Principal Engineer Jobs in Colorado

Principal Engineer jobs in Colorado are concentrated in Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, where aerospace, defense, and technology companies maintain deep engineering workforces. Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, and Google have significant Colorado operations and consistently recruit principal engineers across software systems, embedded hardware, and cloud infrastructure disciplines. Colorado sits among the most active markets in the country for senior engineering talent, reflecting the density of both established defense contractors and high-growth tech firms along the Front Range. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

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Overview

Open roles154+
Top employerBAE Systems USA
Top cityDenver, CO
Cities hiring16
Work type48% Hybrid
Top industryElectronics

Showing 5 of 154+ Principal Engineer jobs

McKinstry
Associate Principal Mechanical Engineer
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McKinstry
Added 2d ago
Associate Principal Mechanical Engineer
McKinstry
Denver, Colorado
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Program Management
Project Management
$130k - $224k/yr
1,001-5,000

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Xcel Energy
System Protection Engineer (Entry, Staff, Senior, or Principal)
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Xcel Energy
Added 2d ago
System Protection Engineer (Entry, Staff, Senior, or Principal)
Xcel Energy
Denver, Colorado
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Research & Academia
$70k - $157k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

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Northrop Grumman
Principal Cyber Systems Engineer – Cyber A&A Engr (26-324)
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Northrop Grumman
Added 2d ago
Principal Cyber Systems Engineer – Cyber A&A Engr (26-324)
Northrop Grumman
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Engineering (Non-Software)
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
$114k - $171k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in Physics
10,000+

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Northrop Grumman
Principal DevOps Engineer (AHT)
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Northrop Grumman
Added 2d ago
Principal DevOps Engineer (AHT)
Northrop Grumman
Aurora, Colorado
Cloud Architecture
Cloud Engineering
Cybersecurity
$114k - $171k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

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Northrop Grumman
Principal Mission Architect Engineer/Senior Principal Mission Architect Engineer
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Northrop Grumman
Added 2d ago
Principal Mission Architect Engineer/Senior Principal Mission Architect Engineer
Northrop Grumman
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
$104k - $194k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

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See All 154+ Principal Engineer Jobs in Colorado

Find roles in Colorado that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Principal Engineer Jobs by City in Colorado

Where Colorado roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Aurora
22 jobs
Boulder
17 jobs
Broomfield
16 jobs
Centennial
6 jobs
Longmont
5 jobs
Louisville
4 jobs
Westminster
2 jobs

Principal Engineer Job Market in Colorado

A snapshot from current Colorado openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • BAE Systems USA
    BAE Systems USA31
  • Northrop Grumman
    Northrop Grumman29
  • Xcel Energy
    Xcel Energy8
  • Sierra Space
    Sierra Space8
  • Raytheon
    Raytheon5

Top Industries Hiring

  • Electronics & Hardware
  • Science & Research
  • Technology & Software

What Colorado Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in principal engineer jobs across Colorado.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related engineering discipline
  • Ten or more years of progressive engineering experience with demonstrated technical leadership
  • Proven ability to architect and own large-scale systems across the full software development lifecycle
  • Experience mentoring senior engineers and driving engineering standards across cross-functional teams
  • Proficiency in cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure, or embedded systems for defense and aerospace roles
  • Active security clearance or eligibility for one, required by many Colorado defense and aerospace employers

Principal Engineer Jobs in Colorado: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal engineer in Colorado?

Becoming a principal engineer in Colorado typically follows a path from bachelor's or master's degree in engineering or computer science through progressive roles as a software engineer, senior engineer, and staff engineer before reaching the principal level. Colorado employers in aerospace and defense frequently require or prefer candidates who can obtain a security clearance, which means a background that supports federal adjudication. No state-issued engineering license is required for software-focused principal engineer roles, though candidates targeting civil or systems engineering positions may pursue a Colorado Professional Engineer registration through the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers, and Professional Land Surveyors.

Which companies hire principal engineers in Colorado?

Employers hiring principal engineers in Colorado right now include BAE Systems USA, Northrop Grumman, and Xcel Energy, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Colorado's concentration of aerospace primes, federal contractors, and technology companies along the Front Range keeps demand for principal-level engineering talent consistently high across both defense and commercial sectors.

Which Colorado cities have the most principal engineer jobs?

Denver, Colorado Springs, and Aurora account for the largest share of principal engineer openings in Colorado. Denver anchors demand through its technology and corporate headquarters presence, Boulder draws heavily from the software and deep-tech startup ecosystem, and Colorado Springs reflects the significant concentration of defense contractors and military installations that generate steady principal engineering hiring.

Are there remote principal engineer jobs in Colorado?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 54% of principal engineer openings tied to Colorado are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the desk-based nature of most software and systems architecture work. The parts of the role most commonly offered remotely are pure software architecture, platform engineering, and cloud infrastructure, while principal engineers supporting defense programs with classified environments are almost always required on-site.

How can I get hired as a principal engineer in Colorado with little or no experience?

The most realistic path for candidates without principal-level experience is to move into a senior engineer role first and build a record of system ownership and cross-team technical leadership that Colorado employers recognize as principal-ready. Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Google all operate new-grad and rotational engineering programs in Colorado that place early-career engineers on paths toward senior and staff levels. Lateral movement from roles like solutions architect, tech lead, or staff engineer is a common entry point. Candidates who accelerate this path typically hold a master's degree, can qualify for a security clearance, or maintain a strong portfolio of open-source or systems design work that demonstrates independent technical judgment.

Where can I find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Colorado?

You can find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Colorado on Migrate Mate, which lists current Colorado openings updated regularly. Search the listings, find the roles that fit your background and the location or remote arrangement you need, and apply directly to the ones that match. No sign-up is required to see the openings.

See All 154+ Principal Engineer Jobs in Colorado

Find roles in Colorado that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Principal Engineer Jobs