Principal Engineer Jobs in New York
Principal Engineer jobs in New York are among the most active in the country, concentrated in financial technology, enterprise software, telecommunications, and advanced manufacturing, with demand at every level from senior staff engineer through distinguished principal. Most hiring clusters around New York City, particularly in Midtown and Lower Manhattan, with a secondary hub in Buffalo driven by manufacturing and defense. Established employers with long-standing New York engineering footprints include JPMorgan Chase, IBM, and Verizon. The most in-demand specialties are distributed systems, platform engineering, and embedded systems. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Principal Engineer, Construction Safety
- DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS
Posted on
09/26/2026
- Full-time
Location
MANHATTAN
- Exam may be required
Department
Construction Safety Engineer
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Job Description
The Construction Safety Engineering unit performs engineering work for enforcement for site safety, demolition, excavation, interior demolition, and scaffold safety projects. This includes response to incidents, construction failure investigations, plan examination of high-risk construction projects, and technical (engineering) assistance to construction safety inspection units and District Attorneys' offices.
This position performs highly difficult and technically complex civil engineering work pertaining to construction safety. Under direction of the Deputy Director, the selected candidate will:
- Work independently in the Construction Safety Engineering unit to perform drawing & document review and field review of complex high risk construction projects throughout the 5 boroughs under the direction of the unit’s team leadership.
- Perform audit reviews of complex projects including support of excavation and foundations, interior demolition, and scaffolding document submissions.
- Meet with project consultants and owners representatives to review project status and compliance with the applicable construction codes including, but not limited to, the NYC Administrative and Building Codes.
- Issue Summonses to Registered Design Professionals and Special Inspectors as required for Construction Code compliance.
- Perform filed project drawing reviews for a wide variety of complex building projects and temporary construction equipment in paper and electronic formats.
- Respond to construction related incidents in coordination with responding inspection units.
- Perform forensic investigations and reviews of construction incidents including report and documentation. As part of the investigation, the candidate will manage complex, high profile construction incidents.
- Support Assistant Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and Borough Commissioners on technical matters
- Represent the Department as an expert witness on technical and policy related matters in various legal proceedings.
- Participate in industry outreach meetings and presentations for industry awareness and feedback related to Engineering Services and Construction Safety Operations.
- Participate in code development and make recommendations for updating/ improving NYC regulatory oversight and Construction Codes.
- Assist in the development of unit resources and standards. Provide recommendations to the Director and Deputy Director.
- Coordinate with other federal, state and local regulatory agencies.
- Support and further the Agency’s commitment to improving operations and implementation of technology based solutions.
REMOTE WORK:
This position may be eligible for remote work up to 2 days per week, pursuant to the Remote Work Pilot Program.
To Apply:
Visit Jobs NYC (cityjobs.nyc.gov) to view and apply for available positions. Search by agency (Department of Buildings), keywords, or for the specific Job ID #.
NOTE: ONLY THOSE CANDIDATES UNDER CONSIDERATION WILL BE CONTACTED.
CIVIL ENGINEER - 20215
Minimum Qualifications
(1) Four (4) years of full-time, satisfactory experience in civil engineering work; and
(2) A valid New York State Professional Engineer’s License. Current New York State registration as a Professional Engineer must be maintained for the duration of your employment.
A masters degree in civil engineering from an accredited college or university, accredited by regional, national, professional or specialized agencies recognized as accrediting bodies by the U.S. Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) may be substituted for one year of the civil engineering experience required in “1" above.
Special Note:
In addition to above qualification requirements, to be eligible for placement in Assignment Levels II and III, individuals must have at least one year within the last three years of experience as a major contributor or a project leader on a complex project requiring additional and specific expertise in the disciplines needed to design or construct the project.
Preferred Skills
- Six years or more of full-time professional experience in Civil, Structural, and/or Geotechnical engineering. - Ability to function effectively as part of a team as well as independently. - Exceptional communication skills. - Exceptional analytical and problem solving abilities. - Ability to multi-task and handle multiple priorities. - Advanced Microsoft Office proficiency.
55a Program
This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.
Residency Requirement
New York City Residency is not required for this position
Additional Information
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
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Job ID
802561
Posted until
10/13/2026
Title code
20215
Civil service title
CIVIL ENGINEER
Title classification
Competitive-1
Business title
Principal Engineer, Construction Safety
- Experience level: Experienced (non-manager)
Job level
03
Number of positions
1
Work location
280 Broadway, 4th Floor, N.Y.
- Category: Engineering, Architecture, & Planning
Principal Engineer, Construction Safety
See All 89 Principal Engineer Jobs in New York
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Find Principal Engineer JobsPrincipal Engineer Jobs by City in New York
Where New York roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Principal Engineer Job Market in New York
A snapshot from current New York openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Insurance
- Medical Devices
- News & Publishing
- Staffing & Recruiting
- Technology & Software
What New York Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal engineer jobs across New York.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or related field required
- Eight or more years of progressive software or systems engineering experience in production environments
- Demonstrated ability to define technical architecture and lead cross-functional engineering teams
- Deep expertise in at least one primary domain such as distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, or embedded software
- Experience driving large-scale technical roadmaps from scoping through delivery across multiple teams
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for engaging engineering and executive stakeholders
Principal Engineer Jobs in New York: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a principal engineer in New York?
Becoming a principal engineer in New York typically follows a progression from individual contributor roles through senior and staff engineering levels, with no state-issued license required for software or systems roles. Most New York employers expect a bachelor's degree in engineering or computer science, though many large firms promote from within based on demonstrated technical leadership. For civil or structural principal engineers, the New York State Education Department licenses Professional Engineers, with the PE exam administered through NCEES.
Which companies hire principal engineers in New York?
Employers hiring principal engineers in New York right now include GE Vernova, GlobalFoundries, and Northrop Grumman, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. New York's density of financial services firms, media companies, and global technology offices means principal engineer openings appear across a wide range of industries beyond pure tech.
Which New York cities have the most principal engineer jobs?
The cities with the most principal engineer openings in New York are New York, Niskayuna, and Malta. New York City dominates the distribution because of its concentration of financial institutions, enterprise technology firms, and media conglomerates, while Buffalo and Albany draw openings from defense contractors, state government technology initiatives, and regional manufacturing operations.
Are there remote principal engineer jobs in New York?
Yes, and more than most senior technical roles. About 78% of principal engineer openings tied to New York are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how much of the work centers on architecture, code review, and cross-team alignment rather than on-site infrastructure. Platform engineering and distributed systems roles tend to carry the highest share of fully remote arrangements.
How can I get hired as a principal engineer in New York with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through an associate or staff engineer role at a large New York employer and building toward principal over several years. JPMorgan Chase, IBM, and Verizon all run structured new-graduate and rotational engineering programs at their New York offices that place candidates on principal-track teams. Transitioning from a senior software engineer, systems architect, or technical lead role is the most common lateral move, and contributing to open-source infrastructure projects or holding a relevant cloud certification strengthens a promotion case.
Where can I find and apply to principal engineer jobs in New York?
You can find and apply to principal engineer jobs in New York on Migrate Mate, which lists current New York openings updated regularly. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly from the listing.
See All 89 Principal Engineer Jobs in New York
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