Principal Engineer Jobs in San Francisco, CA
Principal Engineer jobs in San Francisco are concentrated in SoMa, the Financial District, and Mission Bay, with strong demand across enterprise software, AI infrastructure, fintech, and biotech. Employers actively hiring include Salesforce, Palo Alto Networks, and Atlassian. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
Find Principal Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 884+ Principal Engineer jobs
Job Requisition ID #
Responsibilities
Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs
Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis
Update software or enhance existing software capabilities
May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements
May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team
Develop and maintain construction cloud software products, including developing APIs and User Interfaces
Develop software systems and devise ways to add new functionality
Design software flows that can utilize multiple APIs and services
Ensure program functionality, troubleshoot malfunctions, and modify existing software to correct errors
Perform code reviews, evaluate implementations, and provide feedback for tool improvements
Propose cloud-related optimizations and best practices to improve reliability, performance, and cost
Work with Product Managers to analyze systems requirements from customers and breakdown requirements to executable tasks per sprint
Identify and analyze industry- and product-specific customer concerns/focus/pain points to aid in prioritizing feature development
Review new and existing designs for compliance to the latest directives and standards
Implement high-level designs in robust maintainable software processes
Must be available to work on projects at various, unanticipated sites throughout the U.S
Telecommuting is permitted
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related field and six (6) years of progressive, post-baccalaureate experience in the job offered or in a software engineer-related occupation
Must be available to work on projects at various, unanticipated sites throughout the U.S
Telecommuting is permitted
Special Requirements
Position requires at least 6 years of experience in each of the following skills:
Developing and maintaining both front-end and back-end systems, building seamless, end-to-end solutions that ensure optimal functionality, scalability, and performance across the application stack
Integrating front-end user interfaces (using frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js) with back-end services and APIs (built technologies like with Node.js, Java, or Python) to create cohesive, full-stack applications
Designing and consuming RESTful APIs, ensuring smooth data flow between the front-end and back-end
Experience with SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL) databases, including schema design, query optimization, and implementing data storage solutions that scale effectively
Troubleshooting both front-end and back-end issues, including bugs, performance bottlenecks, and server-side errors, to ensure that applications run smoothly across platforms and devices
Conducting code reviews across the full stack, ensuring adherence to best practices, optimizing for maintainability, performance, and security
Deploying and managing full-stack applications on cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) with a focus on CI/CD pipelines, containerization (Docker), and serverless architectures to enhance scalability and reduce deployment overhead
Working with product managers, designers, and engineers, translating complex requirements into user stories, delivering features in Agile sprints, and ensuring alignment across multidisciplinary teams to address industry challenges
Setting up and maintaining DevOps practices, including continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), performance monitoring, and automated testing, to ensure smooth releases and high-performance applications
Learn More
About Autodesk
Welcome to Autodesk! Amazing things are created every day with our software – from the greenest buildings and cleanest cars to the smartest factories and biggest hit movies. We help innovators turn their ideas into reality, transforming not only how things are made, but what can be made.
We take great pride in our culture here at Autodesk – it’s at the core of everything we do. Our culture guides the way we work and treat each other, informs how we connect with customers and partners, and defines how we show up in the world.
When you’re an Autodesker, you can do meaningful work that helps build a better world designed and made for all. Ready to shape the world and your future? Join us!
Benefits
From health and financial benefits to time away and everyday wellness, we give Autodeskers the best, so they can do their best work. Learn more about our benefits in the U.S. by visiting https://benefits.autodesk.com/
Salary transparency
Equal Employment Opportunity
At Autodesk, we're building a diverse workplace and an inclusive culture to give more people the chance to imagine, design, and make a better world. Autodesk is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected characteristic. We also consider for employment all qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.
Belonging
We take pride in cultivating a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive. Learn more here: https://www.autodesk.com/company/global-belonging
In-Person Onboarding and Identity Verification
This role may require in-person onboarding and/or in-person ID verification.
Are you an existing contractor or consultant with Autodesk?
Please search for open jobs and apply internally (not on this external site).
