Principal Engineer Jobs in Wisconsin

Principal Engineer jobs in Wisconsin are concentrated in advanced manufacturing, engineering services, and energy sectors, with demand across senior individual contributor and technical leadership roles. Milwaukee, Madison, and the Fox Cities corridor are the busiest hiring markets, anchored by established employers such as Rockwell Automation, Kohler, and Oshkosh Corporation. The most in-demand specialties include controls and automation engineering, mechanical systems design, and electrical infrastructure. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

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Overview

Open roles26
Top employerMilwaukee Tool
Top cityMadison, WI
Cities hiring15
Work type50% Remote
Top industryManufacturing

Showing 5 of 26+ Principal Engineer jobs

Pierce Manufacturing
Principal Engineer - Cost Estimation
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Pierce Manufacturing
Added 1d ago
Principal Engineer - Cost Estimation
Pierce Manufacturing
Appleton, Wisconsin
Construction Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
$83k - $134k/yr
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
1,001-5,000

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ABB
Principal Power Electronics Engineer - VFDs
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ABB
Added 2d ago
Principal Power Electronics Engineer - VFDs
ABB
New Berlin, Wisconsin
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Program Management
Project Management
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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RTX
Principal Specialist, Platform Engineer
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RTX
Added 6d ago
Principal Specialist, Platform Engineer
RTX
Madison, Wisconsin
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Program Management
Project Management
$87k - $165k/yr
Remote (US)
Experience equivalent to degree accepted
10,000+

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Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences
Principal Quality Engineer
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Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences
Added 6d ago
Principal Quality Engineer
Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Technical Program Management
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
51-200

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Catalent Pharma Solutions
Principal Process Engineer - Manufacturing Sciences & Technology, Upstream
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Catalent Pharma Solutions
Added 1w ago
Principal Process Engineer - Manufacturing Sciences & Technology, Upstream
Catalent Pharma Solutions
Madison, Wisconsin
Business Development
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Strategy & Corporate Development
On-Site
Doctoral degree
10,000+

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See All 26 Principal Engineer Jobs in Wisconsin

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

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Principal Engineer Jobs by City in Wisconsin

Where Wisconsin roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Madison
5 jobs
Milwaukee
5 jobs
Brookfield
3 jobs
Greenville
2 jobs
Oshkosh
1 job
Appleton
1 job
Columbus
1 job
Waukesha
1 job
Green Bay
1 job

Principal Engineer Job Market in Wisconsin

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

Who's Hiring

Milwaukee Tool
Milwaukee Tool7 open roles
Pierce Manufacturing
Pierce Manufacturing3 open roles
Enerpac Tool
Enerpac Tool2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Manufacturing
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
  • Consulting & Professional Services

What Wisconsin Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in principal engineer jobs across Wisconsin.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering with at least ten years of progressive technical experience
  • Professional Engineer (PE) license issued or recognized by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
  • Deep expertise in a core discipline such as mechanical, electrical, controls, or systems engineering
  • Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams and drive complex technical programs
  • Experience with product lifecycle management, design validation, and engineering change control processes
  • Strong communication skills for presenting technical decisions to senior leadership and external stakeholders

Principal Engineer Jobs in Wisconsin: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal engineer in Wisconsin?

Most Wisconsin employers expect a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline and many years of progressively senior technical work before promoting or hiring at the principal level. Obtaining a Professional Engineer license through the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, which requires passing the Fundamentals of Engineering and Principles and Practice of Engineering exams, strengthens candidacy considerably. Specializations in high-demand areas like automation, systems integration, or infrastructure engineering accelerate the path.

Which companies hire principal engineers in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin principal engineer roles are posted by Milwaukee Tool, Pierce Manufacturing, and Enerpac Tool and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Wisconsin's deep manufacturing and industrial base means that engineering-intensive companies across automation, energy, defense, and industrial equipment sectors are consistent sources of principal-level openings.

Which Wisconsin cities have the most principal engineer jobs?

Madison, Milwaukee, and Brookfield account for the largest share of principal engineer openings in Wisconsin. Milwaukee draws the most postings because of its concentration of industrial manufacturers and engineering firms, while Madison's technology and university-linked employers anchor demand there, and smaller markets like Appleton and Oshkosh reflect the strong manufacturing presence of Fox Valley anchors such as Oshkosh Corporation and its subsidiaries.

Are there remote principal engineer jobs in Wisconsin?

Yes, but they're less common than in purely software-focused fields because principal engineering work in Wisconsin often involves hardware, production systems, or on-site collaboration. About 63% of principal engineer openings tied to Wisconsin are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with hybrid arrangements being more typical than fully remote. The portions of the role most amenable to remote work include technical documentation, design review, and architectural planning.

How can I get hired as a principal engineer in Wisconsin with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is securing an associate or staff engineer role at a large Wisconsin manufacturer or engineering firm and building toward principal through demonstrated project ownership. Companies such as Rockwell Automation, Briggs and Stratton, and Johnson Controls hire entry and mid-level engineers into rotational or development programs in Wisconsin. Building a PE license, contributing to cross-functional projects, and moving laterally from roles such as project engineer or systems engineer are the most effective ways to reach principal-level consideration.

Where can I find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Wisconsin?

Migrate Mate lists current principal engineer openings in Wisconsin sourced from active employers across the state. Search the available roles to find positions that match your discipline, experience level, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 26 Principal Engineer Jobs in Wisconsin

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

Find Principal Engineer Jobs