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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Overview

Open roles79
Top employerNorthrop Grumman
Top cityColumbus, OH
Cities hiring24
Work type65% On-site
Top industryManufacturing

Showing 5 of 79+ Principal Engineer jobs

Wells Fargo
Principal Engineer
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Wells Fargo
New 11h ago
Principal Engineer
Wells Fargo
Columbus, Ohio
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Specialized Engineering
$159k - $254k/yr
10,000+

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American Electric Power
Electrical Engineer-UG Transmission Senior-Principal-Staff
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American Electric Power
New 17h ago
Electrical Engineer-UG Transmission Senior-Principal-Staff
American Electric Power
New Albany, Ohio
Customer Support
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Product & Program Management
$84k - $178k/yr
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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Aegis Ventures
Principal Software Engineer
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Aegis Ventures
Added 1d ago
Principal Software Engineer
Aegis Ventures
Columbus, Ohio
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
Hybrid

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Vertiv
Principal Engineer, DC Power
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Vertiv
Added 1d ago
Principal Engineer, DC Power
Vertiv
Lorain, Ohio
Cloud Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Program Management
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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American Electric Power
Solution Engineer Principal
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American Electric Power
Added 1d ago
Solution Engineer Principal
American Electric Power
Gahanna, Ohio
Corporate Training
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Teaching & Instruction
$99k - $129k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

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See All 79 Principal Engineer Jobs in Ohio

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

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Principal Engineer Jobs by City in Ohio

Where Ohio roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Cincinnati
9 jobs
Wright-Patterson AFB
8 jobs
Beavercreek
7 jobs
North Canton
5 jobs
Marysville
4 jobs
Dayton
3 jobs
Raymond
3 jobs
Fairborn
3 jobs

Principal Engineer Job Market in Ohio

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

Who's Hiring

  • Northrop Grumman
    Northrop Grumman13
  • American Honda Motor
    American Honda Motor7
  • American Electric Power
    American Electric Power7
  • Timken
    Timken5
  • MTSI
    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