P5P5 — Expert Professional
Principal Engineer
Serves as a subject-matter expert for a device family or technology. Leads large or multiple concurrent projects.
What this level means
Expert in field; key problem solver and project leader, authority in multiple areas
- Scope
- Multiple systems or a technical domain
- Autonomy
- Sets direction within the domain
- Complexity
- Novel, high-ambiguity problems; establishes the approach
- Impact
- Org / multi-team outcomes
- Decision rights
- Authority over a technical domain
- Leadership
- Leads cross-team technical initiatives
- Typical experience
- 8–12 yrs
What you'd do
- Leads large projects
- Establishes design standards
- Serves as subject-matter expert
- Manages multiple concurrent projects
- Provides strategic direction
- Collaborates with senior management
- Ensures alignment with business goals
- Mentors engineering teams
- Lead large or multiple projects
- Establish design standards
- Serve as subject-matter expert
Skills, knowledge & tools
- Project leadership
- Strategic direction
- Subject-matter expertise
- Project management
- Collaboration
- Mentoring
- Business alignment
- Innovation
- Project leadership
- Strategic direction
- Subject-matter expertise
- Project management
- Collaboration
- Mentoring
- Business alignment
- Innovation
- Leadership
- Strategic Thinking
- Subject-matter expertise
- Project management
- Collaboration
- Mentoring
- Business Alignment
- Innovation
What good looks like
- ~9–12 years’ experience
- Proven leadership in large projects
- Strong strategic thinking skills
- Bachelor's degree in relevant engineering field
- Experience in mentoring and business alignment
Common titles
Product Development Engineering VProduct Development Engineering 5Staff Product Development EngineeringLead Product Development EngineeringExpert Product Development EngineeringProduct Development Engineer VProduct Development Engineer 5Staff Product Development EngineerLead Product Development EngineerExpert Product Development EngineerPrincipal Engineer
Where it sits & what it pays
O*NET / SOC: 17-0000 — Architecture & Engineering Occupations(inferred · under review)
Market-pay benchmarks for this family × level are coming — JobFrame anchors pay to the family/level structure rather than the raw title.