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Venture Principal Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Medical Alley

Starts Principal

Golden Valley, MN ยท Hybrid

The Starts Principal leads e๏ฌ€orts to support startups, engage corporate leaders, bring investment ... venture ๏ฌrms to scout for investment opportunities globally. โ€ข Partner with key local and ...

Crux Climate

Principal, Tax Investor Coverage

The Opportunity We are seeking a Principal to join our Tax Investor Coverage team, reporting to our ... We have raised $77 million in capital from some of the best venture and strategic investors ...

Wsgr

Principal Solutions Engineer

New York, NY ยท On-site +1

... venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance and advise them. The firm ... The Principal Solutions Engineer will lead the development of complex, integrated business ...

Wsgr

Principal Solutions Engineer

Boston, MA ยท On-site +1

... venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance and advise them. The firm ... The Principal Solutions Engineer will lead the development of complex, integrated business ...

Wsgr

Principal Solutions Engineer

Washington, DC ยท On-site +1

... venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance and advise them. The firm ... The Principal Solutions Engineer will lead the development of complex, integrated business ...

Wsgr

Principal Solutions Engineer

Austin, TX ยท On-site +1

... venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance and advise them. The firm ... The Principal Solutions Engineer will lead the development of complex, integrated business ...

Wsgr

Principal Solutions Engineer

San Diego, CA ยท On-site +1

... venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance and advise them. The firm ... The Principal Solutions Engineer will lead the development of complex, integrated business ...

Wsgr

Principal Solutions Engineer

Salt Lake City, UT ยท On-site +1

... venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance and advise them. The firm ... The Principal Solutions Engineer will lead the development of complex, integrated business ...

Wsgr

Principal Solutions Engineer

Seattle, WA ยท On-site +1

... venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance and advise them. The firm ... The Principal Solutions Engineer will lead the development of complex, integrated business ...

Wsgr

Principal Solutions Engineer

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site +1

... venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance and advise them. The firm ... The Principal Solutions Engineer will lead the development of complex, integrated business ...

Liberate

Principal AI Agent Engineer

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

We've raised $72M to date, including a $50M Series B in October 2025, backed by top-tier venture ... Boston or San Francisco (Berkeley), hybrid (2 days/week in office) About the Role As a Principal AI ...

Wsgr

Principal Solutions Engineer

Palo Alto, CA ยท On-site +1

... venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance and advise them. The firm ... The Principal Solutions Engineer will lead the development of complex, integrated business ...

Wsgr

Principal Solutions Engineer

Boulder, CO ยท On-site +1

... venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance and advise them. The firm ... The Principal Solutions Engineer will lead the development of complex, integrated business ...

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Venture Principal information

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$36.5K

$109.4K

$182K

How much do venture principal jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for venture principal in the United States is $109,393.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,000.00 and $125,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Venture Principal?

A Venture Principal is a senior investment professional at a venture capital firm, responsible for sourcing, evaluating, and managing investments in startups or early-stage companies. They typically lead due diligence processes, negotiate deal terms, and work closely with portfolio companies to support growth. Venture Principals often act as a bridge between partners at the firm and junior investment staff, playing a key role in investment decision-making. The role usually requires a strong background in finance, entrepreneurship, or technology, and several years of relevant experience.

How does a Venture Principal typically balance sourcing new investment opportunities with supporting existing portfolio companies?

As a Venture Principal, you will often divide your time between scouting and evaluating new startups for potential investment and actively engaging with companies already in your firm's portfolio. This dual focus requires strong prioritization skills; you'll attend industry events, network with founders, and conduct due diligence on new deals, while also providing strategic guidance, making introductions, and sometimes serving as a board observer for portfolio companies. Collaboration with associates, analysts, and partners is frequent, ensuring that both new and existing investments receive the attention needed for success. Regular communication and adaptability are key to managing these responsibilities effectively.

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

To thrive as a Venture Principal, you need strong financial analysis abilities, investment acumen, and a deep understanding of startup ecosystems, typically supported by an advanced degree in business, finance, or a related field. Familiarity with tools like Excel, financial modeling software, and CRM platforms, as well as experience conducting due diligence, is essential. Exceptional networking, negotiation, and strategic thinking skills help build relationships and identify promising investment opportunities. These competencies ensure sound investment decisions and the ability to drive portfolio growth in a competitive venture capital environment.

What is the difference between Venture Principal vs Venture Associate?

AspectVenture PrincipalVenture Associate
Required CredentialsTypically 5+ years in venture capital or related fields, strong industry knowledgeEntry to mid-level, often with 1-3 years experience, finance or consulting background
Work EnvironmentLeads deal sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio managementSupports deal analysis, research, and initial screening
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in venture capital firms, private equity, and startup investmentCommon in early-stage investment teams and VC firms

The Venture Principal role involves leading investments, managing portfolios, and making strategic decisions, requiring extensive experience. In contrast, Venture Associates focus on supporting deal sourcing and analysis, often as an entry or mid-level position. Both roles are integral to venture capital firms but differ significantly in responsibilities and experience requirements.

