Principal Engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA
Principal Engineer jobs in San Diego are in strong and consistent demand, concentrated in Sorrento Valley, UTC/La Jolla, and the Torrey Pines corridor across defense technology, biotech, telecommunications, and enterprise software. Employers hiring right now include Northrop Grumman, SAIC, and Qualcomm. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Description
At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems Sector has an opportunity for a Principal Systems Engineer with a primary focus on Interface Control Document (ICD) definition and management. The position is located on site in Rancho Bernardo, CA, El Segundo, California or Palmdale, CA.
The candidate should be a self-starter with familiarity working in an Integrated Product Team construct. The candidate will be responsible for performing analysis while working within an Integrated Product Team (IPT) structure to update and maintain a detailed set of software Interface Control Document (ICD) artifacts. The selected candidate will collaborate across engineering disciplines to integrate and communicate interface definition needs with internal stakeholders and external customers across multiple simultaneous Modernization and Sustainment efforts. This position will be in our Systems Engineering organization.
In this role, your primary roles and responsibilities will include:
- Serve as the ICD lead engineer, owning definition, documentation, update, and configuration control of system and subsystem Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
- Develop and maintain hardware, software, and data interfaces between internal subsystems and external stakeholders, ensuring consistency with system architecture and requirements.
- Coordinate and lead interface working groups and technical interchange meetings to resolve interface issues and drive convergence across multi-disciplinary teams.
- Use full knowledge of software and hardware disciplines to define and decompose interface from system-level requirements.
- Perform Systems Engineering activities, such as functional analysis, interface definition, and verification.
- Work on Agile programs and methodology using Jira, including backlog refinement of interface-related tasks and stories.
- Interface and present to program leadership and/or customers using strong written and oral communication skills, including status of ICD maturity, risks, and impacts.
The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility. There is no remote / hybrid / telework available for this position.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 5 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s Degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and 1 year of related engineering experience.
- Active USG Top Secret SCI clearance (with a background investigation within the past 5 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).
- Ability to obtain and maintain initial Special Program Access (SAP/PAR). This SAP/PAR must be obtained prior to commencement of employment and must be obtained within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
- Ability to obtain and maintain subsequent SAP PARs following commencement of employment to be able to completely support statement of work.
- Experience in DOORS, XML tooling (e.g., XSD editors, XML validators), Atlassian Tool Suite.
Preferred Qualifications
- Ability to work in a dynamic, fast paced environment, Action Oriented, Strong Attention to Detail, Communicates Effectively.
- Programming Skills in C/C++/Python/VBA including experience generating, parsing, and validating XML.
- Current applicable Special Access Program (SAP) clearance.
- Demonstrated communication and technical writing skills.
- Demonstrated proficiency in analytical thinking and problem-solving skills and Systems Thinking mindset.
- Proven ability to brief technical presentations to stakeholders.
- Experience with Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) concepts and tools (CAMEO).
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Find Principal Engineer JobsPrincipal Engineer Job Market in San Diego
Who's Hiring
- Northrop Grumman605

- SAIC39

- Qualcomm23

- Marvell Technology23

- Dexcom16

Top Industries Hiring
- Medical Devices
- Aerospace & Defense
- Technology & Software
- Consulting & Professional Services
Principal Engineer Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a principal engineer job in San Diego?
The strongest path into a principal engineer role in San Diego runs through the city's defense and aerospace contractors, biotech firms, and wireless technology companies, which cluster in Sorrento Valley, UTC, and the Torrey Pines area. Candidates who combine deep technical specialization with cross-functional leadership experience stand out here. Demonstrating system-level ownership on complex programs gives you a clear edge over generalist applicants in this market.
Which companies hire principal engineers in San Diego?
San Diego principal engineer roles are posted by Northrop Grumman, SAIC, and Qualcomm and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. The local market is anchored by large defense primes, wireless and semiconductor firms, and a growing layer of biotech and healthtech companies, all of which hire principal engineers at multiple seniority levels.
Are there remote principal engineer jobs in San Diego?
Yes, though remote availability varies significantly by specialization. About 26% of principal engineer openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with the highest share in software-focused and cloud infrastructure roles. Defense and hardware-intensive positions in the San Diego market tend to require on-site presence due to facility access requirements.
How can I get a principal engineer job in San Diego with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving up from a senior engineer role inside a San Diego company that promotes from within, particularly at mid-size defense contractors and biotech firms that regularly grow their own technical leaders. Contributing to large-scale system design projects and taking ownership of cross-team deliverables is what local hiring managers look for when evaluating engineers for principal-level consideration.
Which industries hire the most principal engineers in San Diego?
San Diego principal engineer roles concentrate in Medical Devices, Aerospace & Defense, and Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. San Diego's strong military presence, world-class research institutions, and established wireless technology heritage have made these sectors the primary drivers of senior engineering demand across the region.
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