How to hire a principal systems engineer

How to hire a principal systems engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step principal systems engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a principal systems engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new principal systems engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a principal systems engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a principal systems engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A principal systems engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, principal systems engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of principal systems engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Principal Systems Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Principal Systems Engineer	Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.	$46-87
   Engineer	Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more	$31-62
   Network Engineer	A network engineer is responsible for managing a network system, monitoring its performance, and upgrading its features to optimize performance and boost efficiency. Network engineers also create new systems, designing them based on clients' specifications and business needs... Show more	$29-53

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Systems Engineering
   • DOD
   • C++
   • RF
   • System Design
   • Infrastructure
   • System Integration
   • Linux
   • Java
   • System Performance
   • Software Development
   • System Architecture
   • Windows
   • Trade Studies

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage creation and deletion of user accounts in the department using Perl scripts.
   • Achieve compatibility requirements by partnering with LTE team to perform APCO P25 - LTE device functional and performance testing.
   • Develop and integrate software that drives flight control system hardware and achieves product requirements for an international avionics customer base.
   • Create verification test plans for TCP/IP network systems and storage area networks (SAN) incorporating Linux and Cisco network equipment.
   • Perform RF signal processing and simulation testing of pulse compression modulations.
   • Configure Linux systems to analyze system performance and review results against verification test plans.

   More principal systems engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your principal systems engineer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A principal systems engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a principal systems engineer in Indiana may be lower than in California, and an entry-level principal systems engineer usually earns less than a senior-level principal systems engineer. Additionally, a principal systems engineer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average principal systems engineer salary

   $133,208yearly

   $64.04 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level principal systems engineer salary

   $97,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average principal systems engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$165,870	$80
   2	Washington	$152,763	$73
   3	District of Columbia	$137,446	$66
   4	New York	$130,882	$63
   5	Connecticut	$126,115	$61
   6	Massachusetts	$125,557	$60
   7	Texas	$124,230	$60
   8	Arizona	$123,667	$59
   9	Virginia	$120,361	$58
   10	Maryland	$117,202	$56
   11	Michigan	$115,358	$55
   12	Pennsylvania	$114,447	$55
   13	Florida	$112,781	$54
   14	Georgia	$111,899	$54
   15	North Carolina	$110,687	$53
   16	Nebraska	$110,137	$53
   17	Iowa	$108,338	$52
   18	Indiana	$107,449	$52
   19	Colorado	$106,970	$51
   20	Alabama	$106,181	$51

   Average principal systems engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	eBay	$190,219	$91.45	15
   2	Cloudflare	$180,912	$86.98	32
   3	The Walt Disney Company	$172,017	$82.70	137
   4	NVIDIA	$171,942	$82.66	227
   5	VMware	$171,094	$82.26
   6	Databricks	$170,107	$81.78	15
   7	Carbonite	$167,341	$80.45
   8	Snowflake Computing	$164,080	$78.88	9
   9	Palo Alto Networks	$163,629	$78.67	221
   10	Gap Inc.	$159,595	$76.73
   11	Fortinet	$157,443	$75.69	24
   12	Akamai Technologies	$157,184	$75.57	8
   13	Zynga	$157,077	$75.52	5
   14	Amazon	$155,768	$74.89	760
   15	Tintri	$153,789	$73.94
   16	Ampere	$153,671	$73.88
   17	Rambus	$152,779	$73.45	1
   18	Micron Technology	$152,669	$73.40	37
   19	Mayo Clinic	$152,358	$73.25	20
   20	Informatica	$151,909	$73.03

4. Writing a principal systems engineer job description

   A job description for a principal systems engineer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a principal systems engineer job description:

   Principal systems engineer job description example

   TransUnion's Job Applicant Privacy Notice
   
   What We'll Bring:
   At TransUnion, we strive to build an environment where our associates are in the driver's seat of their professional development, while having access to help along the way. We encourage everyone to pursue passions and take ownership of their careers. With the support of colleagues and mentors, our associates are given the tools needed to get where they want to go. Regardless of job titles, our associates have the opportunity to learn new things and be a leader every day.
   
   Come be a part of our team - you'll work with great people, pioneering products and cutting-edge technology.
   
   What You'll Bring:
   Minimum 10 years of experience as a system administrator, including 5 or more years experience architecting and deploying production servers in the cloud and on-premise, and 2 or more years of networking experience.Strong background in managing hybrid environments, including Windows Server and Debian-based Linux.Experience writing, testing, and documenting automation scripts for both Windows and Linux.Expert incident investigation skills with an emphasis on root cause analysis.Strong written and verbal communication, including the ability to convey complex ideas to any audience.
   
   What we'd prefer to see:
   Network experience
   
   Impact You'll Make:
   As a senior member of the Systems Operations team, the Principal Systems Engineer will lead the configuration, performance, and maintenance of on-premise and cloud infrastructure. The role will be hands-on and engineering-focused, delivering core business initiatives to internal customers.
   
   Work with leadership to execute a systems and infrastructure support roadmap.Lead new technology initiatives to enhance processes, security posture, and uptime.Support and maintain critical infrastructure, including servers, virtual networks, and storage.Lead team activities, including systems maintenance, backup and recovery, and internal tickets.Mentor and teacher to fellow engineers on the team and within the organization.Maintain confidentiality and professional integrity while accessing sensitive data.Document all technical information and team activities via internal systems.
   
   #Argus
   #Dice
   #LP-EC1
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, veteran status, marital status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.
   
   TransUnion's Internal Job Title:
   Acquisition Exempt, Acquired Associate

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right principal systems engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with principal systems engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit principal systems engineers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your principal systems engineer job on Zippia to find and attract quality principal systems engineer candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit principal systems engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   If your interviews with principal systems engineer applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new principal systems engineer

   Once you've selected the best principal systems engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a principal systems engineer?