What cities are hiring for Venture Principal jobs? Cities with the most Venture Principal job openings:
What states have the most Venture Principal jobs? States with the most job openings for Venture Principal jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Venture Principal jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Venture Principal jobs are:
Venture Principal jobs near you
Infographic showing various Venture Principal job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 4% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,393 per year, or $52.6 per hour.

Principal Mechanical Engineer - UAS Launch Systems

Approach Venture LLC

Fort Worth, TX โ€ข On-site

$155K - $195K/yr

Full-time

Posted 20 days ago

Job description

Principal Mechanical Engineer - Fixed-Wing UAS Launch Systems
Fort Worth, Texas | On-site
Opportunity Summary
A venture-backed aerospace and defense startup developing advanced fixed-wing unmanned aircraft systems is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead the architecture, design, and deployment of next-generation launch systems supporting runway-independent operations. Backed by active government programs and focused on rapidly deployable aircraft platforms, the company is building scalable systems designed for operational flexibility, field reliability, and manufacturable production. This is a principal-level individual contributor role with full ownership over launch system development across concept definition, mechanical architecture, actuation methods, field deployment strategy, and production readiness. The engineer will evaluate and develop launch approaches including pneumatic, hydraulic, rail, catapult, and bungee-assisted systems depending on mission requirements, aircraft configurations, and operational environments. The role requires deep hands-on engineering capability across mechanical design, structural systems, fluids, dynamic loading, and hardware integration while balancing portability, repeatability, operational simplicity, and manufacturing scalability. This individual will play a foundational role in defining how the company's aircraft are launched, deployed, transported, and operated in real-world environments.
About Us
We are an early-stage aerospace and defense company developing advanced unmanned aircraft systems for government and commercial applications. Our engineering team operates in a fast-paced hardware environment focused on rapid iteration, scalable manufacturing, and mission-capable aerospace systems designed for operational deployment. Engineers work closely across aerospace, mechanical, avionics, manufacturing, and flight operations disciplines to bring complex systems from concept through field validation and production.
Job Duties
  • Own the end-to-end design and development of launch systems for fixed-wing unmanned aircraft platforms
  • Evaluate and define launch architectures including pneumatic, hydraulic, rail, catapult, and bungee-assisted systems
  • Lead system trade studies balancing portability, deployment speed, reliability, manufacturability, aircraft compatibility, and operational efficiency
  • Design and develop mechanical structures, launch rails, actuation systems, energy storage systems, deployment hardware, and supporting ground infrastructure
  • Develop scalable launch solutions capable of supporting multiple aircraft configurations and future platform growth
  • Optimize launcher systems for rapid deployment, repeatability, reliability, and reduced operator burden
  • Support integration between launcher systems, aircraft mechanical interfaces, avionics, controls, and operational procedures
  • Develop safety systems, operational procedures, interlocks, and field deployment workflows
  • Perform mechanical analysis related to structural loading, dynamic response, energy transfer, vibration, fatigue, and system durability
  • Coordinate prototype fabrication, assembly, integration, and field testing activities
  • Support field operations, launcher testing, troubleshooting, and iterative hardware improvements
  • Drive design maturity from prototype hardware through scalable production-ready systems
  • Work closely with aerospace, manufacturing, avionics, flight test, and systems engineering teams to validate performance and operational readiness
  • Support supplier engagement, component selection, and manufacturing process development
  • Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership across launcher and mechanical system development efforts

Qualifications
  • 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience supporting aerospace, defense, launch systems, or complex electromechanical hardware
  • Strong hands-on mechanical design experience involving structural systems, actuation mechanisms, dynamic systems, or high-force mechanical equipment
  • Experience owning hardware systems from concept development through prototype and operational validation
  • Familiarity with pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical launch, or energy transfer systems
  • Strong understanding of mechanical integration, tolerance stack-up, manufacturability, and field reliability
  • Experience supporting hardware testing, troubleshooting, and rapid engineering iteration
  • Proficiency with CAD and mechanical design tools
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical discipline
  • Comfortable working in hands-on development and field test environments
  • Strong first-principles engineering and technical decision-making capability

Preferred Experience
  • Direct experience with UAS launch systems or runway-independent aircraft operations
  • Background supporting defense launcher systems or deployable aerospace hardware
  • Experience with rail launch, catapult systems, pneumatic launchers, or hydraulic actuation systems
  • Familiarity with mobile, trailer-mounted, or expeditionary support systems
  • Experience supporting field operations, flight testing, or operational deployment environments
  • Exposure to structural dynamics, vibration environments, or high-cycle mechanical systems
  • Experience supporting rapid hardware development within startup or defense organizations

Why Join Us
  • Opportunity to architect and own a foundational aerospace system from the ground up
  • Principal-level technical ownership with direct influence on aircraft operational capability
  • Exposure to rapid aerospace development, field testing, and mission-driven hardware execution
  • Collaborative engineering environment focused on real-world deployment and scalable manufacturing
  • Early-stage company with significant technical ownership and long-term growth opportunity

Compensation Details
$155,000 - $195,000
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