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, Education, and Manufacturing roles with a mix of on-site, remote, and hybrid settings, and employers like Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems USA, and Saviynt are hiring at this level now.

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Overview

Open roles18
Top stateCalifornia
Top employerNorthrop Grumman
Top citySan Diego, CA
Work type100% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 18+ Entry Level Principal Software Engineer jobs

Saviynt
Associate Principal Software Engineer
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Saviynt
Added 1mo ago
Associate Principal Software Engineer
Saviynt
San Francisco, California
Software Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Backend Engineering
$220k - $225k/yr
On-Site
None

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Northrop Grumman
Principal/Senior Principal Engineer Software
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Northrop Grumman
Added 2mo ago
Principal/Senior Principal Engineer Software
Northrop Grumman
McClellan Park, California
Cloud Engineering
DevOps
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
$114k - $213k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

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BAE Systems USA
Engineer Principal – Ground/Application Software
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BAE Systems USA
Added 2mo ago
Engineer Principal – Ground/Application Software
BAE Systems USA
Broomfield, Colorado
Engineering (Non-Software)
Product Management
Technical Product & Program Management
$118k - $201k/yr
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

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BAE Systems USA
Engineer Principal – Embedded Software
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BAE Systems USA
Added 2mo ago
Engineer Principal – Embedded Software
BAE Systems USA
Boulder, Colorado
Engineering (Non-Software)
Product Management
Technical Product & Program Management
$118k - $201k/yr
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

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BAE Systems USA
Senior Principal Engineer – Ground/Application Software
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BAE Systems USA
Added 2mo ago
Senior Principal Engineer – Ground/Application Software
BAE Systems USA
Broomfield, Colorado
Engineering (Non-Software)
Product Management
Technical Product & Program Management
$133k - $226k/yr
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

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Entry Level Principal Software Engineer Job Market

Who's Hiring

Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman6 open roles
BAE Systems USA
BAE Systems USA3 open roles
Saviynt
Saviynt2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software
  • Education
  • Manufacturing
  • Science & Research
  • Distribution & Wholesale

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 Saviynt, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 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 0% of entry level principal software engineer openings are remote or hybrid as of August 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, Education, and Manufacturing, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 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.