Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts

Principal Software Engineer jobs in Massachusetts are among the most actively sought senior technical roles in the country, concentrated in software product development, biotech platforms, financial technology, and defense systems across Greater Boston, Cambridge, and the Route 128 corridor. Employers with an enduring hiring presence include Raytheon Technologies, MathWorks, and Liberty Mutual, all of which maintain large engineering organizations in the state. The most in-demand specialties are distributed systems architecture, cloud infrastructure, and platform engineering. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles71
Top employerRaytheon
Top cityBoston, MA
Cities hiring19
Work type53% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 71+ Principal Software Engineer jobs

RAIS USA
Principal Software Engineer
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RAIS USA
New 3h ago
Principal Software Engineer
RAIS USA
Boston, Massachusetts
Software Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Technical Product & Program Management
Full-stack Engineering
Technical Program Management
Backend Engineering
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Rocket Software
Senior Principal Software Engineer, Vertica
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Rocket Software
Added 2d ago
Senior Principal Software Engineer, Vertica
Rocket Software
Massachusetts
Creative & Design
Product Management
UI/UX Design
$143k - $193k/yr
Remote (US)
Master's degree
1,001-5,000

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Analog Devices
Principal Product Management – Software and Digital Platforms
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Analog Devices
Added 2d ago
Principal Product Management – Software and Digital Platforms
Analog Devices
Wilmington, Massachusetts
Business Development
Program Management
Project Management
$157k - $227k/yr
Master's degree in business administration
10,000+

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Raytheon
Principal Platform Software Engineer
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Raytheon
Added 3d ago
Principal Platform Software Engineer
Raytheon
Woburn, Massachusetts
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Technical Product & Program Management
$108k - $205k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

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MITRE
Principal Embedded Software Engineer
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MITRE
Added 3d ago
Principal Embedded Software Engineer
MITRE
Bedford, Massachusetts
Business Operations
Compensation & Benefits
Human Resources (HR) — Generalist
On-Site
Master's degree
5,001-10,000

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See All 71 Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts

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Principal Software Engineer Jobs by City in Massachusetts

Where Massachusetts roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Cambridge
10 jobs
Burlington
6 jobs
Waltham
4 jobs
Marlborough
4 jobs
Lowell
3 jobs
Natick
3 jobs
Bedford
3 jobs
Mansfield
3 jobs

Principal Software Engineer Job Market in Massachusetts

A snapshot from current Massachusetts openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Raytheon
Raytheon6 open roles
10Beauty
10Beauty3 open roles
MathWorks
MathWorks3 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software14
  • Science & Research3
  • Electronics & Hardware3
  • Medical Devices2
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals2

What Massachusetts Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in principal software engineer jobs across Massachusetts.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related technical field
  • Ten or more years of professional software development experience with demonstrated technical leadership
  • Deep expertise in at least one major cloud platform such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
  • Proven ability to define system architecture and lead cross-functional engineering teams through delivery
  • Experience with large-scale distributed systems, microservices, or platform engineering in production environments
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for collaborating with product, design, and executive stakeholders

Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal software engineer in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts does not require a state-issued license for software engineering roles, so the path runs through education and experience rather than a licensing board. Most principals hold at least a bachelor's degree in computer science or a closely related field, often supplemented by a master's degree from a Massachusetts university. From there, candidates typically progress through mid-level and senior engineering roles, building a record of architectural ownership and team leadership before reaching the principal level.

How much do principal software engineers make in Massachusetts?

Principal software engineers in Massachusetts earn a median of about $165,210 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $102,810 for the lowest 10% to over $213,970 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire principal software engineers in Massachusetts?

Employers hiring principal software engineers in Massachusetts right now include Raytheon, 10Beauty, and MathWorks, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Massachusetts's concentration of defense contractors, biotech software firms, and established fintech companies means principal-level openings tend to appear across a broad range of industries, not just pure software product companies.

Which Massachusetts cities have the most principal software engineer jobs?

Boston, Cambridge, and Burlington have the most principal software engineer openings in Massachusetts. Greater Boston and Cambridge drive the bulk of demand, anchored by the region's dense cluster of technology companies, teaching hospitals, and research institutions, while suburban Route 128 corridor cities attract significant volume from large defense, insurance, and enterprise software employers headquartered there.

Are there remote principal software engineer jobs in Massachusetts?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 47% of principal software engineer openings tied to Massachusetts are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how naturally the role translates to distributed work. Architecture review, technical mentorship, and cross-team coordination, which make up much of a principal's day, can be conducted effectively without being on-site.

How can I get hired as a principal software engineer in Massachusetts with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path for someone without senior experience is to target a software engineer or senior engineer role and build toward the principal level over time. Large Massachusetts employers including Raytheon Technologies and MathWorks run structured new-graduate and associate engineering programs that provide mentorship and rotation across teams. Lateral moves from adjacent roles such as staff engineer, technical lead, or solutions architect at mid-size Massachusetts technology companies are a common route, and an advanced degree from a Massachusetts institution can accelerate the timeline.

Where can I find and apply to principal software engineer jobs in Massachusetts?

You can find and apply to principal software engineer jobs in Massachusetts on Migrate Mate, which lists current Massachusetts openings across industries and experience levels. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the employers posting them.

See All 71 Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts

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

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