Senior Principal Data Engineer Jobs in Rhode Island
Senior Principal Data Engineer jobs in Rhode Island concentrate in financial services, healthcare data systems, and defense technology, with the highest demand at the intersection of cloud architecture and large-scale data platform leadership. Most hiring is anchored in Providence, with additional activity in Warwick and East Providence, where employers such as CVS Health, Amica Mutual, and Raytheon Technologies maintain significant data engineering operations. Distributed systems architecture, real-time data pipeline design, and enterprise data governance are the specialties commanding the most consistent openings. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Description
Principal Software Engineer
Job Summary
The Principal Software Engineer is responsible for leading the design, development, and evolution of scalable, resilient, reliable, and intelligent software systems. This role combines deep technical leadership with hands-on engineering expertise and requires a customer-centric, forward-looking mindset to integrate AI-driven development practices and agent-based architectures into modern software delivery.
The Principal Software Engineer serves as a technical authority and innovation leader, shaping architecture, mentoring engineers, and driving engineering excellence. Expertise in cloud-native architectures, modern development frameworks, and software engineering best practices is essential for delivering high-quality, secure, and scalable solutions.
Key Responsibilities
Software Engineering & Delivery
- Design and develop full-stack applications while ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture standards.
- Participate in Agile software development practices and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
- Design, modify, develop, and implement modern application components, tools, and services that support strategic business objectives.
- Build scalable, maintainable, resilient, and highly available distributed systems.
- software security best practices throughout the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
- Identify, prevent, and remediate security vulnerabilities to protect systems and sensitive data.
- Serve as a technical leader and mentor, promoting innovation, accountability, and engineering excellence.
- Contribute to architectural decisions and technology strategy.
AI-Driven Development & Agentic Engineering
- Leverage AI-assisted development tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot and similar technologies) to improve engineering productivity and code quality.
- Design and implement agentic workflows throughout the software development lifecycle.
- Utilize AI technologies for:
- Code generation
- Code refactoring
- Code optimization
- Automated code review
- Quality analysis
- Intelligent test generation
- Defect detection
- Develop and integrate AI-powered applications and services.
- Build customer-facing solutions utilizing Large Language Models (LLMs).
- Implement AI-driven automation for engineering and operational processes.
- Develop multi-agent workflows for orchestration and automated decision-making.
- advanced AI solution patterns including:
- Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)
- Prompt engineering
- Context management
- Agent orchestration
- Tool integration
- Ensure secure, compliant, and responsible use of AI technologies, particularly when handling regulated financial data.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related technical discipline.
- 7+ years of hands-on software development experience delivering and supporting commercial software applications.
- Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, and developing engineering talent.
- Strong experience developing applications using Node.js and modern Node.js frameworks.
- Hands-on experience with Java, Spring, and Spring Boot.
- Experience with modern front-end frameworks such as Angular, React, or similar technologies.
- Strong understanding of authentication and security protocols including OAuth and SAML.
- Experience implementing security controls and protecting enterprise systems and data.
- Experience building and supporting containerized applications using Docker, Kubernetes, and/or OpenShift.
- Cloud platform experience with AWS, Microsoft Azure, and/or Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
- Experience developing and deploying solutions that manage sensitive or regulated data.
- Strong knowledge of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) processes.
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps tooling, including:
- Jenkins
- Harness
- Git
- Bitbucket
- Nexus
- Experience with relational databases including:
- MySQL
- PostgreSQL
- Oracle
- Experience with NoSQL databases such as MongoDB.
- Strong understanding of data structures and algorithms.
- Experience utilizing code quality and code coverage tools.
- Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Hands-on experience using AI-assisted development tools such as GitHub Copilot or equivalent.
- Familiarity with Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI application development concepts.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience developing applications with Go and/or Python.
- Experience working with streaming and event-driven platforms including:
- Kafka
- Amazon Kinesis
- Amazon SQS
- Apache Storm
- 3+ years of experience within financial services, consumer banking, wealth management, or trading environments.
- Understanding of banking systems, operations, and financial services processes.
- Experience with Domain-Driven Design (DDD).
- Experience implementing Command Query Responsibility Segregation (CQRS).
- Cloud certifications such as:
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect
- AWS Certified Developer
- Equivalent Azure or GCP certifications
Technical Skills
Programming Languages
- Node JS
- Java
- Python
- GO
Front-End Technologies
- Angular
- React
Frameworks
- Spring
- Spring Boot
- Node.js Frameworks
Cloud Platforms
- AWS
- Azure
- GCP
Containerization & Orchestration
- Docker
- Kubernetes
- OpenShift
Databases
- MySQL
- PostgreSQL
- Oracle
- MongoDB
DevOps & CI/CD
- Jenkins
- Harness
- Git
- Bitbucket
- Nexus
Security
- OAuth
- SAML
- Secure SDLC Practices
AI & Emerging Technology
- GitHub Copilot
- Large Language Models (LLMs)
- Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
- Prompt Engineering
- Agentic AI Workflows
- Agent Orchestration
- AI Automation
What Sets This Role Apart
- Lead digital-first banking transformation initiatives.
- Drive adoption of AI-powered and agentic software engineering practices.
- Influence enterprise architecture and next-generation development methodologies.
- Partner with engineering leaders to shape the future of software delivery and innovation.
Hours & Work Schedule
- Hours per Week: 40
- Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
Some job boards have started using jobseeker-reported data to estimate salary ranges for roles. If you apply and qualify for this role, a recruiter will discuss accurate pay guidance.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Citizens, its parent, subsidiaries, and related companies (Citizens) provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all colleagues and applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, citizenship, physical or mental disability, perceived disability or history or record of a disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, genetic characteristic, marital or domestic partner status, victim of domestic violence, family status/parenthood, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy/childbirth/lactation, colleague’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state and/or local laws. At Citizens, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that enables all colleagues to bring their best selves to work every day and everyone is expected to be treated with respect and professionalism. Employment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, performance and capability.
Background Check
Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the candidate successfully passing a background check, which may include initial credit, motor vehicle record, public record, prior employment verification, and criminal background checks. Results of the background check are individually reviewed based upon legal requirements imposed by our regulators and with consideration of the nature and gravity of the background history and the job offered. Any offer of employment will include further information.
Benefits
We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more.
Awards We've Received
Glassdoor Best Place to Work in Consulting, Finance & Insurance
Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index 100 Award
Newsweek America's Most Charitable Company
The Banker's
US Bank of the Year
Dave Thomas Foundation’s Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace
Disability:IN Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion
See All 61 Senior Principal Data Engineer Jobs in Rhode Island
Find roles in Rhode Island that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsSenior Principal Data Engineer Jobs by City in Rhode Island
Where Rhode Island roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior Principal Data Engineer Job Market in Rhode Island
A snapshot from current Rhode Island openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Raytheon10

