Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Los Angeles, CA

Principal Software Engineer jobs in Los Angeles are concentrated in Silicon Beach neighborhoods like Santa Monica, Venice, and Playa Vista, as well as downtown and the Westside corridor, across entertainment technology, streaming platforms, fintech, e-commerce, and defense tech. Employers hiring right now include Riot Games, Northrop Grumman, and Riot Games. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

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Overview

Open roles26
Top employerRiot Games
Work type71% On-site
Top credentialBachelor's
Companies hiring13

Showing 5 of 26+ Principal Software Engineer jobs

Principal Software Application Engineer
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Added 1d ago
Principal Software Application Engineer
Autodesk
Los Angeles, California
Software Engineering
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Program Management
$126k - $226k/yr
Hybrid
10,000+

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Principal Radar Software Engineer
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Added 1d ago
Principal Radar Software Engineer
CHAOS Industries
Los Angeles, California
Backend Engineering
Full-stack Engineering
Software Engineering
$140k - $240k/yr
Bachelor's degree

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Principal Embedded Software Engineer
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Added 1w ago
Principal Embedded Software Engineer
Motorola Solutions
Los Angeles, California
Academic & Educational Administration
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Human Resources
$180k - $220k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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Principal Engineer Software Quality
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Added 2w ago
Principal Engineer Software Quality
Northrop Grumman
Los Angeles, California
Academic & Educational Administration
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Human Resources
$104k - $155k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

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CAE Senior Principal Software Architect (Design)
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Added 2w ago
CAE Senior Principal Software Architect (Design)
Divergent
Los Angeles, California
Cloud Architecture
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Program Management
$171k - $314k/yr
Hybrid
501-1,000

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See All 26 Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Los Angeles

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Principal Software Engineer Job Market in Los Angeles

Who's Hiring

  • Riot Games11
  • Northrop Grumman4
  • Snap2
  • Convoso1

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software
  • Gaming & Esports
  • Media & Entertainment
  • Manufacturing

Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Los Angeles: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a principal software engineer job in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles hires principal software engineers most heavily in entertainment tech, streaming, gaming, fintech, e-commerce, and aerospace, with the densest concentrations in Silicon Beach, the Westside, and downtown. Candidates who stand out here tend to have deep distributed systems or platform engineering experience, since many Los Angeles employers operate at consumer scale. Building visibility at local tech meetups and targeting companies expanding their LA engineering hubs also helps.

Which companies hire principal software engineers in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles principal software engineer roles are posted by Riot Games, Northrop Grumman, and Riot Games and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. The employer mix reflects the city's strengths, from major streaming and media tech firms in Burbank and Culver City to fintech startups and defense contractors in El Segundo and the South Bay.

Are there remote principal software engineer jobs in Los Angeles?

Yes, though principal software engineer roles that involve cross-functional leadership or team mentorship are more often hybrid than fully remote. About 29% of principal software engineer openings tied to Los Angeles are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with fully remote postings most common at product and platform companies headquartered in Silicon Beach.

How can I get a principal software engineer job in Los Angeles with little or no experience?

The most realistic path is building depth as a senior software engineer at a mid-size Los Angeles tech company before stepping into a principal role. Entertainment tech firms, gaming studios, and growth-stage startups in the Westside and Culver City cluster tend to promote from within and offer technical lead tracks. Contributing to open-source projects used by local employers and presenting at LA-area engineering events also builds the credibility hiring managers look for.

Which industries hire the most principal software engineers in Los Angeles?

The sectors hiring the most principal software engineers in Los Angeles are Technology & Software, Gaming & Esports, and Media & Entertainment, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Los Angeles's combination of major streaming and media companies, a dense fintech startup scene, and significant aerospace and defense contractors creates unusually broad demand for senior engineering leadership across multiple verticals.

See All 26 Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Los Angeles

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