Principal Software Engineer Jobs in San Francisco, CA
Principal Software Engineer jobs in San Francisco are in strong demand, concentrated in SoMa, the Financial District, and Mission Bay across enterprise software, fintech, AI infrastructure, and biotech. Employers hiring right now include Salesforce, Palo Alto Networks, and Lila Sciences. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 330+ Principal Software Engineer jobs
Job Requisition ID #
Responsibilities
Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs
Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis
Update software or enhance existing software capabilities
May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements
May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team
Develop and maintain construction cloud software products, including developing APIs and User Interfaces
Develop software systems and devise ways to add new functionality
Design software flows that can utilize multiple APIs and services
Ensure program functionality, troubleshoot malfunctions, and modify existing software to correct errors
Perform code reviews, evaluate implementations, and provide feedback for tool improvements
Propose cloud-related optimizations and best practices to improve reliability, performance, and cost
Work with Product Managers to analyze systems requirements from customers and breakdown requirements to executable tasks per sprint
Identify and analyze industry- and product-specific customer concerns/focus/pain points to aid in prioritizing feature development
Review new and existing designs for compliance to the latest directives and standards
Implement high-level designs in robust maintainable software processes
Must be available to work on projects at various, unanticipated sites throughout the U.S
Telecommuting is permitted
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related field and six (6) years of progressive, post-baccalaureate experience in the job offered or in a software engineer-related occupation
Must be available to work on projects at various, unanticipated sites throughout the U.S
Telecommuting is permitted
Special Requirements
Position requires at least 6 years of experience in each of the following skills:
Developing and maintaining both front-end and back-end systems, building seamless, end-to-end solutions that ensure optimal functionality, scalability, and performance across the application stack
Integrating front-end user interfaces (using frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js) with back-end services and APIs (built technologies like with Node.js, Java, or Python) to create cohesive, full-stack applications
Designing and consuming RESTful APIs, ensuring smooth data flow between the front-end and back-end
Experience with SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL) databases, including schema design, query optimization, and implementing data storage solutions that scale effectively
Troubleshooting both front-end and back-end issues, including bugs, performance bottlenecks, and server-side errors, to ensure that applications run smoothly across platforms and devices
Conducting code reviews across the full stack, ensuring adherence to best practices, optimizing for maintainability, performance, and security
Deploying and managing full-stack applications on cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) with a focus on CI/CD pipelines, containerization (Docker), and serverless architectures to enhance scalability and reduce deployment overhead
Working with product managers, designers, and engineers, translating complex requirements into user stories, delivering features in Agile sprints, and ensuring alignment across multidisciplinary teams to address industry challenges
Setting up and maintaining DevOps practices, including continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), performance monitoring, and automated testing, to ensure smooth releases and high-performance applications
Learn More
About Autodesk
Welcome to Autodesk! Amazing things are created every day with our software – from the greenest buildings and cleanest cars to the smartest factories and biggest hit movies. We help innovators turn their ideas into reality, transforming not only how things are made, but what can be made.
We take great pride in our culture here at Autodesk – it’s at the core of everything we do. Our culture guides the way we work and treat each other, informs how we connect with customers and partners, and defines how we show up in the world.
When you’re an Autodesker, you can do meaningful work that helps build a better world designed and made for all. Ready to shape the world and your future? Join us!
Benefits
From health and financial benefits to time away and everyday wellness, we give Autodeskers the best, so they can do their best work. Learn more about our benefits in the U.S. by visiting https://benefits.autodesk.com/
Salary transparency
Equal Employment Opportunity
At Autodesk, we're building a diverse workplace and an inclusive culture to give more people the chance to imagine, design, and make a better world. Autodesk is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected characteristic. We also consider for employment all qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.
Belonging
We take pride in cultivating a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive. Learn more here: https://www.autodesk.com/company/global-belonging
In-Person Onboarding and Identity Verification
This role may require in-person onboarding and/or in-person ID verification.
Are you an existing contractor or consultant with Autodesk?
Please search for open jobs and apply internally (not on this external site).
