Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Pennsylvania

Principal Software Engineer jobs in Pennsylvania are actively sought across the state's finance, healthcare technology, and defense contracting sectors, with openings ranging from senior-level individual contributors to staff and distinguished engineer tracks. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh lead hiring volume, with Malvern and King of Prussia forming a strong suburban corridor, while employers such as Comcast, Lockheed Martin, and Vanguard maintain consistent principal-level engineering demand. Architecture, cloud platform engineering, and distributed systems design are the most in-demand specializations across Pennsylvania listings. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles14
Top employerPNC Financial Services
Top cityPittsburgh, PA
Cities hiring6
Work type75% On-site
Top industryManufacturing

Showing 5 of 14+ Principal Software Engineer jobs

Amtrak
Sr Principal Software Engineer/ (Maximo Functional Lead) - 90260895 - Philadelphia
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Amtrak
Added 1w ago
Sr Principal Software Engineer/ (Maximo Functional Lead) - 90260895 - Philadelphia
Amtrak
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Data Engineering
Software Engineering
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
$149k - $194k/yr
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Ascensus
Principal Software Engineer, IT Software Engineers
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Ascensus
Added 3w ago
Principal Software Engineer, IT Software Engineers
Ascensus
Dresher, Pennsylvania
Account Management
Customer Service
Customer Success
Partnerships & Business Development
Remote (US)
Bachelor's degree in engineering
5,001-10,000

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PNC Financial Services Group
Software Engineer Principal
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PNC Financial Services Group
Added 1mo ago
Software Engineer Principal
PNC Financial Services Group
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Cloud & DevOps
Cloud Engineering
DevOps
Technical Program Management
Bachelor's degree in management information systems
10,000+

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Elsevier
Principal Software Engineer/Principal AI Engineer
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Elsevier
Added 1mo ago
Principal Software Engineer/Principal AI Engineer
Elsevier
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Customer Service
Customer Success
Customer Support
$115k - $192k/yr
Bachelor of Science
5,001-10,000

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RELX Group
Principal Software Engineer/Principal AI Engineer
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RELX Group
Added 1mo ago
Principal Software Engineer/Principal AI Engineer
RELX Group
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Customer Service
Customer Success
Customer Support
$115k - $192k/yr
Bachelor of Science
1,001-5,000

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See All 14 Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Pennsylvania

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Principal Software Engineer Jobs by City in Pennsylvania

Where Pennsylvania roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Pittsburgh
4 jobs
Philadelphia
4 jobs
Horsham
3 jobs
Dresher
1 job
Harrisburg
1 job
Plymouth Meeting
1 job

Principal Software Engineer Job Market in Pennsylvania

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

Who's Hiring

PNC Financial Services
PNC Financial Services4 open roles
Coherent
Coherent3 open roles
Amtrak
Amtrak1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Manufacturing
  • Technology & Software
  • Electronics & Hardware
  • Banking & Financial Services

What Pennsylvania Employers Look For

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

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related technical field
  • Ten or more years of software engineering experience with at least three in a technical leadership role
  • Demonstrated ability to define system architecture and drive cross-team technical standards
  • Deep proficiency in one or more languages such as Java, Python, Go, or C++ at production scale
  • Experience leading design reviews, mentoring senior engineers, and influencing engineering roadmaps
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to align engineering decisions to business strategy

Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Pennsylvania: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal software engineer in Pennsylvania?

Principal software engineer is a seniority designation rather than a licensed profession, so Pennsylvania requires no state-issued credential for the role. The typical path involves earning a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or software engineering, then building a career from mid-level through senior engineer positions. Pennsylvania employers generally promote to principal based on demonstrated system design ownership, technical mentorship, and cross-organizational influence rather than a fixed years-of-service rule.

How much do principal software engineers make in Pennsylvania?

Principal software engineers in Pennsylvania earn a median of about $126,550 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $77,750 for the lowest 10% to over $178,080 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire principal software engineers in Pennsylvania?

Employers hiring principal software engineers in Pennsylvania right now include PNC Financial Services, Coherent, and Amtrak, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Pennsylvania's concentration of financial services firms, large health systems, and defense contractors means principal-level roles here often require deep domain knowledge alongside broad technical leadership skills.

Which Pennsylvania cities have the most principal software engineer jobs?

Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Horsham have the most principal software engineer openings in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia drives the largest share through its dense cluster of financial institutions, health systems, and technology campuses, while Pittsburgh's growing robotics and AI research ecosystem anchors demand there, and suburban markets like Malvern and King of Prussia reflect the headquarters presence of major financial technology and defense firms.

Are there remote principal software engineer jobs in Pennsylvania?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 25% of principal software engineer openings tied to Pennsylvania are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how thoroughly this role is centered on architecture, code review, and collaboration tools rather than on-site hardware or lab work. The most fully remote positions tend to be at product companies and fintechs, while defense and regulated healthcare employers more often require hybrid or on-site presence.

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

The most realistic entry path is building toward the role from a senior software engineer position, not applying to principal roles directly. In Pennsylvania, Comcast Technology Solutions, Vanguard, and major health systems such as Penn Medicine run associate and rotational engineering programs that can accelerate a career trajectory for strong junior engineers. Contributing to open-source projects, earning a cloud architecture certification, and building a portfolio that demonstrates system design thinking gives candidates a visible edge when moving from senior to principal.

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

You can find and apply to principal software engineer jobs in Pennsylvania on Migrate Mate, which lists current Pennsylvania openings updated regularly. Search the listings, find roles that fit your background and location preferences, and apply directly to each employer without creating an account or signing up.

See All 14 Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Pennsylvania

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