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.

9,620+ JobsUpdated May 18, 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

$89k – $486k

Top Companies

Speechify, Walden Security, Mozilla, Versaterm Inc., Cresco, Okta, Inc. +16 more

Job Types

98% Full Time, 2% Part Time

Top Locations

Fall River, Houston, Texas, Greenville, Toronto, Ontario

Work Model

78% On-Site, 18% Remote, 4% Hybrid

Experience Levels

46% Lead, 22% manager, 18% Staff

We found 9,620 principal engineer jobs currently hiring in locations including Fall River, Houston, Texas, Greenville. Salaries range from $89k to $486k based on experience, location, and company size. Work arrangements include On-Site (78%), Remote (18%), Hybrid (4%). Top employers include Speechify, Walden Security, Mozilla and 19 other companies.

Companies Hiring for Principal Engineer Jobs

Speechify20 jobs

Walden Security4 jobs

Mozilla3 jobs

Versaterm Inc.2 jobs

Cresco2 jobs

Okta, Inc.2 jobs

+16 more companies hiring. Sign up to see all.

Career Path & Salary Progression

Lead

$247k–$486k

23 jobs

Staff

$190k–$281k

9 jobs

Director+

Salary varies

1 job

Latest Jobs Added

Senior Engineering Manager

GlossGenius

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Principal Engineer Jobs

Companies Hiring for Principal Engineer Jobs

Career Path & Salary Progression

Latest Jobs Added

Senior Engineering Manager

Project Manager Online Quantitative Research Ontario

Senior Product Manager

Director of Ecommerce Poppy & Peonies

Product Manager II - Communications Center Automation

Product Manager II - Communications Center Automation

Senior Staff Mixed Methods User Researcher

Senior Staff Mixed Methods User Researcher

Senior Staff Mixed Methods User Researcher

Lead Packaging Agent

Operations Manager

Lead Processing Agent

Staff Software Engineer AI-Native, International

Project Manager IV

Patrolling Security Officers

Unarmed Security Officers near UT Campus

Copy of Security Officer - Woodruff, SC

Commodities Business Analyst / Project Manager – C2C

Security Officer - Mountville, SC

Staff Product Analyst - Payroll

Staff Product Analyst ( Total Rewards & HCM)

Senior Deputy Program Manager

RVP Sales EMEA North – London

Principal Application Scientist ELN/LUMA

Assistant General Counsel, Legal & Business Affairs - Ad Tech & Media

Lead ML Inference Engineer, Advertising

Product Manager, Mapping (Real-time Disruptions)

Chief of Staff, Founder & Executive Chairman’s Office

Senior Product Manager, Audience

Engineering Manager, Tax Platform

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Tech Lead, Android Core Product - Alexandria, VA, USA

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Tech Lead, Android Core Product - Milwaukee, WI, USA

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Tech Lead, Android Core Product - Birmingham, AL, USA

Tech Lead, Android Core Product - Tulsa, OK, USA

Tech Lead, Android Core Product - Syracuse, NY, USA

Tech Lead, Android Core Product - Norfolk, VA, USA

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