Principal Software Engineer: What Is It? and How to Become One? | Ziprecruiter
A principal software engineer is in charge of software development. In this career, you guide the software design process and inspect software programs to make suggestions for improvements. Principal software engineers also process complex data and may need to enforce software design, development, and maintenance requirements. Your job requires a high level of technical knowledge and skills and a thorough understanding of the software development process. Your employer may require you to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in software development. Similar job titles include software architect and principal software developer.
A principal software engineer’s main duties include developing software programs. Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in software development or computer science. An internship provides hands-on experience and a chance to learn about developing, installing, and maintaining software programs. It is important to know how to use different operating systems and be able to troubleshoot computer networks. You may work as a software engineer or computer programmer as an entry-level job. Completing on-the-job training and gaining leadership experience is vital. You may need up to five years of experience to become a principal software engineer.
With this Principal Software Engineer job description sample, you can get a good idea of what employers are looking for when hiring for this position. Remember, every employer is different and each will have unique qualifications when they hire for a Principal Software Engineer role.
Job Summary
We are currently seeking a Principal Software Engineer to oversee the software design process for products we are developing. In this position, you will develop and test software to ensure it meets the needs of our clients, performing code reviews and providing feedback to junior developers and engineers. Applicants should have a postsecondary degree as well as a significant amount of experience developing software using Java, C++, and other common programming languages.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Oversee the software design process
- Develop and test software to ensure it meets the needs of end-users
- Contribute to system and application architecture
- Facilitate new software implementation
- Review the work of junior software development staff
- Provide technical support
Requirements and Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field (doctorate a plus)
- Software development experience (5+ years preferred)
- Familiarity with common programming languages, including Java and C++
- Experience with Scrum and other Agile methodologies
