Are you the type of person who likes to analyze a problem and find a solution? That's just what you'll be doing if you become a principal software engineer. In this role, you will evaluate the end-user's needs and then develop the perfect software solution. More specifically, you'll look at a problem and the ultimate business goals. Based on these goals, you'll develop, document, and test software that meets those needs.
You'll also be expected to maintain and upgrade existing software or recommend new technologies that can help increase productivity. Since principal software engineers often oversee the technical aspects of the project, they are also asked to provide technical guidance to development teams.
To succeed in this field, you'll need to have basic programming knowledge, analytical skills, logical thinking, and specific knowledge of mathematics. Proven experience in software development methodologies along with high-level programming languages, like Java, is typically required as well.
To get into this field, principal software engineers most commonly study computer science, electrical engineering, or computer engineering. Must hold a bachelor's or master's degree