Is principal engineer equal to engineering manager?

No, a Principal Engineer is not equal to an Engineering Manager. They are distinct roles with different responsibilities. A Principal Engineer is a senior technical expert, while an Engineering Manager is a leadership role focused on managing a team of engineers. While both roles are critical to the success of an engineering organization, they have different focuses and skill sets. Some individuals may transition from a Principal Engineer role to an Engineering Manager role as they progress in their career, but it's not an automatic equivalence, and not all Principal Engineers become Engineering Managers