Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Ohio

Principal Software Engineer jobs in Ohio are in strong demand, concentrated in enterprise technology, financial services, healthcare IT, and defense contracting, with openings at every level from senior developer stepping into principal scope through seasoned technical leads. Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati are the primary hiring hubs, anchored by major employers such as Nationwide Insurance, KeyBank, and Kroger, all of which maintain large engineering organizations in Ohio. The most sought-after specialties in the state are distributed systems, cloud-native architecture, and platform engineering supporting large-scale enterprise applications. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles15
Top employerNorthrop Grumman
Top cityColumbus, OH
Cities hiring5
Work type67% On-site
Top credentialBachelor of Science

Showing 5 of 15+ Principal Software Engineer jobs

Aegis Ventures
Principal Software Engineer
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Aegis Ventures
Added 1d ago
Principal Software Engineer
Aegis Ventures
Columbus, Ohio
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
Hybrid

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JPMorganChase
Principal Software Engineer - Agentic Validation, Trust & Evaluation
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JPMorganChase
Added 2d ago
Principal Software Engineer - Agentic Validation, Trust & Evaluation
JPMorganChase
Columbus, Ohio
Data Engineering
Project Management
Technical Program Management
10,000+

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Northrop Grumman
Sr Principal Cyber Software Engineer Lead
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Northrop Grumman
Added 1w ago
Sr Principal Cyber Software Engineer Lead
Northrop Grumman
Cincinnati, Ohio
Backend Engineering
Full-stack Engineering
Software Engineering
$142k - $213k/yr
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

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CVS Health
Principal Software Development Engineer
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CVS Health
Added 1w ago
Principal Software Development Engineer
CVS Health
Columbus, Ohio
Account Management
Customer Service
Customer Success
Partnerships & Business Development
$144k - $288k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

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Northrop Grumman
Principal Cyber Software Engineer
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Northrop Grumman
Added 1w ago
Principal Cyber Software Engineer
Northrop Grumman
Cincinnati, Ohio
Software Engineering
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Specialized Engineering
Technical Program Management
$114k - $171k/yr
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

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See All 15 Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Ohio

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

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Principal Software Engineer Jobs by City in Ohio

Where Ohio roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Columbus
5 jobs
Cincinnati
3 jobs
Beavercreek
3 jobs
Fairborn
2 jobs
Strongsville
1 job

Principal Software Engineer Job Market in Ohio

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

Who's Hiring

Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman5 open roles
CVS Health
CVS Health3 open roles
BAE Systems USA
BAE Systems USA2 open roles

What Ohio Employers Look For

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

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field
  • Eight or more years of progressive software engineering experience including technical leadership
  • Deep expertise in at least one major programming language such as Java, Python, C++, or Go
  • Proven ability to define and drive architecture decisions across multiple product teams
  • Experience with cloud platforms including AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud in production environments
  • Strong record of mentoring engineers and influencing engineering culture and best practices

Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Ohio: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal software engineer in Ohio?

Reaching a principal software engineer role in Ohio typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related discipline, followed by progressive engineering experience that includes system design ownership and cross-team technical influence. Ohio employers do not require a state-issued license for software engineering, so advancement depends on demonstrating architectural impact, mentoring others, and leading initiatives that affect the broader product or platform. Ohio's large enterprise employers in Columbus and Cleveland routinely promote from within for these roles.

How much do principal software engineers make in Ohio?

Principal software engineers in Ohio earn a median of about $114,090 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $77,790 for the lowest 10% to over $168,400 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire principal software engineers in Ohio?

Employers hiring principal software engineers in Ohio right now include Northrop Grumman, CVS Health, and BAE Systems USA, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Ohio's mix of Fortune 500 headquarters, major financial institutions, and established healthcare systems gives principal-level engineers a wide range of industry contexts to choose from across the state.

Which Ohio cities have the most principal software engineer jobs?

Columbus, Cincinnati, and Beavercreek have the most principal software engineer openings in Ohio. Columbus leads because it is home to the headquarters of large insurance, retail, and financial services companies that maintain substantial engineering organizations, while Cleveland and Cincinnati contribute through their own concentrations of healthcare technology, manufacturing software, and regional banking institutions that require senior technical leadership.

Are there remote principal software engineer jobs in Ohio?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 33% of principal software engineer openings tied to Ohio are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how broadly software engineering work can be done without a fixed office. The responsibilities most commonly performed remotely include architecture reviews, code reviews, and cross-team technical strategy sessions, while some Ohio employers still prefer on-site presence for hands-on platform or infrastructure work.

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

The most realistic path for someone without direct principal-level experience is to join a large Ohio employer as a senior software engineer and pursue promotion from within. Companies such as Nationwide, Huntington Bank, and major healthcare systems in Columbus and Cleveland hire senior engineers into roles that carry a clear path to principal scope. Building a strong portfolio of system design projects, contributing to open-source architecture decisions, and earning a cloud certification such as AWS Solutions Architect Associate gives candidates a concrete edge when applying for those bridge roles.

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

You can find and apply to principal software engineer jobs in Ohio on Migrate Mate, which lists current Ohio openings updated regularly. Search the listings, find roles that match your experience and specialization, and apply directly to each one without any additional sign-up step required.

See All 15 Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Ohio

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