Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Sunnyvale, CA

Principal Software Engineer jobs in Sunnyvale are concentrated in the innovation corridor along Murphy Avenue, the Lawrence Expressway tech cluster, and the downtown core, driven by demand from semiconductor, cloud infrastructure, and consumer electronics companies hiring through Walmart, Fortinet, and Sam's Club. Openings run deep across platform engineering, distributed systems, and AI infrastructure. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles52
Top employerWalmart
Work type63% On-site
Top credentialHigh school
Companies hiring6

Showing 5 of 52+ Principal Software Engineer jobs

Principal, Software Engineer
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Principal, Software Engineer
Sam's Club
Sunnyvale, California
Cloud Engineering
DevOps
Software Engineering
$143k - $286k/yr
High school
201-500

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Principal Software Engineer
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Added 1d ago
Principal Software Engineer
Walmart
Sunnyvale, California
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
ML (Machine Learning)
$143k - $286k/yr
High school
10,000+

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(USA) Principal, Software Engineer
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Added 1w ago
(USA) Principal, Software Engineer
Walmart
Sunnyvale, California
Cloud Engineering
DevOps
Software Engineering
$143k - $286k/yr
High school
10,000+

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(USA) Principal Software Engineer
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Added 1w ago
(USA) Principal Software Engineer
Walmart
Sunnyvale, California
Full-stack Engineering
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
$110k - $286k/yr
High school
10,000+

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Principal Software Architect, Finance Technology Platform
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Principal Software Architect, Finance Technology Platform
Apple
Sunnyvale, California
Academic & Educational Administration
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Human Resources
$263k - $394k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

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See All 52 Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Sunnyvale

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Principal Software Engineer Job Market in Sunnyvale

Who's Hiring

  • Walmart39
  • Fortinet8
  • Sam's Club2
  • Apple1
  • DigiCert1

Top Industries Hiring

  • Retail
  • Cybersecurity
  • Technology & Software
  • Consumer Goods
  • E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces

Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Sunnyvale: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a principal software engineer job in Sunnyvale?

Sunnyvale's hiring is dominated by semiconductor firms, cloud platform teams, and consumer electronics companies, so candidates who can demonstrate system-level design experience and cross-functional technical leadership stand out. Roles concentrate in the Lawrence Expressway corridor and downtown Sunnyvale campuses. Targeting companies with active infrastructure or platform expansion, contributing to relevant open-source projects, and building visibility through local tech meetups and IEEE Santa Clara Valley chapter events gives candidates a concrete edge in this market.

Which companies hire principal software engineers in Sunnyvale?

Employers hiring principal software engineers in Sunnyvale right now include Walmart, Fortinet, and Sam's Club, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Sunnyvale's employer mix skews heavily toward established semiconductor and networking hardware companies alongside newer cloud and AI infrastructure startups, making it one of the densest markets for senior engineering talent in the country.

Are there remote principal software engineer jobs in Sunnyvale?

Yes, though principal software engineer roles are more hybrid than fully remote, given the cross-functional collaboration and architecture-review work they require. About 38% of principal software engineer openings tied to Sunnyvale are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with flexibility concentrated in platform, backend, and AI infrastructure teams rather than hardware-adjacent or lab-integrated roles.

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

The most realistic path is targeting senior software engineer roles at Sunnyvale's mid-size networking and semiconductor startups, which promote from within faster than large incumbents. Rotational engineering programs at established Sunnyvale hardware companies offer structured pathways toward staff and principal levels. Building depth in systems programming, RISC-V or custom silicon toolchains, or distributed storage positions candidates well for the technical profiles Sunnyvale employers prize most in early-career principal tracks.

Which industries hire the most principal software engineers in Sunnyvale?

The sectors hiring the most principal software engineers in Sunnyvale are Retail, Cybersecurity, and Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Sunnyvale's position as a longtime hub for semiconductor design, networking equipment, and cloud infrastructure means those industries consistently generate the highest volume of senior engineering openings in the city.

See All 52 Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Sunnyvale

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