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Senior Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Raleigh, NC

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Senior Principal Software Engineer information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$72.4K

$137.2K

$189.4K

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

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior principal software 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 does a senior principal software engineer do?

A senior principal software engineer leads complex software development projects, designs system architecture, and mentors engineering teams. They focus on technical strategy, ensure code quality, and often collaborate with product managers to align technical solutions with business goals. Strong expertise in programming, system design, and problem-solving is essential for this role.

What is a senior principal software engineer?

A Senior Principal Software Engineer is a highly experienced and skilled professional who leads the design, architecture, and development of complex software systems. They often act as technical experts, providing guidance on best practices, code quality, and system scalability. In addition to coding, they mentor other engineers, influence technology strategy, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver business-critical solutions. Their role typically requires extensive industry experience and a deep understanding of both software engineering and business requirements.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior principal software engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Principal Software Engineer, you need deep expertise in software development, architecture design, and advanced problem-solving, typically supported by a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or a related field. Mastery of programming languages (such as Java, C++, or Python), cloud platforms (like AWS or Azure), and experience with CI/CD tools or architectural frameworks is essential, with certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect being advantageous. Exceptional leadership, communication, and mentorship skills set outstanding candidates apart by enabling them to guide teams and influence technical direction. These competencies ensure the delivery of robust, scalable solutions and drive organizational innovation and efficiency.

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

AspectSenior Principal Software EngineerLead Software Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS or related field, extensive experienceBachelor's/Master's in CS or related field, significant experience
Work EnvironmentStrategic, architecture, and high-level technical leadershipProject management, team coordination, technical guidance
Industry UsageResearch, enterprise, large-scale tech companiesProduct teams, startups, mid-sized companies

The Senior Principal Software Engineer typically focuses on strategic technical direction and architecture, often working across teams and influencing company-wide technology decisions. In contrast, the Lead Software Engineer manages project execution and team coordination. Both roles require advanced technical skills, but their focus areas differ, with the Senior Principal emphasizing long-term vision and the Lead emphasizing project delivery.

How does a senior principal software engineer typically contribute to strategic decision-making within a technology organization?

Senior Principal Software Engineers play a key role in shaping technical direction and architecture at an organizational level. They often collaborate closely with engineering leadership, product managers, and cross-functional teams to evaluate technology choices and align projects with long-term business goals. This role involves mentoring other engineers, driving adoption of best practices, and proactively identifying technical risks and opportunities. By influencing architectural decisions and setting technical standards, Senior Principal Software Engineers help ensure the scalability, reliability, and maintainability of critical systems.
What cities near Raleigh, NC are hiring for Senior Principal Software Engineer jobs? Cities near Raleigh, NC with the most Senior Principal Software Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Principal Software Engineer job openings in Raleigh, NC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $137,231 per year, or $66 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer/Developer

Fidelity Investments

Durham, NC • On-site

$130K - $174K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago


Fidelity Investments rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 271 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

15th of 150 rated financial services


Job description


Position Description:
Defines and implements robust Cloud reliability and observability strategies, for the continuous availability of Cloud systems. Collaborates in a technical capacity with architects and other enterprise teams, assisting in the adoption of modern Cloud infrastructure built within Amazon Web Services (AWS) and EKS. Solves stack-wide engineering issues related to software, network, applications, and Cloud service providers. Uses business knowledge to translate the vision for divisional initiatives into business solutions by developing complex or multiple software applications and conducting studies of alternatives. Analyzes and recommends changes in project development policies, procedures, standards, and strategies to development experts and management.
Primary Responsibilities:
  • Participates in architecture design teams.
  • Defines and implements application-level architecture.
  • Develops applications on complex projects, components, and subsystems for the division.
  • Recommends development testing tools and methodologies and reviews and validates test plans.
  • Responsible for QA readiness of software deliverables.
  • Develops comprehensive documentation for multiple applications or subsystems.
  • Establishes full project life cycle plans for complex projects across multiple platforms.
  • Responsible for meeting project goals on-time and on-budget.
  • Advises on risk assessment and risk management strategies for projects.
  • Plans and coordinates complex project schedules and assignments for multiple projects.
  • Acts as a primary liaison for business units to resolve various project/technology issues.
  • Provides technology solutions to daily issues and technical evaluation estimates on technology initiatives.
  • Advises senior management on technical strategy.
  • Mentors junior team members.
  • Performs independent and complex technical and functional analysis for multiple projects supporting several divisional initiatives.
  • Develops original and creative technical solutions to on-going development efforts.

Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Information Systems, or a closely related field (or foreign education equivalent) and five (5) years of experience as Principal Software Engineer/Developer (or closely related occupation) developing full-stack Web applications on Cloud platforms using Python and Flask framework.
Or, alternatively, Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Information Systems, or a closely related field (or foreign education equivalent) and three (3) years of experience as a Principal Software Engineer/Developer (or closely related occupation) developing full-stack Web applications on Cloud platforms using Python and Flask framework.
Skills and Knowledge:
Candidate must also possess:
  • Demonstrated Expertise ("DE") building and implementing Microservices REST API architecture and developing pipelines using cloud provider services and containerized solutions, to support application deployments to the Cloud.
  • DE building, packaging, and maintaining applications by writing automated tests and performing infrastructure management according to Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, using Jenkins, GIT, and Artifactory; and monitoring application metrics/tracing capabilities by integrating with logging tools (Datadog) or OpenTelemetry libraries.
  • DE collaborating with onshore and offshore business and technology partners in a cross-functional Agile organization; building robust multi-tier applications on AWS platforms; optimizing the performance and configuration of resources in AWS; and coordinating and automating operational activities by building serverless Lambda functions.
  • DE designing and deploying Cloud-ready Web applications using 12-factor design and Docker containers (on Cloud platforms and Kubernetes infrastructure); and building and maintaining observability dashboards for applications, using Datadog and PowerBI.

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Fidelity's Onsite Working Model
Fidelity is transitioning to a full-time onsite working model through a phased rollout across regions and roles. Currently, some roles and locations require 100% onsite presence, while others require less. Onsite expectations are likely to evolve as the rollout continues. This transition does not apply to fully remote roles.
Certifications:
Category:
Information Technology
Please be advised that Fidelity's business is governed by the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Investment Company Act of 1940, ERISA, numerous state laws governing securities, investment and retirement-related financial activities and the rules and regulations of numerous self-regulatory organizations, including FINRA, among others. Those laws and regulations may restrict Fidelity from hiring and/or associating with individuals with certain Criminal Histories.

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