Principal Engineer Jobs in Ohio
Principal Engineer jobs in Ohio are in strong demand, with active hiring concentrated in aerospace and defense, advanced manufacturing, automotive systems, and enterprise software sectors at every level from senior individual contributor through staff and distinguished engineer. Columbus, Cleveland, and Dayton are the primary hiring centers, where major employers like Raytheon Technologies, Honda of America, and Nationwide have sustained principal-level engineering needs. Embedded systems, cloud infrastructure architecture, and mechanical systems design are among the most consistently sought specialties in the state. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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About this role:
Wells Fargo is seeking a Principal Engineer in Cybersecurity as part of Identity Access Management Engineering. Learn more about career areas and business divisions at wellsfargojobs.com
The Principal Engineer will assist in the modernization of our Identity & Access Management (IAM) data platforms and applications. You’ll define the technical strategy and architecture, guide design and standards, and partner with product, data, security, and platform teams to deliver a high-availability, zero-trust-aligned IAM platform that powers enterprise-scale identity analytics, access intelligence, and controls automation.
Apply now if you’re excited about building modern data platforms from the ground up, driving transformation, and influencing the technical direction of a major initiative.
In this role, you will:
Act as an advisor to leadership to develop or influence applications, network, information security, database, operating systems, or web technologies for highly complex business and technical needs across multiple groups
Lead the strategy and resolution of highly complex and unique challenges requiring in-depth evaluation across multiple areas or the enterprise, delivering solutions that are long-term, large-scale and require vision, creativity, innovation, advanced analytical and inductive thinking
Translate advanced technology experience, an in-depth knowledge of the organizations tactical and strategic business objectives, the enterprise technological environment, the organization structure, and strategic technological opportunities and requirements into technical engineering solutions
Provide vision, direction and expertise to leadership on implementing innovative and significant business solutions
Maintain knowledge of industry best practices and new technologies and recommends innovations that enhance operations or provide a competitive advantage to the organization
Strategically engage with all levels of professionals and managers across the enterprise and serve as an expert advisor to leadership
Demonstrate proficiency in using AI‑assisted development and analysis tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot and approved code‑centric agents)
Leverage AI to accelerate system design, coding, testing, analysis, and troubleshooting
Apply strong technical judgment when validating and integrating AI‑assisted outputs into solutions
Understand and account for model limitations, security risks, and operational considerations
Apply AI responsibly in development and production environments
Ensure AI usage aligns with security, compliance, privacy, and ethical standards
Required Qualifications:
- 7+ years of Engineering experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education
- 5+ years of application modernization experience
Desired Qualifications:
- Deep expertise in cloud platforms (GCP preferred), container orchestration (Kubernetes), and DevOps tooling
- Deep understanding of data engineering, integration, and governance principles
- Proven track record of leading large-scale migrations from on-prem to cloud-native architectures
- Expertise in application modernization patterns (e.g., microservices, serverless, event-driven architectures)
- Familiarity with data migration strategies, including database modernization and ETL processes.
- Experience with modern architectures (microservices, data lakehouses) and distributed systems
- Experience designing identity analytics, risk scoring, or access intelligence at enterprise scale
- Experience with GraphDB
- Hands-on with Dataplex, Data Catalog, Vertex AI feature stores or model governance in a regulated environment
- Background in observability and SRE practices (SLOs, error budgets, incident response)
- Familiarity with BeyondCorp/zero trust, Privileged Access Management (PAM), and secrets management (e.g., HashiCorp Vault, GCP Secret Manager)
- Exposure to multi-cloud or hybrid identity systems and directory services
- Certifications: Google Professional Cloud Architect (or Data Engineer/Security Engineer), CISSP, CCSP, CISM
Locations:
- 3075 Loyalty Cir. - Columbus OH 43219
- 401 Las Colinas Blvd W Bldg. A - Irving, TX 75039
Posting Statements:
- Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.
- Required location(s) listed above. Relocation assistance is not available for this position
- Salary range is determined by location of the job. May be considered for a discretionary bonus, Restricted Share Rights, or other long – term incentive awards.
- This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship
Pay Range
Reflected is the base pay range offered for this position. Pay may vary depending on factors including but not limited to demonstrated examples of prior performance, skills, experience, or work location. Employees may also be eligible for incentive opportunities.
Benefits
Wells Fargo provides eligible employees with a comprehensive set of benefits, many of which are listed below. Visit Benefits - Wells Fargo Jobs for an overview of the following benefit plans and programs offered to employees.
- Health benefits
- 401(k) Plan
- Paid time off
- Disability benefits
- Life insurance, critical illness insurance, and accident insurance
- Parental leave
- Critical caregiving leave
- Discounts and savings
- Commuter benefits
- Tuition reimbursement
- Scholarships for dependent children
- Adoption reimbursement
Posting End Date:
18 Aug 2026- Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.
We Value Equal Opportunity
Wells Fargo is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected characteristic.
Employees support our focus on building strong customer relationships balanced with a strong risk mitigating and compliance-driven culture which firmly establishes those disciplines as critical to the success of our customers and company. They are accountable for execution of all applicable risk programs (Credit, Market, Financial Crimes, Operational, Regulatory Compliance), which includes effectively following and adhering to applicable Wells Fargo policies and procedures, appropriately fulfilling risk and compliance obligations, timely and effective escalation and remediation of issues, and making sound risk decisions. There is emphasis on proactive monitoring, governance, risk identification and escalation, as well as making sound risk decisions commensurate with the business unit’s risk appetite and all risk and compliance program requirements.
Applicants with Disabilities
To request a medical accommodation during the application or interview process, visit Disability Inclusion at Wells Fargo.
Drug and Alcohol Policy
Wells Fargo maintains a drug free workplace. Please see our Drug and Alcohol Policy to learn more.
Wells Fargo Recruitment and Hiring Requirements:
a. Third-Party recordings are prohibited unless authorized by Wells Fargo.
b. Wells Fargo requires you to directly represent your own experiences during the recruiting and hiring process.
See All 79 Principal Engineer Jobs in Ohio
Find roles in Ohio that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Principal Engineer JobsPrincipal Engineer Jobs by City in Ohio
Where Ohio roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Principal Engineer Job Market in Ohio
A snapshot from current Ohio openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Northrop Grumman13