- CVS Health9

- Citizens7

- Fidelity Investments7

- Providence School District4

Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services7
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals6
- Investment & Asset Management5
- Consulting & Professional Services2
- Energy1
What Rhode Island Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior principal data engineer jobs across Rhode Island.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, data engineering, or a related technical field
- Ten or more years of data engineering experience including senior or principal-level leadership
- Expert-level proficiency in cloud data platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
- Demonstrated experience designing and scaling distributed data pipelines and streaming architectures
- Strong background in SQL, Python, Spark, and modern data warehousing technologies
- Experience mentoring engineering teams and influencing data strategy at the organizational level
Senior Principal Data Engineer Jobs in Rhode Island: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior principal data engineer in Rhode Island?
Reaching the senior principal level in Rhode Island typically requires a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or a related field, followed by progressive data engineering roles over many years. Rhode Island has no state-issued license specific to data engineering. Employers in Providence's financial services and healthcare sectors, including major insurance carriers and hospital networks, look for candidates who have led platform architecture decisions, managed engineering teams, and delivered enterprise-scale data infrastructure.
How much do senior principal data engineers make in Rhode Island?
Senior principal data engineers in Rhode Island earn a median of about $140,320 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $92,540 for the lowest 10% to over $189,810 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire senior principal data engineers in Rhode Island?
Employers hiring senior principal data engineers in Rhode Island right now include Raytheon, CVS Health, and Citizens, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Rhode Island's concentration of large insurance carriers, defense contractors, and academic medical centers makes it a consistent market for senior-level data engineering talent.
Which Rhode Island cities have the most senior principal data engineer jobs?
Providence, Johnston, and Rhode Island have the most senior principal data engineer openings in Rhode Island. Providence drives the largest share because it is home to major financial services firms, healthcare systems, and technology operations, while Warwick and East Providence contribute openings from established defense and insurance employers with significant data infrastructure needs.
Are there remote senior principal data engineer jobs in Rhode Island?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 48% of senior principal data engineer openings tied to Rhode Island are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, reflecting how broadly analytical and platform-focused this work is. Architecture design, pipeline development, and stakeholder strategy work are the parts of the role most often performed fully remotely, though some employers require periodic on-site presence for cross-functional leadership.
How can I get hired as a senior principal data engineer in Rhode Island with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a junior or mid-level data engineering role at a Rhode Island employer, then building toward the principal level over time. Healthcare systems such as Lifespan and Care New England, along with insurance firms like Amica, hire associate data engineers and analysts who grow into senior platform roles. Earning a cloud certification on AWS or Azure and building a portfolio of pipeline or data warehouse projects gives candidates a concrete edge when applying to these organizations.
Where can I find and apply to senior principal data engineer jobs in Rhode Island?
You can find and apply to senior principal data engineer jobs in Rhode Island on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings in the state. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your experience and preferred location, and apply directly to whichever positions fit your background.
See All 61 Senior Principal Data Engineer Jobs in Rhode Island
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