What does a principle engineer do?
Principle engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real principle engineer resumes:
- Lead cross-functional development initiatives compliant with FDA 21 CFR 820.
- Code the Linux socket base GigE protocol to manage and transfer streams of video data.
- Manage Terraform and refactore from monolithic to application specific components.
- Set up and configure PHP Java bridge to enable invoking Java services from a PHP script.
- Design and develop low-level FC device driver as well as the Linux kernel interface layer for the product.
- Have a detail-orient with a track record of delivering infrastructure enhancements on time and with minimal impacts to production.
- Satellite RF communication link operations.
- Train in-house software engineers with Java and Java application development.
- Write overall system architecture including web portal architecture following system analysis and trade study development.
- Full system architecture responsibility from propellant supply chain to cryogenic system engineering and design to safety of operations.
- Conduct geotechnical and environmental subsurface investigations.
- Provide operational support on Cisco/Juniper routers and switches.
- Design and make modifications to manufacture equipment to improve quality and reliability of switches routers and hubs.
- Conduct geotechnical and environmental subsurface investigations.
Principle engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Principle Engineers are proficient in Architecture, Java, and R. They’re also known for soft skills such as Mechanical skills, Creativity, and Listening skills.
We break down the percentage of Principle Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Architecture, 10%
Created a proposal to implement the required Configuration Applications using our legacy client server architecture saving months of development effort.
- Java, 9%
Trained in-house software engineers with Java and Java application development.
- R, 5%
Design an S-band T/R multi-function MMIC.
- API, 4%
Conducted risk-based technology transfer of advanced intermediates and API to external Contract Manufacturing Organizations or internal scale-up facilities.
- System Design, 4%
Project Engineer Completed the requirements analysis and system design for several Internet sites.
- Product Development, 4%
Managed 8 customer programs and successfully developed validated customer parts; transferred 4 new programs from product development to production.
Most principle engineers use their skills in "architecture," "java," and "r" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential principle engineer responsibilities here:
Mechanical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a principle 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." Principle engineers often use mechanical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "helped develop new processes and procedures prior to deploying new corporate standard mechanical cad tool on anaheim campus. "
Creativity. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling principle engineer duties is creativity. The role rewards competence in this skill because "mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery." According to a principle engineer resume, here's how principle engineers can utilize creativity in their job responsibilities: "invented and patented a 15kv power line rf coupler for our power line communications system. "
Listening skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of principle engineers is listening skills. This skill is critical to many everyday principle engineer duties, as "mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "installed splunk on windows server 2008 and configured it to listen for syslog messages on udp port 514. "
Math skills. principle engineer responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." This resume example shows what principle engineers do with math skills on a typical day: "generated math specs and c++ code to perform options greek calculations. "
Problem-solving skills. Another crucial skill for a principle engineer to carry out their responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." A big part of what principle engineers relies on this skill, since "mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products." How this skill relates to principle engineer duties can be seen in an example from a principle engineer resume snippet: "developed technical solutions, software infrastructure and interfaces in java for the lafebs program. "
The three companies that hire the most principle engineers are:
- Raytheon Technologies15 principle engineers jobs
- Wells Fargo10 principle engineers jobs
- Micron Technology5 principle engineers jobs
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Compare different principle engineers
Principle 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.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, principle engineer responsibilities require skills like "sme," "javascript," "risk management," and "hvac." Meanwhile a typical senior staff engineer has skills in areas such as "python," "software development," "sql," and "project management." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Senior staff engineers earn the highest salaries when working in the telecommunication industry, with an average yearly salary of $136,458. On the other hand, principle engineers are paid more in the finance industry with an average salary of $133,606.senior staff engineers tend to reach similar levels of education than principle engineers. In fact, senior staff engineers are 2.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Principle engineer vs. Development engineer
A Development Engineer is responsible for the development and validation of products, systems, and components. They are also responsible for quality control of work and continuous improvement of engineer activities.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that principle engineer responsibilities requires skills like "architecture," "sme," "system design," and "dod." But a development engineer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "python," "software development," "lifecycle management," and "ui."
Development engineers may earn a lower salary than principle engineers, but development engineers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $105,648. On the other hand, principle engineers receive higher pay in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $133,606.development engineers earn similar levels of education than principle engineers in general. They're 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for principle 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
Principle 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.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from principle engineer resumes include skills like "system design," "dod," "design reviews," and "risk management," whereas a team lead engineer is more likely to list skills in "python," "infrastructure," "san," and "leveraged. "
Team lead engineers earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $117,918. Principle engineers earn the highest pay from the finance industry, with an average salary of $133,606.Most team lead engineers achieve a similar degree level compared to principle engineers. For example, they're 2.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 4.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Principle engineer vs. Staff engineer
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
Types of principle engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
