What does a principal engineer do?

A principal engineer sets technical direction across teams, drives architectural decisions, mentors senior engineers, and often represents the engineering organization in cross-functional strategy discussions.

What is the salary for a principal engineer?

Total compensation for principal engineer roles ranges from $200k to $350k+, including base salary, equity, and bonuses. FAANG and top startups pay at the upper end.

How do I become a principal engineer?

Build a track record of leading high-impact projects, develop deep expertise in a domain, contribute to org-wide technical strategy, and demonstrate influence beyond your immediate team.

11,714+ Jobs50 new this weekUpdated Jun 8, 2026

Principal Engineer Jobs

Principal Engineer roles represent the top of the individual contributor or management ladder. These positions combine deep technical expertise with organizational influence, commanding $200k–$350k+ in total compensation at leading tech companies.

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Salary Range

$100k – $212k

Top Companies

HDR, The Parlor Magazine, Airbus, Boeing, Jobs via Dice, BC Liquor Stores +42 more

Job Types

96% Full Time, 4% Contract

Top Locations

CA, Arlington, Washington, Bethesda

Work Model

78% On-Site, 16% Hybrid, 6% Remote

Experience Levels

30% principal, 20% Staff, 14% manager

We found 11,714 principal engineer jobs currently hiring in locations including CA, Arlington, Washington. 50 new positions were added this week at companies like Airbus, Boeing, Jobs via Dice. Salaries range from $100k to $212k based on experience, location, and company size. Work arrangements include On-Site (78%), Hybrid (16%), Remote (6%). Top employers include HDR, The Parlor Magazine, Airbus and 45 other companies.

Companies Hiring for Principal Engineer Jobs

HDR2 jobs

The Parlor Magazine2 jobs

Airbus1 job

Boeing1 job

Jobs via Dice1 job

BC Liquor Stores1 job

+42 more companies hiring. Sign up to see all.

Career Path & Salary Progression

Lead

Salary varies

5 jobs

Staff

$150k–$175k

10 jobs

Director+

$105k–$115k

7 jobs

Latest Jobs Added

Airframe Design Manager at Airbus Mirabel

Airbus

1d ago

Industrial Security Manager

Boeing

1d ago

Principal, Product Design

Jobs via Dice

1d ago

Customer Care Representative, Wholesale Customer Centre - Victoria

BC Liquor Stores

2d ago

Program Manager, Law Enforcement Operations

Draganfly Innovations Inc.

2d ago

Also searching for: sde, swe, developer, programmer, software engineer, software developer

1–50 of 11,714 jobs

1d ago

Airframe Design Manager at Mirabel

Airbus·CA

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Principal Engineer Jobs

Companies Hiring for Principal Engineer Jobs

Career Path & Salary Progression

Latest Jobs Added

Airframe Design Manager at Mirabel

Industrial Security Manager

Principal, Product Design

Customer Care Representative, Wholesale Customer Centre - Victoria

Program Manager, Law Enforcement Operations

Staff Privacy Analyst - HYBRID

Head of Financial Planning Analysis

Interim Vice President – Finance Integration project

Shop Mechanic

Director, Solutions Architecture – National Security, Worldwide Public Sector

Summer Delivery Driver & Shop Labourer

Science Writer (Infectious Diseases)

Principal Structural Geologist

Team Lead, LED Screen Motion Gfx Designer

Lead Graphic Designer

Industrial Wastewater Program Lead - Oil, Gas and Chemicals Practice

Principal Full Stack Web Developer (Remote)

Lead Software Engineer, Full Stack (Python, Java, AWS, CI/CD, GenAI)

Assistant Director Of Digital Media And Partnerships job at in Washington, DC

Industrial Wastewater Program Lead - Oil, Gas and Chemicals Practice

Talent Acquisition Operations Program Manager

Vice President, Head of Product

Photojournalism Fellow

Community Reporter Fellow

Vice President, Regulatory Compliance

VP, Finance Data & Digital Enablement

National Contract Logistics Quality & Regulatory Manager

Communications Program Manager

Program Manager, Marketing

Vice President, Social Washington, DC

Information Technology Project Manager - Dynamics 365 / Power Platform

Staff Data Scientist, (Global Security)

Lead Specialist, Enterprise Customer Success

Head of Creative Production, Paid Social & Native (Remote)

Java Developer

Vice President of Finance & Accounting

Assistant Director of Health and Wellness

Director of Human Resources Operations

Staff Software Engineer, Infrastructure - Marimo Northfield, NJ, USA

Quality Control Inspector

Senior Producer and Project Manager

Data Analytics Consultant

Food Service Supervisor BOH

Early Career or Mid-Career Principal Investigator

Training Coordinator

Communications and Marketing Fellow, Part-Time

Directeur(trice) de la Fabrication et de la Production Director of

Director of Production Manufacturing

Lead Data Scientist - AgenticAI

Telecommunications Project Manager

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