Entry Level Principal Software Engineer Jobs
New grad principal software engineer jobs are open to recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where a strong portfolio or internship work can matter more than a long resume. Most openings are Technology & Software, Science & Research, and Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals roles with a mix of on-site, remote, and hybrid settings, and employers like Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems USA, and Oracle are hiring at this level now.
Find JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 41+ Entry Level Principal Software Engineer jobs
Description
At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.
We are looking for you to join our team as a Principal/Senior Principal Software Engineer based in McClellan, CA.
What You'll Get To Do:
Synthesize software requirements into verification requirements, software test objectives, success criteria, and required resources for software and system level tests and demonstrations.
Support the development of software requirements and detailed integration software test plans, procedures, test readiness reviews (TRRs), test data and test reports.
Execution of software qualification and acceptance testing per those requirements, plans and procedures.
Participate in internal and customer software test planning working groups.
Design, develop, and implement testing methods and equipment specific to software.
Collaborate with systems engineers, software development engineers and other stakeholders involved in the testing process.
Review software test plans, procedures, and reports, witness testing as the Cognizant Engineer
Participate in technical exchange meetings, interfacing with customers (internal/external) and contributing to a broad range of program deliverables.
This position can be filled as a Principal or Senior Principal Software Engineer.
Basic Qualifications for Principal Software Engineer:
- Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline from an accredited university and 5 years of related experience, or a Master's Degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of related experience, or PhD in a STEM discipline with 1 year of experience
- Must be a US Citizen in order to meet the security clearance requirement
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance with Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time as determined by the company to meet its business need
- Experience with software lifecycle: specification, design, implementation, integration, debug, and maintenance
- Experience leading Software Engineering teams with the ability to team plan, execute, and manage the technical scope, and support leadership planning
- Experience with software lifecycle: specification, design, implementation, integration, debug, and maintenance
- Experience leading Software Engineering teams with the ability to team plan, execute, and manage the technical scope, and support leadership planning
- Experience with Agile, Git, GitLab, or Bitbucket and working in cross-functional Scrum team
- Experience in software development using languages such as C/C++, Python, Java, Docker
Basic Qualifications for Senior Principal Software Engineer:
- Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline from an accredited university and 8 years of related experience, or a Master's Degree in a STEM discipline and 6 years of related experience, or PhD in a STEM discipline with 4 year of experience
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance with Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time as determined by the company to meet its business need
- Experience with software lifecycle: specification, design, implementation, integration, debug, and maintenance
- Experience leading Software Engineering teams with the ability to team plan, execute, and manage the technical scope, and support leadership planning
- Experience with software lifecycle: specification, design, implementation, integration, debug, and maintenance
- Experience leading Software Engineering teams with the ability to team plan, execute, and manage the technical scope, and support leadership planning
- Experience with Agile, Git, GitLab, or Bitbucket and working in cross-functional Scrum team
- Experience in software development using languages such as C/C++, Python, Java, Docker
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in Deliverables Management
- Experience with Software Testing Process
- Experience in Software Test Planning
- Hands-on design, deployment, and dynamic management of containerized systems
- Experience with Kubernetes (K8s, k3s) and cloud-native OS environments
- Experience with modern software factories and DevOps/DevSecOps practices
- Familiarity with Atlassian and CI/CD tools: Bitbucket, JIRA, Jenkins, Confluence
- Advanced scripting in Python, Linux Bash, and related languages
- Linux/UNIX experience in production environments
- Practical experience working in Agile and DevOps teams
What We Can Offer You:
Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a work environment which encourages your growth and supports the mutual success of our people and our company. Northrop Grumman benefits give you the
flexibility and control to choose the benefits that make the most sense for you and your family.
Your benefits will include the following: Health Plan, Savings Plan, Paid Time Off and Additional Benefits including Education Assistance, Training and Development, 9/80 Work Schedule (where available), and much more!
See All 41 Entry Level Principal Software Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsEntry Level Principal Software Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Northrop Grumman20
- BAE Systems USA3
- Oracle2
- Saviynt2

- Amgen1
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software8
- Science & Research2
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals2
- Education1
- Cybersecurity1
Entry Level Principal Software Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level principal software engineer job?
Focus on building a portfolio that shows real problem-solving: open-source contributions, personal projects, or internship work that demonstrates you can write clean, scalable code. Employers hiring at the entry level for this role typically look for a strong grasp of system design fundamentals, proficiency in at least one major language, and evidence you can learn fast. A relevant degree or bootcamp plus practical output gives you a meaningful edge.
Which companies hire entry level principal software engineers?
Companies hiring entry level principal software engineers right now include Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems USA, and Oracle, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. Hiring at this level tends to come from technology companies, high-growth startups, and large enterprises running engineering rotational or associate programs designed for early-career talent.
Are there remote entry level principal software engineer jobs?
Yes, though remote availability varies by employer and team. About 17% of entry level principal software engineer openings are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, so candidates have real flexibility when searching. Filtering by work setting on Migrate Mate lets you narrow to fully remote or hybrid roles that match your situation.
Are these new grad principal software engineer jobs?
Yes, the listings on this page include new grad, recent graduate, and junior principal software engineer roles. A new-grad-friendly posting typically welcomes candidates with zero to two years of experience and treats internships, academic projects, or a strong portfolio as equivalent to professional experience. Look for language like "new graduates welcome" or "entry level" in the job description to confirm the experience bar.
Which industries hire the most entry level principal software engineers?
Entry Level principal software engineer roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Science & Research, and Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. These sectors drive early-career hiring because they run large engineering teams with structured onboarding, making them well suited to candidates stepping into the role for the first time.