Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Maryland
Principal Software Engineer jobs in Maryland concentrate heavily in defense technology, cybersecurity, federal contracting, and enterprise software, reflecting the state's deep ties to government and intelligence agencies. The largest hiring metros are the Baltimore metro, the Washington D.C. suburbs including Bethesda and Rockville, and the I-270 corridor in Montgomery County, where employers such as Lockheed Martin, Leidos, and Northrop Grumman maintain major engineering operations. The most in-demand specialties include distributed systems architecture, cloud-native platform engineering, and software security engineering. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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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 the heart of Defining Possible is our commitment to missions. In rapidly changing global security environments, Northrop Grumman brings informed insights and software-secure technology to enable strategic planning. We’re looking for innovators who can help us keep building on our wide portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, and multi-domain systems and technologies that fuel those missions. By joining in our shared mission, we’ll support yours of expanding your personal network and developing skills, whether you are new to the field, or an industry thought leader. At Northrop Grumman you’ll have the resources, support, and team to do some of the best work of your career.
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems would like you to join our team as a Sr. Principal Cyber Software Engineer (Level 2 CNO Analyst/Programmer) . Places of performance for this position are Annapolis Junction MD, San Antonio TX, Aurora CO, and Carey, NC.
What You’ll Get to Do:
Provides custom software design and development of specialized tools and techniques. Designs and develops end-to-end data flow and tasking into the tools developed. Provides/authors documentation, participate in design, code, and software readiness reviews in accordance with the Government's software development procedures and processes. Program in Assembly, C, C++, Java, Perl, or Python. Develop Windows applications using Visual Studio or .NET environments; UNIX applications using make files or comparable build environments; or, Embedded or mobile platform development using proprietary, GOTS, or open-source build environments. Provide/author documentation, participate in design, code, and software readiness reviews as prescribed by the Government's software development procedures and processes.
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or network engineering with 8 years of experience, Masters degree with 6 years of experience, PhD with 0 year of experience.
- Current/active TS/SCI w/Polygraph (through the MD Customer)
- Experience in Python or C/C++ programming
- Experience with troubleshooting and debugging systems
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience analyzing user requirements to derive software design and performance requirements
- Software analysis or reverse engineering
- CNO development concepts, tools and techniques
- Unit testing frameworks and practices
This position description does not represent a current opening but may be used to identify candidates with skills and experience for positions within Northrop Grumman that frequently become available. Candidates who express an interest may be considered for future positions at Northrop Grumman.
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!
Primary Level Salary Range: $149,300.00 - $234,600.00 The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business. The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.
See All 64 Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Maryland
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Find JobsPrincipal Software Engineer Jobs by City in Maryland
Where Maryland roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Principal Software Engineer Job Market in Maryland
A snapshot from current Maryland openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- GliaCell Technologies11

- Northrop Grumman6

- Envision Innovative Solutions5

- Leidos4

- Arsiem3

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Medical Devices
- Aerospace & Defense
What Maryland Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal software engineer jobs across Maryland.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field
- Ten or more years of software engineering experience with several in a technical lead role
- Demonstrated architectural decision-making across large-scale distributed or cloud systems
- Active or eligible U.S. security clearance, commonly required by Maryland federal contractors
- Proficiency in modern backend languages such as Java, Go, or Python at enterprise scale
- Experience mentoring engineers and driving cross-team technical standards and code quality
Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Maryland: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a principal software engineer in Maryland?
There is no state-issued license or board certification required to work as a principal software engineer in Maryland. The typical path starts with a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or software engineering, followed by progressive engineering roles that build toward architecture and leadership. Maryland's federal contractor ecosystem places added weight on security clearance eligibility, so beginning the clearance process early at a defense or intelligence-adjacent employer accelerates advancement to principal-level positions.
How much do principal software engineers make in Maryland?
Principal software engineers in Maryland earn a median of about $138,680 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $87,690 for the lowest 10% to over $222,610 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire principal software engineers in Maryland?
Employers hiring principal software engineers in Maryland right now include GliaCell Technologies, Northrop Grumman, and Envision Innovative Solutions, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Maryland's concentration of defense contractors and federal agencies means that many principal-level roles in the state are tied to government program work, making the employer landscape distinct from purely commercial tech markets.
Which Maryland cities have the most principal software engineer jobs?
The Maryland cities with the most principal software engineer openings are Annapolis Junction, Fort Meade, and Columbia. The Washington D.C. suburbs, particularly Bethesda, Rockville, and Columbia, drive the bulk of demand because major defense contractors and federal health agencies have their headquarters or large operations campuses there, pulling high-seniority engineering talent into the I-270 and Baltimore-Washington corridors.
Are there remote principal software engineer jobs in Maryland?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 67% of principal software engineer openings tied to Maryland are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the desk-based, collaborative nature of senior software work. Fully remote roles are more common in commercial product companies, while Maryland's federal contractor employers tend to require at least partial on-site presence, particularly for positions that involve classified systems or secure facilities.
How can I get hired as a principal software engineer in Maryland with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a junior or associate software engineer role at one of Maryland's large defense or technology employers, where structured career ladders connect entry-level contributors to senior and principal tracks over time. Companies such as Leidos, SAIC, and Booz Allen Hamilton run new-graduate and rotational engineering programs in the Maryland area. Building a portfolio of systems design work, contributing to open-source projects, and pursuing cloud certifications from AWS or Google Cloud gives candidates without direct principal experience a concrete credential edge when applying.
Where can I find and apply to principal software engineer jobs in Maryland?
You can find and apply to principal software engineer jobs in Maryland on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your background and seniority level, and apply directly to the positions that fit.
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