- American Honda Motor7

- American Electric Power7

- Timken5

- MTSI4

Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
- Energy
- Consumer Goods
- Aerospace & Defense
- Technology & Software
What Ohio Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal engineer jobs across Ohio.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering or a closely related technical discipline required
- Eight or more years of progressive engineering experience with demonstrated technical leadership
- Proven ability to define technical roadmaps and drive architecture decisions across product teams
- Deep expertise in at least one Ohio-relevant domain such as embedded systems, defense, or manufacturing automation
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and mentoring mid-level and senior engineers
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for executive stakeholder presentations and design reviews
Principal Engineer Jobs in Ohio: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a principal engineer in Ohio?
Reaching a principal engineer title in Ohio typically requires a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline plus many years of progressively senior technical experience. Roles in civil, structural, or environmental engineering may require licensure through the Ohio State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors, while software and systems engineering titles generally do not require a state license. Demonstrating ownership of large-scale architecture decisions and mentoring records is what moves candidates into principal-level consideration at Ohio employers.
Which companies hire principal engineers in Ohio?
Employers hiring principal engineers in Ohio right now include Northrop Grumman, American Honda Motor, and American Electric Power, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Ohio's concentration of aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing headquarters means principal engineering roles frequently appear at large industrial and technology firms with long-standing Ohio operations.
Which Ohio cities have the most principal engineer jobs?
Columbus, Cincinnati, and Wright-Patterson AFB have the most principal engineer openings in Ohio. Columbus drives volume through its large enterprise technology and insurance headquarters, Cleveland and its suburbs attract aerospace, defense, and healthcare engineering talent, and Dayton's deep ties to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and defense contractors sustain consistent demand for senior technical leaders.
Are there remote principal engineer jobs in Ohio?
Yes, and more than most engineering specialties, particularly for software architecture and cloud infrastructure roles. About 35% of principal engineer openings tied to Ohio are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the desk-based nature of much of the work. Roles tied to hardware, manufacturing systems, or defense programs with facility or clearance requirements tend to remain fully on-site.
How can I get hired as a principal engineer in Ohio with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is landing a mid-level or senior engineer role first, then building toward principal through demonstrated ownership of system-wide decisions. Large Ohio employers like Honda of America, Raytheon, and major Columbus-based tech firms run structured new-graduate and rotational engineering programs that develop engineers toward leadership tracks over time. Moving laterally from staff engineer, technical lead, or architect roles at Ohio manufacturers or enterprise software companies is a common bridge. A professional engineer license from the Ohio State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors strengthens candidacy in civil, structural, and systems-oriented roles.
Where can I find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Ohio?
You can find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Ohio on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings in the state. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and target location, and apply directly to the positions that fit.
See All 79 Principal Engineer Jobs in Ohio
Find roles in Ohio that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Principal Engineer Jobs