Updated June 25, 2024
6 min read
Quoted Experts
John Ring,
Dr. Harvey Hoffman
A principal engineer is an individual who has reached the highest level of technical expertise. They lead complex engineering projects, manage teams, and provide technical guidance and support. Principal engineers also work in research and development to ensure that their company stays at the forefront of their industry. They often work with marketing and sales to create products that meet customer needs. Additionally, they may set technical standards and evaluate the performance of other engineers.
How long does it takes to become a principal engineer?
It typically takes 7-8 years to become a principal engineer:
- Years 1-4: Obtaining a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as engineering, computer science, or mathematics. This involves learning foundational concepts, principles, and theories in these fields.
- Years 5-6: Accumulating necessary work experience in engineering design, testing, and project management. This includes understanding engineering systems, applying engineering principles, and utilizing various engineering tools and techniques.
- Years 7-8: Continuing to gain experience and potentially receiving on-the-job training in areas such as advanced engineering design, complex problem-solving, and team leadership. This period often involves developing expertise in a specific engineering discipline or industry.
ScorePrincipal EngineerUS Average
Salary
8.4
Avg. Salary $130,213
Avg. Salary $59,228
Stability Level
7.4
Growth Rate 2%
Growth Rate 0.3%
Diversity
6.4
Race
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.11%
Asian 16.60%
Black or African American 3.06%
Hispanic or Latino 7.78%
Unknown 4.51%
White 67.94%
Gender
female 7.42%
male 92.58%
Age - 39
Race
American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Gender
female 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 39
Stress Level
7.4
Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level
8.6
Complexity Level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work Life Balance
5.1
Work Life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a Principal Engineer?
Pros
Competitive salary and benefits
Work on complex and challenging projects
Chance to collaborate with top-level executives
Influence product development and innovation
Recognition as a key member of the organization
Cons
High-pressure environment with tight deadlines
Long working hours, often including weekends and holidays
Limited work-life balance due to constant demands
Dealing with conflicts and difficult conversations
Potential for burnout due to high expectations and workload
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Principal Engineer career paths
A principal engineer can move into various roles. They might become a project manager, overseeing projects and ensuring their timely completion. They could also move into leadership positions like engineering director or senior director of engineering, where they'll be in charge of a team of engineers. Some might even take on executive roles like chief technology officer or president and chief technology officer.
Key steps to become a principal engineer
Explore principal engineer education requirements
The educational requirements for a principal engineer are typically a bachelor's degree in a field such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, civil engineering, or chemical engineering. According to Dr. Harvey Hoffman, Associate Dean of Engineering at Fairfield University, "Your engineering degree gave you the necessary tools. You must engage in lifelong learning to increase your knowledge and improve your skills and competencies to set yourself apart." This suggests that while a bachelor's degree is the standard educational requirement for a principal engineer, continued learning and professional development are also crucial for success in this role.
Most common principal engineer degrees
Bachelor's
65.7
%
Master's
21.8
%
Doctorate
6.2
%
Start to develop specific principal engineer skills
A principal engineer needs a diverse set of skills. They need to be proficient in a variety of programming languages such as Java, JavaScript, and C+ They should be adept at managing software releases, developing quality-related policies, and analyzing emerging technologies. As John Ring, Director Engineering Outreach at Elon University, puts it, "tomorrow's engineers need to be strong communicators, collaborators, and critical thinkers."
Skills Percentages Java 12.62% Architecture 8.43% Python 8.16% Software Development 4.17% Azure 3.78% Show more
Complete relevant principal engineer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New principal engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a principal engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real principal engineer resumes.
Research principal engineer duties and responsibilities
Principal engineers are responsible for designing and implementing applications, managing product development, and analyzing emerging technologies. They also develop and implement policies, procedures, and programs, including certifications. As Dr. Don Gelosh Ph.D., Director, Systems Engineering Programs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, puts it, "There is a great demand for those who can understand the big picture as well as knowing the smallest detail in the development and delivery of complex systems."
- Develop test plans and procedures, and lead the test effort on Windows.CE porting.
- Provide analytical direction, reasoning, and manage lipid extraction experiments done as a team.
- Identify, develop and implement action items to manage & improve software releases and develop guidelines in JavaScript coding.
- Lead a group of 9 engineers responsible for technology development for handling electronic packages (computer CPU) during HVM.
Get principal engineer experience
Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a principal engineer. The most common roles before becoming a principal engineer include senior engineer, senior software engineer team lead and software engineer.
Prepare your principal engineer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your principal engineer resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a principal engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Principal Engineer Resume templates
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Principal Engineer
resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume.
Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Principal Engineer resume.
Apply for principal engineer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a principal engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Principal Engineer Job
Are you a Principal Engineer?
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Average principal engineer salary
The average Principal Engineer salary in the United States is $130,213 per year or $63 per hour. Principal engineer salaries range between $95,000 and $177,000 per year.
Average
Principal Engineer
Salary
$130,213Yearly
$62.60
hourly
More principal engineer salary info
What Am I Worth?
How do principal engineers rate their job?
-/5
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Star
Principal Engineer reviews
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2023
Cons
Unrealistic demands from management and the job markets ups and downs
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2021
Pros
Finding NEW devices to open up the range of features for nrw development! New technologies, new materials, allowing new concepts!
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros
The Different employees i work with and what all i learn from them
Cons
very little
Principal Engineer FAQs
Principal Engineer vs. Senior Engineer
Staff Engineer vs. Principal Engineer
Do you need a Ph.D. to be a principal engineer?
How long does it take to become a principal engineer?
How many years does it take to become a principal engineer at Google?
How much do principal engineers make?
Is "principal" higher than "senior" for engineers?
Have more questions?
See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.Search for principal engineer jobs
Principal Engineer jobs by state
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Updated June 25, 2024
Zippia Team
Editorial Staff
The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.
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Updated June 25, 2024
