Principal Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA

Principal Software Engineer jobs in San Diego are concentrated in Sorrento Valley, UTC, and the Torrey Pines corridor, with strong demand across defense technology, biotech software, and cloud-native product companies. Employers hiring right now include Northrop Grumman, Qualcomm, and SAIC. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

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Overview

Open roles333+
Top employerNorthrop Grumman
Work type53% On-site
Top credentialMaster's degree
Companies hiring10

Showing 5 of 333+ Principal Software Engineer jobs

Qualcomm
CPU Software Architecture Principal Engineer
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Qualcomm
Added 2d ago
CPU Software Architecture Principal Engineer
Qualcomm
San Diego, California
Compliance & Risk
Cybersecurity
Security Engineering
$197k - $295k/yr
Doctoral degree in Computer Science
10,000+

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ServiceNow
Principal Software Engineer
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ServiceNow
Added 3d ago
Principal Software Engineer
ServiceNow
San Diego, California
Construction Management
Project Management
Skilled Trades
$199k - $348k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Northrop Grumman
Sr. Principal Cyber Software Engineer (TG)
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Northrop Grumman
Added 4d ago
Sr. Principal Cyber Software Engineer (TG)
Northrop Grumman
San Diego, California
Business Strategy
Corporate Development & M&A
Growth Marketing
$149k - $235k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

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Northrop Grumman
Principal Cyber Software Engineer
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Northrop Grumman
Added 4d ago
Principal Cyber Software Engineer
Northrop Grumman
San Diego, California
Business Strategy
Corporate Development & M&A
Growth Marketing
$120k - $188k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

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Northrop Grumman
Principal/Senior Principal Engineer Software
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Northrop Grumman
Added 4d ago
Principal/Senior Principal Engineer Software
Northrop Grumman
San Diego, California
Compliance & Risk
Cybersecurity
Security Engineering
$114k - $213k/yr
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

See All 333+ Principal Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego

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Principal Software Engineer Job Market in San Diego

Who's Hiring

  • Northrop Grumman
    Northrop Grumman222
  • Qualcomm
    Qualcomm30
  • SAIC
    SAIC10
  • Veracyte
    Veracyte10
  • ZoomInfo
    ZoomInfo10

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals

Principal Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a principal software engineer job in San Diego?

The most direct path is targeting San Diego's defense technology and cybersecurity contractors clustered in Sorrento Valley and Miramar, where senior engineering leadership roles open frequently. Biotech and life sciences software companies along Torrey Pines Road also hire principal engineers to build clinical data platforms. Candidates with distributed systems experience or security clearances have a clear edge in this market over generalist profiles.

Which companies hire principal software engineers in San Diego?

Companies currently hiring principal software engineers in San Diego include Northrop Grumman, Qualcomm, and SAIC, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. San Diego's employer mix leans toward defense primes, genomics and biotech software firms, and mid-size SaaS companies based in UTC and Sorrento Mesa.

Are there remote principal software engineer jobs in San Diego?

Yes, though the share varies: principal software engineer roles at defense contractors typically require on-site presence due to security protocols, while SaaS and cloud product companies in San Diego post more flexible arrangements. About 47% of principal software engineer openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with remote options most common in product engineering and platform infrastructure roles.

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

The most realistic entry path is landing a senior software engineer role first, particularly at one of San Diego's mid-size defense tech or healthtech firms where internal promotion to principal is common. Companies in Sorrento Mesa and Carmel Mountain Ranch frequently grow their own principal engineers from senior hires. Building expertise in embedded systems, cloud architecture, or bioinformatics tooling aligns well with what local employers promote into principal-level positions.

Which industries hire the most principal software engineers in San Diego?

The sectors hiring the most principal software engineers in San Diego are Technology & Software and Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. San Diego's concentration of defense contractors, genomics companies, and venture-backed SaaS firms drives consistent senior engineering demand across those sectors year-round.

See All 333+ Principal Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego

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