Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Minnesota

Principal Software Engineer jobs in Minnesota are in strong demand, concentrated in enterprise technology, financial services, healthcare IT, and defense and aerospace systems, with openings at senior and staff-level for architects and technical leads alike. The Twin Cities metro anchors most hiring, with Rochester and Duluth adding meaningful volume, and employers such as Best Buy, UnitedHealth Group, and Medtronic maintaining consistent demand for principal-level engineers. The most sought-after specialties include cloud platform engineering, distributed systems architecture, and embedded or safety-critical software. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

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Overview

Open roles13
Top employerCVS Health
Top cityMinnesota
Cities hiring9
Work type80% Hybrid
Top industryElectronics

Showing 5 of 13+ Principal Software Engineer jobs

CVS Health
Principal Software Development Engineer
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CVS Health
Added 1w ago
Principal Software Development Engineer
CVS Health
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Business Analysis
Data Analytics
Data Science
$144k - $288k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

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General Dynamics Mission Systems
Senior Principal Software Engineer
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General Dynamics Mission Systems
Added 3w ago
Senior Principal Software Engineer
General Dynamics Mission Systems
Bloomington, Minnesota
Backend Engineering
Full-stack Engineering
Software Engineering
$202k - $213k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

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CVS Health
Principal Software Engineer
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CVS Health
Added 1mo ago
Principal Software Engineer
CVS Health
Minnesota
Engineering (Non-Software)
Project Management
Technical Program Management
$144k - $288k/yr
Remote (US)
High school diploma or GED
10,000+

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CVS Health
Principal Software Engineer
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CVS Health
Added 1mo ago
Principal Software Engineer
CVS Health
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Business Strategy
Product Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$144k - $288k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

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Aspen Technology
Principal Software Developer
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Aspen Technology
Added 1mo ago
Principal Software Developer
Aspen Technology
Medina, Minnesota
Backend Engineering
Full-stack Engineering
Software Engineering
$127k - $159k/yr
Bachelor's degree

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See All 13 Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Minnesota

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Principal Software Engineer Jobs by City in Minnesota

Where Minnesota roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Saint Paul
2 jobs
Eden Prairie
2 jobs
Medina
1 job
Fridley
1 job
Burnsville
1 job
Minnetonka
1 job
Bloomington
1 job
Maple Plain
1 job
Minneapolis
1 job

Principal Software Engineer Job Market in Minnesota

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

Who's Hiring

CVS Health
CVS Health3 open roles
Optum
Optum2 open roles
IPG Photonics Corporation
IPG Photonics Corporation2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Electronics & Hardware
  • Manufacturing
  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Consulting & Professional Services

What Minnesota Employers Look For

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

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field
  • Ten or more years of software engineering experience including senior or staff-level roles
  • Demonstrated ability to lead technical direction and mentor engineering teams across large organizations
  • Deep expertise in distributed systems, cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure, or embedded software
  • Experience driving system design, architecture reviews, and cross-functional technical decisions
  • Strong communication skills for partnering with product management, engineering leadership, and stakeholders

Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Minnesota: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal software engineer in Minnesota?

Becoming a principal software engineer in Minnesota does not require a state-issued license, but employers consistently expect a bachelor's degree in computer science or software engineering and extensive hands-on experience building and leading complex systems. Most principal engineers reach the role after progressing through mid-level and senior engineering positions, accumulating depth in a specific technical domain and demonstrating the ability to set technical direction for teams and products.

How much do principal software engineers make in Minnesota?

Principal software engineers in Minnesota earn a median of about $130,050 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $79,900 for the lowest 10% to over $169,810 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire principal software engineers in Minnesota?

Companies currently hiring principal software engineers in Minnesota include CVS Health, Optum, and IPG Photonics Corporation, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Minnesota's concentration of large healthcare, financial services, and retail technology headquarters means demand for principal engineers is consistent and spread across multiple high-growth sectors.

Which Minnesota cities have the most principal software engineer jobs?

Minnesota, Saint Paul, and Eden Prairie have the most principal software engineer openings in Minnesota. The Twin Cities metro drives the majority of listings, anchored by the regional headquarters of major employers in healthcare technology, financial services, and enterprise retail IT, while Rochester's concentration of medical technology and health systems employers supports demand in that market.

Are there remote principal software engineer jobs in Minnesota?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 100% of principal software engineer openings tied to Minnesota are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how deeply the role can be performed from anywhere with a strong internet connection. Architecture, system design, and technical leadership work is especially well-suited to distributed settings, making this one of the more remote-accessible senior engineering roles.

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

The most realistic entry path is landing an associate or mid-level software engineering role first. Large Minnesota employers like UnitedHealth Group, Medtronic, and Target run new-graduate and rotational engineering programs that build the foundational experience principal roles require. Moving into a senior engineer or technical lead position from a staff or backend developer role is the most common lateral step, and building a portfolio demonstrating system design and architecture decisions gives candidates a meaningful edge when applying.

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

You can find and apply to principal software engineer jobs in Minnesota on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings in the state. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level, technical specialty, and preferred location or remote arrangement, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

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