Principal Process Engineer Jobs

Principal Process Engineer jobs are open across chemicals, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing, from senior individual contributor to principal and staff levels, with specializations in process optimization, scale-up engineering, and continuous improvement. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

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Overview

Open roles151+
Top stateCalifornia
Top employerNorthrop Grumman
Top citySan Diego, CA
Work type54% On-site
Top industryElectronics

Showing 5 of 151+ Principal Process Engineer jobs

Principal - Engineer - Process (Environmental Controls)
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Principal - Engineer - Process (Environmental Controls)
Eli Lilly
Houston, Texas
Business Analysis
Business Analyst
Project Management
$68k - $152k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

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Principal - Engineer - Process (Critical Utilities)
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Principal - Engineer - Process (Critical Utilities)
Eli Lilly
Houston, Texas
Business Analysis
Business Analyst
Project Management
$68k - $152k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

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Process Development Senior Principal Scientist
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Added 2d ago
Process Development Senior Principal Scientist
Amgen
Thousand Oaks, California
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials
Research & Academia
$158k.05 - $213k.95/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

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PTC Senior Principal Process Engineer
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PTC Senior Principal Process Engineer
CSL
Kankakee, Illinois
Business Operations
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
$135k - $160k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering

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Bulk Senior Principal Process Engineer
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Added 2d ago
Bulk Senior Principal Process Engineer
CSL
Kankakee, Illinois
Business Operations
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
$135k - $160k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering

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See All 151+ Principal Process Engineer Jobs

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Principal Process Engineer Job Market

Who's Hiring

  • Northrop Grumman20
  • AbbVie8
  • ASM7
  • Eli Lilly6
  • Worley5

Top Industries Hiring

  • Electronics & Hardware
  • Manufacturing
  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Hospitality & Tourism
  • Healthcare & Medical Services

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in principal process engineer jobs.

  • Bachelor's or advanced degree in chemical, mechanical, or industrial engineering
  • 10 or more years of hands-on process engineering experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment
  • Proficiency with process simulation software such as Aspen Plus or HYSYS
  • Demonstrated experience leading process hazard analyses and HAZOP reviews
  • Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification, or equivalent continuous improvement credential
  • Experience authoring and approving process safety documentation including P&IDs and PFDs

Tips for Your Principal Process Engineer Job Search

Quantify your process improvement outcomes

Hiring managers for principal-level roles expect metrics, not descriptions. For each project on your resume, state the baseline, what you changed, and the measurable result, whether that's yield improvement, cycle time reduction, or cost savings at scale.

Highlight cross-functional leadership without a title

Principal process engineers often lead without direct reports. Show you've driven alignment across operations, quality, and R&D by naming the teams involved, the decision you influenced, and the outcome, so reviewers see leadership embedded in your technical work.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists principal process engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Target postings by process type, not just title

Job titles vary widely: some postings say principal, others say staff or senior principal. Search by the process you specialize in, such as distillation, CVD, or fill-finish, alongside the seniority level to surface roles that match your actual expertise.

Prepare a stage-gate or design review case study

Interviewers at the principal level almost always ask you to walk through a complex project decision. Have one ready that covers your technical reasoning, the tradeoffs you weighed, stakeholder pushback you managed, and what you would do differently now.

Negotiate scope before you negotiate compensation

At the principal level, your first negotiation should clarify ownership: which processes you lead, your authority over capital decisions, and how your roadmap connects to business goals. Scope ambiguity at offer stage tends to get worse after you start.

Principal Process Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most principal process engineers?

The most active employers for principal process engineers right now are Northrop Grumman, AbbVie, and ASM, and the most openings are in California, Texas, and Massachusetts, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand tends to be strongest at large integrated manufacturers and specialty chemical producers with active capital programs.

How many principal process engineer jobs are remote?

About 46% of principal process engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with on-site roles concentrated in facilities-dependent sectors like chemicals, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals. Process development, modeling, and technical program management sub-functions tend to offer the most remote flexibility within this title.

How do you become a principal process engineer?

Start with a degree in chemical, mechanical, or industrial engineering and spend several years in hands-on process roles where you own specific unit operations or production lines. Build depth in one process domain, then demonstrate cross-functional impact by leading projects that touch capital, safety, and quality simultaneously. Certifications in process safety or Lean Six Sigma help validate your readiness for the principal designation.

Can you get hired as a principal process engineer without prior principal-level experience?

Yes, but you need to close the gap between your current title and the role's scope. Identify two or three projects where you led technical decisions that affected more than your immediate team, document the business impact, and position those as principal-caliber work. Smaller companies and startups are more likely to promote on demonstrated output rather than a matching title on your resume.

What does the principal process engineer interview process look like?

Most processes run three to five rounds. An initial screen with HR or a recruiter is followed by a technical phone interview with a hiring manager focused on your process expertise and project scope. Later rounds typically include a panel with engineering leads, a case study or whiteboard exercise on a process design or troubleshooting scenario, and a final conversation with a director or VP on strategic fit and leadership philosophy.

Where can I find and apply to principal process engineer jobs?

You can find and apply to principal process engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your process domain and seniority level, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background.

See All 151+ Principal Process Engineer Jobs

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

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