Principal Engineer Jobs in Pennsylvania
Principal Engineer jobs in Pennsylvania are in steady demand, with hiring concentrated in advanced manufacturing, defense systems, infrastructure, and technology sectors at levels from senior individual contributor through distinguished engineering leadership. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the Lehigh Valley account for the bulk of openings, where established employers like Lockheed Martin, Comcast, and Siemens maintain significant engineering workforces in the state. The most sought-after specializations include systems engineering, software architecture, and civil or structural engineering tied to Pennsylvania's ongoing infrastructure programs. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Summary
The Principal Engineer, Technology Development leads the development and commercialization of advanced materials and products across CQ Medical’s technology portfolio, with the majority of work supporting Radiation Therapy applications. This role translates research and laboratory concepts into reliable, manufacturable, and regulatory-compliant medical products, with particular depth in polymer and thermoplastic materials development.
The position works across R&D, manufacturing, quality, regulatory, and commercial teams to bring new technologies to market, and partners closely with Dan, as a peer, on thermoplastic materials initiatives.
Key Duties and Responsibilities (Other duties may be assigned.)
Materials & Product Development:
- Lead development of materials, processes, and products from concept through commercialization.
- Translate laboratory research into scalable manufacturing processes and production-ready products.
- Evaluate and optimize material performance, manufacturability, reliability, and cost.
- Develop material specifications, manufacturing requirements, and test methods.
- Engage external polymer chemist consultants and material suppliers to support thermoplastic materials development.
Regulatory, Quality & Intellectual Property:
- Support design verification, validation, risk analysis, and regulatory compliance activities, including alignment with FDA design control and quality system requirements (21 CFR Part 820).
- Collaborate with IP counsel on invention disclosures, patent applications, and freedom-to-operate assessments for new materials and technologies.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including engineering, quality, operations, suppliers, and external partners.
- Partner with Dan and the Technology Development team, as a peer, on thermoplastic materials initiatives supporting both Radiation Therapy and IWS product lines.
Continuous Improvement & Customer Support:
- Provide technical leadership for product improvements, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Support customer, clinical, and market feedback activities to guide product development.
Required Education, Experience and Certifications
Education: Master’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, Physics, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience.
Experience: 10+ years of experience in product development, materials engineering, manufacturing engineering, medical devices, or related industries. Demonstrated experience with polymer and thermoplastic materials is required. Additional experience in three or more of the following is expected: materials characterization and testing; medical device development; radiation therapy, diagnostic imaging, or healthcare technologies; manufacturing process development and scale-up; extrusion, molding, coating, lamination, or additive manufacturing; design controls, risk management, and regulated product development; failure analysis and root-cause investigation; or engineering simulation and analysis tools.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Demonstrated depth in polymer and thermoplastic materials, with the ability to bridge research and development with manufacturing and commercialization.
- Strong technical problem-solving and project leadership skills.
- Effective communicator capable of working with scientific, engineering, quality, and business teams.
- Self-directed with the ability to lead multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
- Working knowledge of FDA design control and quality system requirements (21 CFR Part 820).
- Experience collaborating with IP counsel on invention disclosures and patent strategy.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
See All 59 Principal Engineer Jobs in Pennsylvania
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Find Principal Engineer JobsPrincipal Engineer Jobs by City in Pennsylvania
Where Pennsylvania roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Principal Engineer Job Market in Pennsylvania
A snapshot from current Pennsylvania openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Energy
- Electronics & Hardware
- Chemicals & Materials
- Technology & Software
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Pennsylvania Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal engineer jobs across Pennsylvania.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering with a relevant Pennsylvania Professional Engineer license preferred
- Ten or more years of progressive engineering experience with demonstrated technical leadership
- Proven ability to define architecture and set engineering standards across large cross-functional teams
- Experience with systems integration, defense programs, or large-scale infrastructure projects common in Pennsylvania
- Strong background in Agile or systems engineering lifecycle methodologies used by Pennsylvania employers
- Ability to obtain or maintain security clearance for defense and government contractor roles in the region
Principal Engineer Jobs in Pennsylvania: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a principal engineer in Pennsylvania?
The most direct path is earning an accredited engineering degree, gaining substantial hands-on engineering experience, and then advancing into a technical leadership role recognized at the principal level. For roles in civil, structural, or mechanical engineering, obtaining a Pennsylvania Professional Engineer license through the State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists strengthens candidacy considerably. Software and systems principal engineer roles typically emphasize depth of technical contribution and cross-team leadership over a state credential.
Which companies hire principal engineers in Pennsylvania?
Employers hiring principal engineers in Pennsylvania right now include Westinghouse Electric Company, Worley, and Naval Nuclear Laboratory, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Pennsylvania's concentration of defense contractors, utilities, healthcare technology firms, and telecommunications companies means principal engineer openings appear consistently across both the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh corridors.
Which Pennsylvania cities have the most principal engineer jobs?
Philadelphia, Cranberry Township, and Pittsburgh lead Pennsylvania in principal engineer openings. Philadelphia draws the largest share through its concentration of technology companies, healthcare systems, and defense contractors, while Pittsburgh's strength in robotics, autonomous systems, and software draws significant demand, and secondary markets like Allentown reflect Lehigh Valley's manufacturing and infrastructure employer base.
Are there remote principal engineer jobs in Pennsylvania?
Yes, and more than most engineering levels, since principal engineer work often centers on architecture decisions, technical strategy, and cross-team coordination that can happen remotely. About 86% of principal engineer openings tied to Pennsylvania are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting broader industry flexibility. The portions of the role most commonly performed remotely are systems design review, code architecture, and stakeholder alignment, while on-site work tends to be required for hardware integration or classified program work.
How can I get hired as a principal engineer in Pennsylvania with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point is targeting associate or staff engineer roles at large Pennsylvania employers, then building toward principal through demonstrated technical ownership. Firms like Lockheed Martin in King of Prussia and Comcast in Philadelphia run structured early-career engineering programs that create internal pipelines. A Professional Engineer license from Pennsylvania's State Registration Board and a portfolio of meaningful technical contributions, even from academic or open-source projects, gives candidates without senior experience a measurable edge when applying to junior-to-mid roles that lead upward.
Where can I find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Pennsylvania?
You can find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Pennsylvania on Migrate Mate, which lists current Pennsylvania openings across industries and metro areas. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 59 Principal Engineer Jobs in Pennsylvania
Find roles in Pennsylvania that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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