Job Requisition ID #
Responsibilities
Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs
Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis
Update software or enhance existing software capabilities
May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements
May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team
Develop and maintain construction cloud software products, including developing APIs and User Interfaces
Develop software systems and devise ways to add new functionality
Design software flows that can utilize multiple APIs and services
Ensure program functionality, troubleshoot malfunctions, and modify existing software to correct errors
Perform code reviews, evaluate implementations, and provide feedback for tool improvements
Propose cloud-related optimizations and best practices to improve reliability, performance, and cost
Work with Product Managers to analyze systems requirements from customers and breakdown requirements to executable tasks per sprint
Identify and analyze industry- and product-specific customer concerns/focus/pain points to aid in prioritizing feature development
Review new and existing designs for compliance to the latest directives and standards
Implement high-level designs in robust maintainable software processes
Must be available to work on projects at various, unanticipated sites throughout the U.S
Telecommuting is permitted
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related field and six (6) years of progressive, post-baccalaureate experience in the job offered or in a software engineer-related occupation
Must be available to work on projects at various, unanticipated sites throughout the U.S
Telecommuting is permitted
Special Requirements
Position requires at least 6 years of experience in each of the following skills:
Developing and maintaining both front-end and back-end systems, building seamless, end-to-end solutions that ensure optimal functionality, scalability, and performance across the application stack
Integrating front-end user interfaces (using frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js) with back-end services and APIs (built technologies like with Node.js, Java, or Python) to create cohesive, full-stack applications
Designing and consuming RESTful APIs, ensuring smooth data flow between the front-end and back-end
Experience with SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL) databases, including schema design, query optimization, and implementing data storage solutions that scale effectively
Troubleshooting both front-end and back-end issues, including bugs, performance bottlenecks, and server-side errors, to ensure that applications run smoothly across platforms and devices
Conducting code reviews across the full stack, ensuring adherence to best practices, optimizing for maintainability, performance, and security
Deploying and managing full-stack applications on cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) with a focus on CI/CD pipelines, containerization (Docker), and serverless architectures to enhance scalability and reduce deployment overhead
Working with product managers, designers, and engineers, translating complex requirements into user stories, delivering features in Agile sprints, and ensuring alignment across multidisciplinary teams to address industry challenges
Setting up and maintaining DevOps practices, including continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), performance monitoring, and automated testing, to ensure smooth releases and high-performance applications
Learn More
About Autodesk
Welcome to Autodesk! Amazing things are created every day with our software – from the greenest buildings and cleanest cars to the smartest factories and biggest hit movies. We help innovators turn their ideas into reality, transforming not only how things are made, but what can be made.
We take great pride in our culture here at Autodesk – it’s at the core of everything we do. Our culture guides the way we work and treat each other, informs how we connect with customers and partners, and defines how we show up in the world.
When you’re an Autodesker, you can do meaningful work that helps build a better world designed and made for all. Ready to shape the world and your future? Join us!
Benefits
From health and financial benefits to time away and everyday wellness, we give Autodeskers the best, so they can do their best work. Learn more about our benefits in the U.S. by visiting https://benefits.autodesk.com/
Salary transparency
Equal Employment Opportunity
At Autodesk, we're building a diverse workplace and an inclusive culture to give more people the chance to imagine, design, and make a better world. Autodesk is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected characteristic. We also consider for employment all qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.
Belonging
We take pride in cultivating a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive. Learn more here: https://www.autodesk.com/company/global-belonging
In-Person Onboarding and Identity Verification
This role may require in-person onboarding and/or in-person ID verification.
Are you an existing contractor or consultant with Autodesk?
Please search for open jobs and apply internally (not on this external site).
See All 330+ Principal Software Engineer Jobs in San Francisco
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Find JobsPrincipal Software Engineer Job Market in San Francisco
Who's Hiring
- Salesforce57
- Palo Alto Networks57
- Lila Sciences38
- Saviynt28
- CRUSOE19
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software151
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals38
- Agriculture & Farming28
- Retail9
- Manufacturing9
Principal Software Engineer Jobs in San Francisco: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a principal software engineer job in San Francisco?
Target companies in SoMa, Mission Bay, and the Financial District, where fintech, enterprise software, and AI-focused firms concentrate most of their engineering leadership roles. Candidates who stand out typically bring a record of driving large-scale distributed systems or platform architecture decisions. Engaging with San Francisco's dense tech conference and meetup circuit helps surface roles before they're widely posted.
Which companies hire principal software engineers in San Francisco?
San Francisco principal software engineer roles are posted by Salesforce, Palo Alto Networks, and Lila Sciences and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. The city's employer mix skews heavily toward high-growth software companies, established fintech platforms, and AI-native startups, all of which tend to run lean senior engineering teams that rely on principals for technical direction.
Are there remote principal software engineer jobs in San Francisco?
Yes, though remote availability at the principal level depends on the company's growth stage and engineering culture. About 37% of principal software engineer openings tied to San Francisco are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with flexibility most common at SaaS and developer-tools companies headquartered in the city. Architecture review, system design, and cross-team technical leadership work tends to be the most remote-compatible part of the role.
How can I get a principal software engineer job in San Francisco with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is moving into a senior software engineer role at a San Francisco-based startup or mid-stage company first, where scope expands quickly and principal responsibilities often emerge informally. Companies in Mission Bay's biotech corridor and SoMa's fintech cluster frequently promote from within when engineers demonstrate system-level ownership. Building a portfolio of architectural decisions, technical proposals, or open-source contributions visible to San Francisco hiring teams accelerates that progression.
Which industries hire the most principal software engineers in San Francisco?
Most principal software engineer openings in San Francisco sit in Technology & Software, Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, and Agriculture & Farming, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. San Francisco's concentration of fintech headquarters, AI research labs, and enterprise SaaS companies means these sectors consistently need engineering leaders who can own complex, large-scale systems end to end.
Related Jobs in California
See All 330+ Principal Software Engineer Jobs in San Francisco
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