Top Principal Engineer Jobs in Los Angeles, CA

Serve as a global SME for Industrial Metaverse technologies (PLCs, IoT, cloud/edge, digital twins, AI, EMC/RED, cybersecurity). Lead standards work, develop test programs, perform and supervise complex testing, train staff, represent UL externally, and support clients and continuous improvement across regional or global labs.

Design, implement, and deploy safety-critical navigation and state estimation systems for aerospace platforms. Develop EKF and GNSS/INS integration, multi-sensor fusion for GPS-denied environments, FDIR and integrity monitoring, and V&V test plans. Support certification, requirements allocation, performance analysis, flight test evaluation, and provide technical leadership and mentoring.

Lead design and prototyping of generative AI experiences for autonomy development; drive UX for Hivemind products; perform user research, collaborate with CTO and product leads, and deliver reference implementations and integrations across full-stack web and edge systems.

Designs and develops analog and power electronics hardware for satellite bus units, including power conditioning, control systems, and power supplies. Responsibilities include requirements definition, interface design, modeling, analysis, testing, verification, trade studies, production support, and technical performance analysis. The engineer collaborates with digital teams and supports electronic products throughout their lifecycle while working with minimal supervision.

Leads multidisciplinary systems engineering teams across architecture, requirements, design, integration, testing, deployment, operations, and maintenance. Provides technical and project leadership, ensures engineering process discipline and program performance, manages complex stakeholder requirements, mitigates technical risks, and contributes to mission integration strategies, product roadmaps, and technology plans for space and ground systems.

Designs mechanical ground support equipment for spacecraft integration, testing, and launch. Responsibilities include 3D CAD modeling, requirements definition, structural analysis, GD&T drafting, design reviews, fabrication support, proof load documentation, nonconformance resolution, and integration and test process development. The role supports vendors and end users in cleanroom and operational environments while coordinating with multidisciplinary teams.

Leads multidisciplinary spacecraft structural and mechanical design integration from requirements through production support. Oversees design teams, system trades, payload accommodation, interface control, clearance verification, manufacturing integration, qualification testing, milestone reviews, nonconformance resolution, and emerging technology investigations. The role is fully onsite in El Segundo, California, and requires U.S. person status, eligibility for a U.S. security clearance, and a Secret clearance post-start.

Oversee optical systems for space missions, including EO/IR sensors, laser systems, and optical communications payloads. Develop mission requirements, model and simulate optical performance, conduct ground and on-orbit testing, manage interfaces and suppliers, coordinate complex technical projects, and support proposals. The role also involves optical hardware calibration, performance validation, data processing, link-budget development, and mentoring engineers.

Develops EO/IR radiometric budgets, error models, SNR and calibration analyses for complex sensor systems. Performs detector, optics, data-rate, and performance trade studies; supports laboratory, ground, and flight testing; analyzes post-test data; and prepares technical documentation. The role also contributes to program planning, risk and cost assessments, stakeholder briefings, cross-functional leadership, and mentoring junior engineers.

Design, build, integrate, test, install and maintain rack-based communications hardware and cabling in lab and field environments. Produce drawings and BOMs, perform signal/power analysis, verify systems, troubleshoot complex issues, support site integration and provide stakeholder briefings. On-site role requiring travel and active security clearance.

The Principal Component Engineer will support space programs by defining requirements for EEE parts, conducting tests, qualifying suppliers, and developing production systems.

Design, build, deploy, and maintain resilient, scalable production systems for Toast’s retail customers. The role sets long-term technical architecture and strategy, communicates technical direction, mentors senior engineers, improves engineering productivity, diagnoses performance issues, and drives initiatives amid ambiguity. Engineers collaborate directly with retail customers, visit stores, understand operational workflows, and use AI tools to improve development velocity and quality.

As a Principal Flight Software Engineer, you will lead the architecture and development of flight software for space missions, ensuring safety and reliability while collaborating on technical decisions and standards.

Oversee development of spacecraft GNC systems, from architecture to flight operations, design algorithms, and mentor junior engineers.

Design, implement, validate, and deploy autonomy and optimization capabilities for fleet mission planning, resource allocation, sequential decision-making, and threat assessment. Develop distributed optimization architectures, translate stakeholder needs into mathematical programs, and validate solutions through simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and operational deployment. The role requires production-quality software, rigorous testing, and collaboration across engineering disciplines in support of space operations.

Lead electrical architecture, design, test, integration, and manufacturing for next-generation AR airborne systems. Derive subsystem requirements, perform trade studies, prototype and verify designs, produce documentation, mentor the electrical team, and ensure compliance with military environmental and EMI/EMC standards.

Design and develop tools and automation equipment for manufacturing. Collaborate across teams to optimize production processes for the Terran R vehicle.

Lead engine system trades, manage interfaces, and support engine system development while mentoring teams with minimal oversight. Heavy emphasis on fluid mechanics and thermodynamics.

Lead the full lifecycle development of flight-qualified spacecraft propulsion systems, from architecture and design through manufacturing, qualification, integration, and flight operations. Provide technical authority, lead multidisciplinary engineering teams, conduct trade studies, manage risks and program execution, support customer and design reviews, resolve complex technical issues, and mentor engineers. The role spans chemical and electric propulsion technologies for national security, civil, and commercial space missions.

Design and scale critical, highly-available services; set technical direction across teams; apply best practices for availability, scalability, cost, and operational excellence; leverage AI tools and high-velocity workflows; mentor engineers and solve ambiguous, company-wide technical problems.

The role involves designing and developing tools and automation solutions for manufacturing rockets, collaborating with various teams to ensure successful project completion and integration.

Technical lead for spacecraft electrical power systems: set architecture and standards, lead design/analysis/verification of generation, storage, and distribution, perform reliability and radiation analysis, direct qualification and integration, mentor engineers, and support hardware through production and launch.

As a Principal RF Electrical Engineer, you'll architect multi-mission RF systems, define communication strategies, mentor senior engineers, and represent the company's RF capabilities externally.

Lead architecture and technical execution for Toast’s Payroll and Team Management products. Own authentication, authorization, and organizational hierarchy across a multi-tenant SaaS platform. Drive high-scale, full-stack initiatives, modern agentic development practices, integrations, technical strategy, quality standards, deployment practices, and cross-functional collaboration. Mentor engineers across teams and leverage AI tools and LLM integration to improve software development velocity and quality.

The Principal Engineer will lead the design and delivery of core platform capabilities, focusing on scalable systems, AI application, and mentoring engineers while driving architectural decisions and improving operational systems.