Principal Engineer Jobs in Texas
Principal Engineer jobs in Texas are in strong demand, with active hiring concentrated in energy, defense, semiconductor manufacturing, and enterprise technology across a wide seniority range from mid-career to distinguished technical fellow. The largest hiring markets are Houston, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth, where employers like ExxonMobil, Texas Instruments, and Raytheon Technologies maintain significant engineering headcount. The most sought-after specializations include systems engineering, software architecture, and process engineering tied to oil and gas and advanced manufacturing. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Principal Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 247+ Principal Engineer jobs











Job Title: Principal SW Engineer - OMS
Location: Fort Worth, TX or Palmdale, CA.
Compensation: $160,000 - $200,000 + Bonus Eligible
Security Clearance: Active Secret Clearance Required
Who we are: Founded in 2004 with locations in Atlanta, GA, Fort Worth, TX, Denver, CO, & Huntsville, AL, Thompson Software Solutions (TSS) is a mission-driven aerospace and defense software and systems engineering company supporting the U.S. military, defense primes, and commercial space partners. We specialize in the development, integration, test, and deployment of safety & mission-critical software systems that power next-generation aircraft, defense platforms, and space technologies. Our team understands what it takes to modernize complex embedded systems while maintaining the rigor, compliance, and reliability required for mission and safety-critical environments.
As a defense-focused company of highly skilled and dedicated engineers, we take pride in solving complex technical challenges that directly impact national security and operational readiness. We partner closely with customers across the military aviation and space domains to deliver resilient, future-ready solutions with portability, sustainability, and long-term mission success in mind.
Description
Thompson Software Solutions is seeking a Principal Software Engineer – Open Mission Systems (OMS) to support the development and integration of advanced software capabilities for a military aircraft platform. This role offers the opportunity to contribute directly to next-generation avionics architectures that enhance interoperability, rapid capability integration, and mission effectiveness for U.S. military aviation programs.
This position requires a software engineer to use a wide application of technical principles, theories, and concepts in the software field to develop, integrate, and test software products. The successful candidate will be a member of a high-performing multi-site team and must be self-motivated with a strong work ethic, time-management, and interpersonal skills. In this role, you will work independently at times on projects, at other times will be in a collaborative team environment with other software engineers, as well as other program development and deployment teams.
Selected applicants will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Continued eligibility for access to classified information is required throughout employment, as dictated by program needs.
Basic Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in STEM discipline
- 8+ years of C++ development experience
- Open Mission Systems (OMS) software architecture and development
- C++ mission software development in Linux environments
- Middleware and data distribution (DDS, pub/sub architectures)
- Service-oriented and event-driven software design
- Experience developing Service contracts
- Interface definition, ICD development, and data modeling
- Mission-level simulation and integration testing
- Ability to work onsite 100%
- Ability to travel 10%
Preferred / Additional Skills
- Proficient with Atlassian Tools (Confluence, JIRA, Bitbucket, etc.)
- Experience communicating and documenting complex technical designs
- Software development experience in Java
- Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and FACE technical standards
- Integration of third-party mission applications
- Secure and sustainable mission software lifecycle
- CI/CD and configuration management for mission software
- Ability to work in a collaborative and team-based environment
- Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skill
Sound Exciting? Get in touch today! We have very robust benefits including:
- Low-cost Medical / Dental / Vision coverage options
- 401K with generous employer match
- Responsible Paid Time Off + Paid Holidays
- Remote work opportunities based on role
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Career growth and professional development opportunities
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
#CJ
See All 247+ Principal Engineer Jobs in Texas
Find roles in Texas that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Principal Engineer JobsPrincipal Engineer Jobs by City in Texas
Where Texas roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Principal Engineer Job Market in Texas
A snapshot from current Texas openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Raytheon16

- Dell Technologies9

- CesiumAstro7

- Qorvo6

- Cadence6

Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware14
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals7
- Banking & Financial Services6
- Consulting & Professional Services6
- Technology & Software4
What Texas Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal engineer jobs across Texas.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, computer science, or a closely related technical field
- Professional Engineer license issued or recognized by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors preferred for infrastructure and energy roles
- Ten or more years of progressive engineering experience with demonstrated technical leadership
- Deep expertise in at least one domain such as systems architecture, embedded software, or process engineering
- Proven ability to define technical strategy and mentor engineers across multiple teams or projects
- Experience with large-scale system design, trade-off analysis, and cross-functional stakeholder alignment
Principal Engineer Jobs in Texas: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a principal engineer in Texas?
Most principal engineer roles in Texas require a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline plus a substantial track of progressively senior technical work. For roles in civil, structural, mechanical, or process engineering, the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors administers the Professional Engineer license, which typically requires passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, gaining supervised experience, and then passing the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam. Software-focused principal engineer roles generally do not require state licensure but reward deep domain expertise and leadership scope.
Which companies hire principal engineers in Texas?
Employers hiring principal engineers in Texas right now include Raytheon, Dell Technologies, and CesiumAstro, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Texas's concentration of energy majors, defense contractors, and semiconductor firms means demand is particularly consistent for engineers with systems, embedded, or process specializations.
Which Texas cities have the most principal engineer jobs?
Austin, Houston, and Dallas have the most principal engineer openings in Texas. Houston's dominance reflects the energy sector's deep engineering workforce, while Austin's rapid growth in semiconductor and enterprise software firms drives strong demand there, and Dallas-Fort Worth's mix of corporate headquarters and defense contractors sustains consistent hiring across specializations.
Are there remote principal engineer jobs in Texas?
Yes, and they're more common than in many engineering fields, particularly for software and systems architecture roles that don't require on-site lab or plant access. About 39% of principal engineer openings tied to Texas are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the high proportion of software-intensive and enterprise technology employers in the state. Roles in energy operations, semiconductor fabrication, and defense hardware tend to require on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a principal engineer in Texas with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is entering as an associate or staff engineer and building toward the principal level through demonstrated ownership of progressively complex technical problems. In Texas, large energy companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron run structured new-graduate rotational programs, and defense firms like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies hire entry-level engineers into career development tracks. Earning your Engineer-in-Training designation through the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors signals commitment and strengthens applications for engineering-track roles that lead to principal-level positions.
Where can I find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Texas?
You can find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Texas on Migrate Mate, which lists current Texas openings across industries and metro areas. Find roles that fit your specialization and experience level and apply directly.
See All 247+ Principal Engineer Jobs in Texas
Find roles in Texas that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Principal Engineer Jobs