, automation platforms (e.g., Ansible, Python scripting), and security systems is essential. Exceptional problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills distinguish top performers in this role. These skills ensure the reliable design, implementation, and maintenance of complex networks critical to organizational operations and innovation.

What are Senior Principal Network Engineers?

Senior Principal Network Engineers are highly experienced professionals responsible for designing, implementing, and managing complex network infrastructures within organizations. They often lead large-scale networking projects, set technical standards, and provide strategic guidance to engineering teams. Their role involves troubleshooting advanced network issues, ensuring security and scalability, and advising on future network technologies. Typically, they collaborate with executives and other departments to align network strategies with business goals.
More about Senior Principal Network Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Senior Principal Network Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Senior Principal Network Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Principal Network Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Principal Network Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Senior Principal Network Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Senior Principal Network Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Senior Principal Network Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 73% Full Time, and 27% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $133,243 per year, or $64.1 per hour.
Principal Network Engineer

Principal Network Engineer

Blue Origin, LLC

Seattle, WA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 14 days ago


Blue Origin rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 90 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 60 rated aerospace companies


Job description

Application close date:
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.
At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We're working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!
This role is part of Enterprise Technology (ET), where we're developing the digital infrastructure needed to build the road to space, with an emphasis on digital capabilities required to advance Blue Origin's mission. Enterprise Technology is the center of excellence for digital technology at Blue Origin, providing oversight and governance to align technology and business strategies.
We are looking for a Principal Network Engineer to help build and evolve an enterprise network that simply works secure by design, observable by default, resilient across manufacturing and launch operations, and scalable as Blue Origin grows.
This is a senior technical individual contributor role. You will provide technical leadership, architecture direction, design guidance, standards development, mentorship, and operational expertise across Blue Origin's enterprise network. You will influence teams through technical credibility, sound engineering judgment, and practical solutions rather than direct people-management authority.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
  • Shape and drive enterprise network architecture strategy, standards, and technical roadmaps aligned with Blue Origin's technology and business goals.

  • Lead the design, review, implementation guidance, and operational readiness of enterprise network infrastructure across office, manufacturing, lab, launch, and other mission-critical facilities.

  • Ensure high availability, reliability, security, and supportability of network services across sites, platforms, and business-critical environments.

  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship to network engineers by guiding designs, reviewing implementation approaches, developing standards, and raising engineering quality.

  • Drive automation, validation, and repeatable engineering practices to improve consistency, reliability, and operational scale.

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, operations, security, cloud, facilities, and safety teams, to deliver integrated and secure network solutions.

  • Partner with vendors, service providers, and key stakeholders to evaluate solutions, resolve complex technical issues, and ensure strong technical and business outcomes.

  • Provide technical input into lifecycle planning, investment priorities, and network roadmaps that support a network that just works.

  • Stay current with networking technologies and industry trends to identify practical opportunities to improve Blue Origin's enterprise network capabilities.

  • Support complex incident response, root-cause analysis, design reviews, and major network initiatives where senior technical expertise is required.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Technology, a related field, or equivalent experience.

  • 10+ years of enterprise networking experience in complex production environments.

  • 7+ years providing technical leadership, architecture direction, design ownership, standards development, or mentorship in enterprise network environments.

  • Demonstrated hands-on experience designing, troubleshooting, validating, or operating enterprise LAN, WAN, wireless, cloud, or network security infrastructure.

  • Experience with cloud networking, network virtualization, segmentation, or large-scale enterprise network architecture.

  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, strategic thinking, communication, and technical leadership skills.

  • Ability to translate business needs into scalable, secure, reliable, and supportable network architecture decisions.

  • Ability to influence technical direction across teams without relying on direct reporting authority.

  • Passion for Blue Origin's mission and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Hands-on experience implementing, operating, or maintaining Juniper network devices.

  • Experience designing, implementing, or operating SD-WAN architectures.

  • Experience designing, implementing, or operating EVPN/VXLAN architectures.

  • Experience with network segmentation, NAC, firewall policy, or zero-trust-aligned enterprise access models.

  • Experience applying software engineering practices to networking, such as source control, templating, peer review, automated validation, CI/CD pipelines, drift detection, or source-of-truth-driven automation.

  • Experience supporting high-availability network environments across manufacturing, industrial, lab, launch, aerospace, or other mission-critical facilities.

  • Experience creating reference architectures, standards, design patterns, or technical roadmaps for a growing enterprise network.

  • Ability to mentor senior engineers, facilitate technical design reviews, and drive alignment across engineering and operations teams.

Travel Expectations
Up to 20% travel may be required to support major site deployments, architecture reviews, vendor engagements, launch or manufacturing facility needs, and critical network initiatives.
Compensation Range for:
WA applicants is $169,624.00 - $237,473.25
Other site ranges may differ
Culture Statement
Don't meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Export Control Regulations
Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
Background Check
  • Required for all positions: Blue's Standard Background Check
  • Required for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation
  • Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing (CDL drivers only), vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.
  • Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

Benefits
  • Benefits include: Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.
  • Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
  • Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
  • Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on "Know Your Rights," please see here.
Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation
Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin's Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

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About Blue Origin

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Blue Origin is a private aerospace manufacturing and suborbital spaceflight services company based in Kent, Washington, USA. Established in 2000 by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the company operates in the cutting-edge aerospace industry aiming to build a future where millions of people can live and work in space. They develop a variety of technologies, with a focus on reusable rocket systems which significantly reduce the cost of space travel. Blue Origin's core mission is to make this vision come to life by incrementally building on its successes with an ultimate vision of dramatic cost reduction and increased reliance on reusable spacecraft.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Kent, WA, US

Year founded

2000