Principal Engineer Jobs in Tennessee
Principal Engineer jobs in Tennessee are concentrated in advanced manufacturing, defense and aerospace, energy infrastructure, and enterprise software, with demand reaching from mid-level technical leads through senior staff and distinguished engineer levels. Nashville, Knoxville, and Huntsville-adjacent corridor communities anchor most of the hiring, and established employers such as Bridgestone Americas, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and HCA Healthcare regularly carry open principal engineer requisitions. Systems architecture, embedded software, and mechanical and civil infrastructure engineering draw the strongest and most consistent demand from Tennessee hiring managers. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 46+ Principal Engineer jobs
- Design, specification, setting calculation, and coordination of protective relaying and relay control schemes.
- Modeling, short circuit and overstressed breaker studies as well as the protective relaying recommendations for proposed generation interconnections to a client’s electrical system.
- Ensures all relay settings activities, initiatives, and processes are in conformance with the company’s established policies and objectives, and with client design standards.
- Confidently and comfortably present technical solutions to key customers respond in real time to technical concerns and answer questions in a knowledgeable, articulate manner.
- Work collaboratively with the appropriate groups/ individuals in Qualus to develop and implement technical solutions that support the objectives of the Engineering Department.
- Support multiple projects in parallel.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) with a power systems focus. An MS Degree in engineering will be considered in lieu of the BS Engineering degree. International Engineering Degrees will be considered from an ABET accredited school.
- 12+ years of experience in protection and control engineering and relay settings.
- Must have demonstrated experience with CAPE and/or ASPEN.
- Professional Engineering (PE) registration is required
- Professional Engineering registration in the working state a plus.
- Must have strong analytical and computer skills.
- Must be able to identify necessary software to complete needed design work.
- Strong communications and interpersonal skills.
- Possess ability to effectively communicate with a wide variety of support personnel.
- Strong commitment to customer service and care. Highly motivated "self‐starter".
- Proven multitasking skills. Excellent document management and organizational skills.
- CYME familiarity, reclosers/sectionalizing schemes/fuse coordination preferred.
We are committed to a secure and transparent hiring process. We do not request payment or sensitive personal information, such as Social Security numbers or banking details, during the application process. Please use caution and verify opportunities through our official channels.
- Design, specification, setting calculation, and coordination of protective relaying and relay control schemes.
- Modeling, short circuit and overstressed breaker studies as well as the protective relaying recommendations for proposed generation interconnections to a client’s electrical system.
- Ensures all relay settings activities, initiatives, and processes are in conformance with the company’s established policies and objectives, and with client design standards.
- Confidently and comfortably present technical solutions to key customers respond in real time to technical concerns and answer questions in a knowledgeable, articulate manner.
- Work collaboratively with the appropriate groups/ individuals in Qualus to develop and implement technical solutions that support the objectives of the Engineering Department.
- Support multiple projects in parallel.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) with a power systems focus. An MS Degree in engineering will be considered in lieu of the BS Engineering degree. International Engineering Degrees will be considered from an ABET accredited school.
- 12+ years of experience in protection and control engineering and relay settings.
- Must have demonstrated experience with CAPE and/or ASPEN.
- Professional Engineering (PE) registration is required
- Professional Engineering registration in the working state a plus.
- Must have strong analytical and computer skills.
- Must be able to identify necessary software to complete needed design work.
- Strong communications and interpersonal skills.
- Possess ability to effectively communicate with a wide variety of support personnel.
- Strong commitment to customer service and care. Highly motivated "self‐starter".
- Proven multitasking skills. Excellent document management and organizational skills.
- CYME familiarity, reclosers/sectionalizing schemes/fuse coordination preferred.
We are committed to a secure and transparent hiring process. We do not request payment or sensitive personal information, such as Social Security numbers or banking details, during the application process. Please use caution and verify opportunities through our official channels.
See All 46 Principal Engineer Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Principal Engineer JobsPrincipal Engineer Jobs by City in Tennessee
Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Principal Engineer Job Market in Tennessee
A snapshot from current Tennessee openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Oracle32
- Dollar General2
- Mesa Associates2
- aptim1
- Qualus1
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software13
- Agriculture & Farming1
- Chemicals & Materials1
- Mining & Natural Resources1
- Healthcare & Medical Services1
What Tennessee Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal engineer jobs across Tennessee.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering or a closely related technical discipline required
- Ten or more years of progressive engineering experience with demonstrated technical leadership
- Ability to obtain or hold Professional Engineer licensure recognized by the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners
- Proven experience owning system-level design decisions across complex, multi-team engineering programs
- Proficiency in architecture or design tools relevant to the specialty, such as CAD, MATLAB, or cloud platforms
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional stakeholder engagement and design documentation
Principal Engineer Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a principal engineer in Tennessee?
Most principal engineer roles in Tennessee require a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline and many years of progressively senior technical experience, typically a decade or more. For roles in civil, structural, mechanical, or related fields, licensure as a Professional Engineer through the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners strengthens candidacy significantly and is required for certain public-sector and infrastructure roles. Employers in defense and energy sectors often also expect relevant domain certifications or security clearances.
Which companies hire principal engineers in Tennessee?
Employers hiring principal engineers in Tennessee right now include Oracle, Dollar General, and Mesa Associates, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Tennessee's concentration of defense contractors near Oak Ridge, large manufacturing headquarters around Nashville, and growing enterprise technology operations across the state means the employer mix tends to skew toward established industrial and infrastructure organizations rather than early-stage startups.
Which Tennessee cities have the most principal engineer jobs?
Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis account for the largest concentration of principal engineer openings in Tennessee. Nashville drives volume through its headquarters-heavy corporate base and growing technology sector, Knoxville benefits from proximity to Oak Ridge National Laboratory and University of Tennessee research partnerships, and smaller metros round out the list where anchor manufacturers or utilities maintain large engineering campuses that generate consistent senior-level demand.
Are there remote principal engineer jobs in Tennessee?
Yes, though availability varies considerably by specialty. About 20% of principal engineer openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the mixed nature of the role. Software and cloud architecture specialties carry the most remote flexibility, while principal engineers in manufacturing, facilities, or embedded hardware are almost always required on-site given the hands-on coordination their work demands.
How can I get hired as a principal engineer in Tennessee with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through an associate or staff engineer role at a large Tennessee employer, building toward the principal level over time. Employers such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory and major Nashville-area manufacturers run structured new-graduate and early-career programs that place candidates in rotational or mentored positions. Pursuing a Professional Engineer license through the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners, even while still at the engineer-in-training stage, signals long-term commitment and accelerates progression toward principal-level consideration.
Where can I find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Tennessee?
You can find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring across the state right now. Search the listings for roles that match your specialty and experience level, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 46 Principal Engineer Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Principal Engineer Jobs