Principal Engineer Jobs in Cambridge, MA
Principal Engineer jobs in Cambridge are concentrated in Kendall Square, East Cambridge, and the Alewife corridor, where life sciences, biotech, and enterprise software employers drive consistent hiring. Draper, Akamai Technologies, and Cambridge Mobile Telematics are among those actively posting roles. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Overview:
Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.
Job Description Summary:
We are seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer to support our growing demand for the design of avionics solutions across numerous programs. This position will require extensive knowledge and experience designing complex electronic solutions that are integrated into large-scale systems. The engineer develops the architecture, designs circuits, performs simulations, assists ECAD with layout, verifies and tests the designs. The engineer also performs a variety of engineering activities throughout the life cycle to support planning, requirements development, documentation, test, and deployment. Example designs performed under this position may include single-slot flight computers including FPGAs and processors, memory support modules, communication interface designs, backplane interconnect designs, along with common power and timing circuits used in these scenarios. Understanding of signal integrity and power integrity are extremely valuable in these types of complex, multi-card avionics systems, especially as designs move toward miniaturization. While flexible based upon project timelines, the nature of this role will require being able to support in-office work most days. As a principal engineer, it is expected that some level of leadership and mentorship will be provided toward junior staff earlier in their careers.Job Description:
Duties/Responsibilities
Translates project and system requirements into well-defined hardware architectures working with cross-functional teams.
Innovatively solves issues, drives completion of the project to schedule, and collaboratively works with other technical contributors.
Builds, debugs, and tests prototypes and deliverable hardware.
Prepares documentation for manufacturing, and provides continuous support.
Researches and enables innovative solutions for cutting-edge designs.
Builds collaborative and multidisciplinary teams to develop reliable, cost effective end solutions.
Independently drives solutions to complex problems - develops requirements, proposes ways forward when customer requirements are unclear or incomplete, and adapts appropriately to changes in requirements.
Supports business development activities including leading the development of proposals and engaging with sponsors.
Identifies program/system-level technical risks and develops and executes mitigation strategies.
Manages multi-disciplinary tasks with a cross functional team and effectively communicates status to project leadership and customers.
Develops, documents, and teaches best practices to less experienced teammates.
Skills/Abilities
Proficiency in electronic design.
Ability to write detailed design specifications.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Excellent time management skills with the proven ability to meet deadlines.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to prioritize tasks.
Thorough understanding of engineering theories and procedures.
Strong organization, planning, and time management skills to achieve program goals.
Education
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field. Advanced Degree preferred.
Experience
10+ years experience in electrical engineering or related field.
Additional Job Description:
Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain an US government security clearance.
Connect With Draper for Future Opportunities! If you don't find the right posting in our Career Opportunities, you may submit your resume for future consideration.
Job Location - City:
CambridgeJob Location - State:
MassachusettsJob Location - Postal Code:
02139-3563The US base salary range for this full-time position is
$95,000.00 - $245,000.00Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.
Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities. If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you, apply now www.draper.com/careers.
Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact hr@draper.com.
See All 218+ Principal Engineer Jobs in Cambridge
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Find Principal Engineer JobsPrincipal Engineer Job Market in Cambridge
Who's Hiring
- Draper76

- Akamai Technologies44

- Cambridge Mobile Telematics22

- Moderna11

- Raytheon11

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software44
- Consulting & Professional Services44
- Automotive11
- Science & Research11
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals11
Principal Engineer Jobs in Cambridge: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a principal engineer job in Cambridge?
The strongest path into Cambridge's principal engineer market runs through Kendall Square's dense cluster of biotech, medtech, and enterprise software companies. Candidates who can demonstrate systems-level thinking and cross-functional leadership stand out, since Cambridge employers typically want engineers who shape architecture, not just execute it. Networking through MIT and Harvard research communities and targeting companies with active R&D pipelines gives you a meaningful edge over candidates applying cold.
Which companies hire principal engineers in Cambridge?
Companies currently hiring principal engineers in Cambridge include Draper, Akamai Technologies, and Cambridge Mobile Telematics, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Cambridge's employer mix skews heavily toward life sciences platforms, genomics firms, and deep-tech software companies, giving principal engineers exposure to technically demanding, research-adjacent product environments.
Are there remote principal engineer jobs in Cambridge?
Yes, though availability depends on the role type. Principal engineers in software architecture and data platform work tend to have more remote flexibility, while those in hardware, lab systems, or embedded engineering are expected on-site. About 50% of principal engineer openings tied to Cambridge are remote or hybrid as of August 2026. The highest share of remote postings comes from enterprise software and cloud infrastructure companies in the Kendall Square ecosystem.
How can I get a principal engineer job in Cambridge with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a senior engineer or staff engineer role at one of Cambridge's growth-stage biotech or software companies, where promotion tracks to principal are well-defined and tenure is shorter than at large enterprises. Co-op and research engineering programs affiliated with MIT and Northeastern are strong pipelines for early-career candidates. Building visible contributions to an open-source project or publishing technical work related to Cambridge's dominant sectors, such as genomics tooling or distributed systems, accelerates the transition considerably.
Which industries hire the most principal engineers in Cambridge?
The sectors hiring the most principal engineers in Cambridge are Technology & Software, Consulting & Professional Services, and Automotive, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Cambridge's concentration of world-class research institutions and venture-backed life sciences and technology companies creates persistent demand for senior technical leadership across both product and platform engineering.
Related Jobs in Massachusetts
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