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Sr Principal Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Judge Group, Inc.

Lead C++ Software Architect

Reston, VA · On-site

$225K - $300K/yr

Principal / Senior Principal Software Engineer (C++ Distributed Systems) The Judge Group is seeking a Principal or Senior Principal Software Engineer to join a highly innovative engineering ...

Cadence

Sr. Principal Software Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$124K - $171K/yr

They are seeking a highly motivated Sr. Principal Software Engineer to join the Modus R&D engineering team, where the role will involve designing, developing, debugging, and supporting Design-for ...

Quest Global

Senior Principal Software Engineer

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$140K - $160K/yr

Senior Principal Software Engineer Tucson, AZ US The Senior Principal Software Engineer position is focused on the development, integration, test, and maintenance of software as a part of on-site ...

Tend

Senior Principal Software Engineer

Las Vegas, NV · On-site

$170 - $230/hr

Additionally, the Senior Principal Software Engineer will bring deep expertise in one or more technologies including distributed microservice architecture, Go, Ent, gRPC, Twirp, and/or AWS ...

Tendo

Senior Principal Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$147K - $203K/yr

Additionally, the Senior Principal Software Engineer will bring deep expertise in one or more technologies including distributed microservice architecture, Go, Ent, gRPC, Twirp, and/or AWS ...

Cadence

Sr. Principal Software Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$147K - $202K/yr

They are seeking a Sr. Principal Software Engineer to develop a multi-threaded and distributed physical synthesis core engine, collaborating with a global R&D team to design, develop, troubleshoot ...

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All JobsSr Principal Software Engineer Jobs

Sr Principal Software Engineer information

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$82K

$155.4K

$214.5K

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

As of Jul 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for sr principal software 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.

How does a Sr Principal Software Engineer typically contribute to technical leadership and mentorship within a development team?

As a Sr Principal Software Engineer, you are expected to set technical direction, establish best practices, and mentor less experienced engineers. You'll often lead architectural discussions, review code for quality and scalability, and help resolve complex technical challenges. Beyond hands-on development, your role involves fostering collaboration across multidisciplinary teams, ensuring alignment with business objectives, and supporting the professional growth of team members. This position provides a unique opportunity to influence both the technical roadmap and the culture of engineering excellence.

What is the difference between Sr Principal Software Engineer vs Staff Software Engineer?

AspectSr Principal Software EngineerStaff Software Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS or related, extensive experienceBachelor's/Master's in CS or related, significant experience
Work EnvironmentLeadership roles, strategic projects, cross-team collaborationTechnical leadership, complex project execution, mentorship
Industry UsageUsed across tech companies for senior technical leadershipCommon in large tech firms for advanced technical roles
Comparison FocusStrategic impact, cross-team influenceTechnical depth, project complexity

The main difference between a Sr Principal Software Engineer and a Staff Software Engineer lies in scope and influence. Sr Principal roles focus on strategic leadership and cross-team impact, while Staff Engineers emphasize technical expertise and project execution. Both roles require extensive experience and technical skills, but Sr Principal positions typically involve higher-level decision-making and organizational influence.

What is a Sr Principal Software Engineer?

A Sr Principal Software Engineer is a highly experienced technical leader responsible for designing, developing, and overseeing complex software projects. They typically set technical direction, mentor engineering teams, and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure software meets business goals. In addition to hands-on coding, they often define architectural standards, review code, and lead innovation efforts within their organization. This role requires deep expertise in software engineering, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to guide large-scale technical initiatives.

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

To thrive as a Sr Principal Software Engineer, you need deep expertise in software architecture, advanced programming skills, and a strong background in computer science, often supported by a bachelor's or master's degree. Proficiency with cloud platforms, modern development frameworks, and relevant certifications (such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect) is typically required. Exceptional leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills help you guide teams and collaborate across departments. These abilities are crucial for delivering robust technical solutions, mentoring engineers, and aligning technology with business goals.
What states have the most Sr Principal Software Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Sr Principal Software Engineer jobs include:
Sr Principal Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Sr Principal Software 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.
Principal or Sr. Principal Engineer Software (DEE)

Principal or Sr. Principal Engineer Software (DEE)

Northrop Grumman

Melbourne, FL

$122K - $184K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Posted 9 days ago

Northrop Grumman rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 356 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

86th of 535 rated manufacturers

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescription 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. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Please note that this opportunity is contingent on program funding.  Start dates are determined after funding confirmation.

Join the Northrop Grumman team to develop the next generation of software for the next generation of platforms.  Support development and integration of the latest technologies - AI/ML, Quantum computing, cloud, and digital design – to impact future generation aircraft.  Become part of the team that will give our war fighters the advantage over our adversaries. Bring your bold new ideas, and pioneering spirit to our team to invent the future and have some fun along the way.  We take pride in creating purposeful work and allowing our employees to grow and achieve their goals every day by Defining Possible. With our competitive pay and comprehensive benefits, we have the right opportunities to fit your life and launch your career today.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Principal or Sr. Principal Engineer Software (DEE) to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals within our software organization. This role is located in Melbourne, Florida operating on our 9/80 schedule, meaning you will get every other Friday off. The position has No Remote or Hybrid work available.

In this role you will be supporting the Digital Engineering Ecosystem Product Development Team.  The selected candidate will be responsible for designing and managing the digital engineering ecosystem infrastructure.

Essential Functions:

  • Automation workflow development of multi-disciplined functional processes in support of various engineering and business processes captured as Digital Threads

  • Perform software development efforts, task delegation / integration, and customer interaction. Gather product feature requests, develop and integrate product updates and develop user guides and documentation.

**This role may be filled at either the Principal Software Engineer or a Sr. Principal Software Engineer level based on the qualifications below.**

Basic Qualifications:

  • Principal Software Engineer: Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 5 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of related engineering experience OR a PhD degree in a STEM discipline and 1 years of related engineering experience

  • Sr. Principal Software Engineer: Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 8 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 6 years of related engineering experience OR a PhD degree in a STEM discipline and 4 years of related engineering experience

  • Experience with backend development

  • Experience with Web Application Development

  • Experience with CI/CD

  • Experience with any of the following: C, C++, C#, Java, Python

  • Your ability to transfer and maintain the final adjudicated Secret clearance (DoD must be in-scope or enrolled in Continuous Evaluation) and any program access(es) required for the position within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the Company.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with Agile product development

  • Experience with Cameo Enterprise Architecture and the Systems Modeling Language (SysML)

  • Experience in integrating hardware and software in a lab environment

  • The ability to provide tool administration in tools such as Atlassian

  • Experience integrating software tools through published APIs

  • Excellent interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a large team environment in both leadership and individual contributor roles.

#AS-FA3

Primary Level Salary Range: $98,400.00 - $147,600.00 Secondary Level Salary Range: $122,800.00 - $184,200.00 The 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

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