Job Requisition ID #
Responsibilities
Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs
Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis
Update software or enhance existing software capabilities
May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements
May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team
Develop and maintain construction cloud software products, including developing APIs and User Interfaces
Develop software systems and devise ways to add new functionality
Design software flows that can utilize multiple APIs and services
Ensure program functionality, troubleshoot malfunctions, and modify existing software to correct errors
Perform code reviews, evaluate implementations, and provide feedback for tool improvements
Propose cloud-related optimizations and best practices to improve reliability, performance, and cost
Work with Product Managers to analyze systems requirements from customers and breakdown requirements to executable tasks per sprint
Identify and analyze industry- and product-specific customer concerns/focus/pain points to aid in prioritizing feature development
Review new and existing designs for compliance to the latest directives and standards
Implement high-level designs in robust maintainable software processes
Must be available to work on projects at various, unanticipated sites throughout the U.S
Telecommuting is permitted
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related field and six (6) years of progressive, post-baccalaureate experience in the job offered or in a software engineer-related occupation
Must be available to work on projects at various, unanticipated sites throughout the U.S
Telecommuting is permitted
Special Requirements
Position requires at least 6 years of experience in each of the following skills:
Developing and maintaining both front-end and back-end systems, building seamless, end-to-end solutions that ensure optimal functionality, scalability, and performance across the application stack
Integrating front-end user interfaces (using frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js) with back-end services and APIs (built technologies like with Node.js, Java, or Python) to create cohesive, full-stack applications
Designing and consuming RESTful APIs, ensuring smooth data flow between the front-end and back-end
Experience with SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL) databases, including schema design, query optimization, and implementing data storage solutions that scale effectively
Troubleshooting both front-end and back-end issues, including bugs, performance bottlenecks, and server-side errors, to ensure that applications run smoothly across platforms and devices
Conducting code reviews across the full stack, ensuring adherence to best practices, optimizing for maintainability, performance, and security
Deploying and managing full-stack applications on cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) with a focus on CI/CD pipelines, containerization (Docker), and serverless architectures to enhance scalability and reduce deployment overhead
Working with product managers, designers, and engineers, translating complex requirements into user stories, delivering features in Agile sprints, and ensuring alignment across multidisciplinary teams to address industry challenges
Setting up and maintaining DevOps practices, including continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), performance monitoring, and automated testing, to ensure smooth releases and high-performance applications
Learn More
About Autodesk
Welcome to Autodesk! Amazing things are created every day with our software – from the greenest buildings and cleanest cars to the smartest factories and biggest hit movies. We help innovators turn their ideas into reality, transforming not only how things are made, but what can be made.
We take great pride in our culture here at Autodesk – it’s at the core of everything we do. Our culture guides the way we work and treat each other, informs how we connect with customers and partners, and defines how we show up in the world.
When you’re an Autodesker, you can do meaningful work that helps build a better world designed and made for all. Ready to shape the world and your future? Join us!
Benefits
From health and financial benefits to time away and everyday wellness, we give Autodeskers the best, so they can do their best work. Learn more about our benefits in the U.S. by visiting https://benefits.autodesk.com/
Salary transparency
Equal Employment Opportunity
At Autodesk, we're building a diverse workplace and an inclusive culture to give more people the chance to imagine, design, and make a better world. Autodesk is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected characteristic. We also consider for employment all qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.
Belonging
We take pride in cultivating a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive. Learn more here: https://www.autodesk.com/company/global-belonging
In-Person Onboarding and Identity Verification
This role may require in-person onboarding and/or in-person ID verification.
Are you an existing contractor or consultant with Autodesk?
Please search for open jobs and apply internally (not on this external site).
See All 884+ Principal Engineer Jobs in San Francisco
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Find Principal Engineer JobsPrincipal Engineer Job Market in San Francisco
Who's Hiring
- Salesforce154
- Palo Alto Networks77
- Atlassian58
- CRUSOE38
- Innovaccer38
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software288
- Agriculture & Farming58
- Science & Research19
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals19
- Consulting & Professional Services19
Principal Engineer Jobs in San Francisco: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a principal engineer job in San Francisco?
Target San Francisco's densest hiring sectors: enterprise cloud platforms, AI and machine learning infrastructure, fintech, and biotech in Mission Bay. Roles concentrate with late-stage startups and major tech employers in SoMa and the Financial District. Candidates who demonstrate system design ownership at scale, cross-functional technical leadership, and familiarity with distributed systems have a clear edge in this market over generalist applicants.
Which companies hire principal engineers in San Francisco?
San Francisco principal engineer roles are posted by Salesforce, Palo Alto Networks, and Atlassian and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. The market includes a mix of publicly traded tech companies, well-funded growth-stage startups, and financial services firms with large engineering organizations headquartered in the city.
Are there remote principal engineer jobs in San Francisco?
Yes, though availability varies: principal engineers who focus on architecture, platform strategy, or developer tooling tend to have the most remote flexibility, while those embedded in hardware, infrastructure operations, or lab-adjacent roles are more likely to be on-site. About 56% of principal engineer openings tied to San Francisco are remote or hybrid as of August 2026. AI and cloud-focused roles listed by San Francisco employers skew most heavily toward hybrid arrangements.
How can I get a principal engineer job in San Francisco with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is moving into a senior engineer role at a San Francisco startup or mid-size tech company, where scope expands quickly and principal-level responsibilities are often accessible without a formal title change first. Growth-stage companies in SoMa and Mission Bay frequently promote from within. Building a visible portfolio through open-source contributions, technical writing, or conference talks at local meetups strengthens your candidacy meaningfully in this market.
Which industries hire the most principal engineers in San Francisco?
Most principal engineer openings in San Francisco sit in Technology & Software, Agriculture & Farming, and Science & Research, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. San Francisco's role as a hub for venture-backed technology companies, financial services innovation, and life sciences research drives sustained demand for senior technical leadership across all three sectors.
Related Jobs in California
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