Principal Software Engineer Jobs in San Jose, CA

Principal Software Engineer jobs in San Jose are in high demand, concentrated in North San Jose, Downtown, and the Santana Row corridor across semiconductors, cloud infrastructure, enterprise software, and AI. Employers actively hiring include Cadence Design Systems, AMD, and Google. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Jobs

Overview

Open roles333+
Top employerCadence Design Systems
Work type55% On-site
Top credentialMaster's degree
Companies hiring16

Showing 5 of 333+ Principal Software Engineer jobs

Cadence Design Systems
Senior Principal Software Engineer
We won't show you this job again
Cadence Design Systems
Added 3d ago
Senior Principal Software Engineer
Cadence Design Systems
San Jose, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Specialized Engineering
$161k - $299k/yr
Doctoral degree in Computer Science
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Google
Senior Principal On-Device and Voice LLM Architecture Software Engineer, XR
We won't show you this job again
Google
Added 1w ago
Senior Principal On-Device and Voice LLM Architecture Software Engineer, XR
Google
San Jose, California
Software Engineering
Systems Administration
Technical Product & Program Management
Technical Program Management
$307k - $427k/yr
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Collins Aerospace
Senior Principal Software Engineer – 5G Core Networks
We won't show you this job again
Collins Aerospace
Added 1w ago
Senior Principal Software Engineer – 5G Core Networks
Collins Aerospace
San Jose, California
Cloud Engineering
DevOps
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
$146k - $277k/yr
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Collins Aerospace
Principal Software Engineer – 5G Core Networks
We won't show you this job again
Collins Aerospace
Added 1w ago
Principal Software Engineer – 5G Core Networks
Collins Aerospace
San Jose, California
Cloud Engineering
DevOps
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
$118k - $225k/yr
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Cadence Design Systems
Sr. Principal Software Engineer, Physical Verification
We won't show you this job again
Cadence Design Systems
Added 1w ago
Sr. Principal Software Engineer, Physical Verification
Cadence Design Systems
San Jose, California
Software Engineering
Systems Administration
Technical Product & Program Management
Technical Program Management
$161k - $299k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

See All 333+ Principal Software Engineer Jobs in San Jose

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

Find Jobs

Principal Software Engineer Job Market in San Jose

Who's Hiring

  • Cadence Design Systems
    Cadence Design Systems56
  • AMD
    AMD28
  • Google
    Google28
  • Bloom Energy
    Bloom Energy28
  • Extreme Networks
    Extreme Networks28

Top Industries Hiring

  • Electronics & Hardware
  • Technology & Software

Principal Software Engineer Jobs in San Jose: Frequently Asked Questions

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

Target San Jose's densest hiring pockets: the semiconductor and chip design firms clustered in North San Jose, the cloud and enterprise software companies anchored Downtown and near Santana Row, and the AI and networking companies throughout the north corridor. Candidates who stand out combine deep systems expertise with cross-functional leadership experience. A portfolio of shipped product at scale and familiarity with large distributed systems carries significant weight with San Jose hiring teams.

Which companies hire principal software engineers in San Jose?

Companies currently hiring principal software engineers in San Jose include Cadence Design Systems, AMD, and Google, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. San Jose's employer base skews toward established technology companies, semiconductor manufacturers, and networking hardware firms, giving principal-level candidates a range of product and infrastructure-focused opportunities.

Are there remote principal software engineer jobs in San Jose?

Yes, though the picture is mixed: principal software engineer roles tied to hardware, chip design, or hands-on lab work are largely on-site, while those focused on distributed systems, platform engineering, or enterprise software tend to be more remote-friendly. About 45% of principal software engineer openings tied to San Jose are remote or hybrid as of September 2026. Platform and backend architecture roles attract the highest share of remote-eligible postings from San Jose employers.

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

The most realistic path is moving up through staff or senior engineer roles at San Jose's mid-size technology and semiconductor companies, which often have clearer promotion tracks than large enterprises. Firms in North San Jose's networking and storage corridors regularly develop principal-level talent internally. Contributing to high-visibility infrastructure projects, taking technical lead ownership on a product area, and building a reputation for cross-team design work positions candidates for that first principal offer without waiting for an opening to appear externally.

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

Most principal software engineer openings in San Jose sit in Electronics & Hardware and Technology & Software, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. San Jose's identity as a hub for semiconductors, networking hardware, and cloud infrastructure means these sectors consistently generate principal-level demand that outpaces most other U.S. cities.

See All 333+ Principal Software Engineer Jobs in San Jose

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

Find Jobs