What does a principal engineer do?
A principal engineer is responsible for monitoring the overall design phase of the construction process, including coordinating with the client for progress and updates, as well as performing adjustments as needed based on clients' specifications and requirements. Principal engineers also inspect the materials and resources used to ensure that the project stays within the budget goals and set timeframe. They should have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in preparing reports and training new staff.
Principal engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real principal engineer resumes:
- Develop test plans and procedures, and lead the test effort on Windows.CE porting.
- Provide analytical direction, reasoning, and manage lipid extraction experiments done as a team.
- Identify, develop and implement action items to manage & improve software releases and develop guidelines in JavaScript coding.
- Lead a group of 9 engineers responsible for technology development for handling electronic packages (computer CPU) during HVM.
- Provide consultation to the ISO team in achieving certification, and enable company to win many more deals as a result.
- Create process control systems in LabView.
- Create an extensible python framework to process data - serially or in parallel.
- Perform troubleshooting and support, and modify python base scripts for automate testing.
- Conduct part/assembly design with PTC's Creo, including all drawings and documentation.
- Develop commercial prepay bankcard website https: //prepaid.pcfinancial.ca/ using JavaScript, CSS3 and ASP.NET framework.
- Develop / execute automated prototype and manufacturing tests using JTAG, emulators, and scripting languages.
- Test all features and functions of API interface calls used in Motorola's advance digital set-top products.
- Improve the UI and functional quality of threat protection software that result in a successful product release.
- Design and build a subscale DSP using Creo and rapid manufacturing techniques such as SLA and SLM.
- Design and develop automated PERL test scripts for use in testing the software which result in cycle time reduction.
Principal engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Principal Engineers are proficient in Java, Architecture, and Python. They’re also known for soft skills such as Mechanical skills, Creativity, and Listening skills.
We break down the percentage of Principal Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Java, 13%
Designed and implemented applications for customer support functions using Java and Java scripts.
- Architecture, 8%
Developed synthesize-able decimation filter architecture.
- Python, 8%
Designed and implemented network management and diagnostic processing using a combination of C++ and Python.
- Software Development, 4%
Provided engineering and technical services to scientific laboratories, commercial electronics manufacturers, software development firms and technology consultants.
- Azure, 4%
Implemented Azure message bus features such as Message Queues and Topic Hubs for pub-sub.
- Linux, 3%
Developed and implemented a Linux device driver and performed extensive user-level software validation on the completed circuit card.
Most principal engineers use their skills in "java," "architecture," and "python" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential principal engineer responsibilities here:
Mechanical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a principal engineer to have is mechanical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "mechanical skills allow engineers to apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems." Principal engineers often use mechanical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "led a diverse group of contractors in mechanical, electro-mechanical, computer, automation, product development, process improvement consulting. "
Creativity. Many principal engineer duties rely on creativity. "mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery," so a principal engineer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways principal engineer responsibilities rely on creativity: "invent and develop flex logic and generic logic engines using xml, xml-rpc, and java. "
Listening skills. principal engineers are also known for listening skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to principal engineer responsibilities, because "mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists." A principal engineer resume example shows how listening skills is used in the workplace: "communicated with customers and suppliers throughout the product development process. "
Math skills. For certain principal engineer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of a principal engineer rely on this skill, as "mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what principal engineers do: "translated mathematical papers into proof of concept, test and verification code using c, c++, and java languages. "
Problem-solving skills. Another common skill required for principal engineer responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." This skill comes up in the duties of principal engineers all the time, as "mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products." An excerpt from a real principal engineer resume shows how this skill is central to what a principal engineer does: "improved the hierarchal layout in java to create better separation and resolution of the entities and their relationships. "
The three companies that hire the most principal engineers are:
- Oracle145 principal engineers jobs
- Spectrum134 principal engineers jobs
- Microsoft111 principal engineers jobs
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Compare different principal engineers
Principal engineer vs. Team lead engineer
A team leads engineer is in charge of spearheading and overseeing the efforts of an engineering team, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Although the duties may depend on one's industry of employment, it typically includes designing and developing systems according to project requirements, setting objectives and construction guidelines, delegating tasks, managing budgets and schedules, and monitoring the workflow, performing corrective measures as needed. Furthermore, as a team leads engineer, it is essential to encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while enforcing the company's safety standards and regulations.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, principal engineer responsibilities require skills like "software development," "technical leadership," "dod," and "c." Meanwhile a typical team lead engineer has skills in areas such as "infrastructure," "san," "leveraged," and "database." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Team lead engineers earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $117,918. On the other hand, principal engineers are paid more in the telecommunication industry with an average salary of $125,415.On average, team lead engineers reach lower levels of education than principal engineers. Team lead engineers are 7.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 5.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Principal engineer vs. Senior staff engineer
A senior staff engineer is responsible for supervising a team of engineers, chemists, software developers, or molecular biologists. His/Her or her responsibilities include generating Structured Query Language (SQL) performance audit checklist template, creating SQL data query routines and functions for data extraction, and working directly with stakeholders. The job requires strong mechanical, listening, and mathematical skills and proficiency in Python programming language and computer architecture and hardware. The education requirements for the job include a bachelor's or master's degree in electrical engineering, business, mechanical engineering, or a related field.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, principal engineer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "azure," "javascript," "spring boot," and "matlab." Meanwhile, a senior staff engineer has duties that require skills in areas such as "sql," "excellent interpersonal," "first hand," and "firmware." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Senior staff engineers earn a higher average salary than principal engineers. But senior staff engineers earn the highest pay in the telecommunication industry, with an average salary of $136,458. Additionally, principal engineers earn the highest salaries in the telecommunication with average pay of $125,415 annually.senior staff engineers earn similar levels of education than principal engineers in general. They're 2.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 5.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for principal engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Andrea Welker Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University
Principal engineer vs. Lead design engineer
A Lead Design Engineer produces design solutions that can be purchased, installed, and commissioned effectively. They are also responsible for the cost-effectiviness and safety of new designs.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a principal engineer is likely to be skilled in "java," "architecture," "python," and "c #," while a typical lead design engineer is skilled in "ul," "mechanical design," "gd," and "ip."
Lead design engineers earn the highest salary when working in the agriculture industry, where they receive an average salary of $112,898. Comparatively, principal engineers have the highest earning potential in the telecommunication industry, with an average salary of $125,415.lead design engineers typically earn lower educational levels compared to principal engineers. Specifically, they're 9.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 5.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Principal engineer vs. Senior product engineer
A senior product engineer specializes in optimizing product designs and manufacturing procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They are typically in charge of performing market research and analysis, utilizing the results as a basis in designing new products and upgrading existing designs. Moreover, they coordinate with product development teams to cultivate ideas, develop prototypes and test structures, and oversee the material selection that will make the products possible. As a senior product engineer, it is essential to monitor the entire progress and lead the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Types of principal engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
