Principal Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts

Principal Engineer jobs in Massachusetts are in high demand, with the state ranking among the most active markets in the country for senior technical leadership roles concentrated in software systems, hardware design, and defense engineering at every level from staff engineer to distinguished principal. The greatest density of openings is in Boston, Cambridge, and the Route 128 corridor, where established employers like Raytheon Technologies, MathWorks, and Analog Devices consistently hire principal engineers across software architecture, embedded systems, and signal processing. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles218+
Top employerRaytheon
Top cityBoston, MA
Cities hiring40
Work type66% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 218+ Principal Engineer jobs

Draper
Principal Hardware Electronic Engineer
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Draper
New 11h ago
Principal Hardware Electronic Engineer
Draper
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Business Operations
Compensation & Benefits
Human Resources (HR) — Generalist
$95k - $245k/yr
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
1,001-5,000

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Draper
Principal Hardware Instrument Engineer
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Draper
New 11h ago
Principal Hardware Instrument Engineer
Draper
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Business Operations
Compensation & Benefits
Human Resources (HR) — Generalist
$95k - $245k/yr
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
1,001-5,000

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Raytheon
Principal Engineer – Solid Propulsion
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Raytheon
New 13h ago
Principal Engineer – Solid Propulsion
Raytheon
Tewksbury, Massachusetts
Engineering (Non-Software)
Project Management
Technical Program Management
$108k - $205k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

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Raytheon
Principal Systems Engineer, SEIT Lead
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Raytheon
New 13h ago
Principal Systems Engineer, SEIT Lead
Raytheon
Tewksbury, Massachusetts
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$108k - $205k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

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Cadence Design Systems
Principal Software Engineer - Compiler Development
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Cadence Design Systems
New 15h ago
Principal Software Engineer - Compiler Development
Cadence Design Systems
Burlington, Massachusetts
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$118k - $218k/yr
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

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See All 218+ Principal Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts

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

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Principal Engineer Jobs by City in Massachusetts

Where Massachusetts roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Tewksbury
22 jobs
Marlborough
17 jobs
Woburn
14 jobs
Andover
14 jobs
Burlington
10 jobs
Wilmington
10 jobs
Bedford
9 jobs

Principal Engineer Job Market in Massachusetts

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

Who's Hiring

  • Raytheon
    Raytheon50
  • Collins Aerospace
    Collins Aerospace9
  • Draper
    Draper7
  • Analog Devices
    Analog Devices5
  • Vertex Pharmaceuticals
    Vertex Pharmaceuticals5

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software20
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals13
  • Manufacturing7
  • Medical Devices7
  • Electronics & Hardware5

What Massachusetts Employers Look For

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

  • Bachelor's or advanced degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or related technical discipline
  • Ten or more years of progressive engineering experience including technical leadership of cross-functional teams
  • Demonstrated ownership of system architecture decisions from design through production delivery
  • Deep expertise in at least one domain such as embedded systems, distributed software, or RF hardware design
  • Experience collaborating with product management and executive stakeholders on technical roadmaps
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for design reviews, RFCs, and engineering documentation

Principal Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal engineer in Massachusetts?

There is no state-issued license required for most principal engineer roles in Massachusetts. The typical path is a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field, followed by progressive engineering experience culminating in demonstrated technical leadership. Massachusetts employers in defense and aerospace often additionally require eligibility for a federal security clearance, which is a practical credential that significantly expands opportunities with major employers in the state.

Which companies hire principal engineers in Massachusetts?

Employers hiring principal engineers in Massachusetts right now include Raytheon, Collins Aerospace, and Draper, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Massachusetts's deep concentration of defense contractors, biotech firms, and enterprise software companies means principal engineer roles appear across a wider range of industries here than in most other states.

Which Massachusetts cities have the most principal engineer jobs?

Boston, Tewksbury, and Cambridge account for the largest share of principal engineer openings in Massachusetts. Boston and Cambridge drive volume through their dense clusters of technology companies, research institutions, and biotech firms, while suburban Route 128 corridor cities like Waltham and Lexington are home to major defense and semiconductor employers that maintain large senior engineering headcounts.

Are there remote principal engineer jobs in Massachusetts?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 34% of principal engineer openings tied to Massachusetts are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how much of this work involves architecture, code review, and cross-team coordination rather than hands-on lab work. The most fully remote roles tend to be in software-focused companies, while hardware and defense positions generally require on-site presence in Massachusetts facilities.

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

The most realistic entry path is through a staff or senior engineer role at a Massachusetts employer that has a defined individual contributor ladder, then building a record of technical scope expansion over time. Large employers like MathWorks and Analog Devices hire new graduates into associate and junior engineer programs that feed their senior pipelines. Candidates who contribute to open-source projects, earn relevant certifications in cloud architecture or embedded systems, or complete a graduate degree at a Massachusetts institution like MIT or Northeastern demonstrate the kind of initiative that accelerates promotion to principal-level roles.

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

You can find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Massachusetts on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the state. Search the listings, find roles that fit your experience and target industry, and apply directly to the ones that match.

See All 218+ Principal Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts

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

Find Principal Engineer Jobs