What is a principal developer and what do they do

A principal developer is a software engineer who designs, codes and sometimes tests software. A senior developer may have supervisory responsibility for the team of engineers and programmers. He may also manage the “people” side of the business, including recruiting, performance management and sometimes compensation. In a small business a Principal Developer may have all these roles, but in a larger business the role of the “Principal Developer” may be an administrative role, with that person only having significant implications on the direction of software development.
Other duties that a principal developer may have include:
1. Managing the team of engineers. This includes hiring, training and firing when necessary, writing team protocols and planning sprints.

The role of the principal developer in an organization

The principal developer plays a critical role in the support and development of an organization. He or she is responsible for ensuring that new or improved applications are developed as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. The principal developer may oversee all software development activity or focus on a specific group of programs. For example, he or she might head the group responsible for a company’s packaged software products or create interactive websites. The principal developer is an integral member of the development team. He or she develops and implements policies and procedures, prepares budgets, acquires equipment and coordinates software products. In addition, the principal developer is frequently responsible for identifying and recruiting talented people to work on software projects. He or she also serves as a mentor to new hires and refers them to appropriate people when they are promoted within the organization.
The principal developer is frequently a manager of other technical professionals who perform specific jobs in the software industry. For example, he or she may oversee tec-support workers or serve as an organizational liaison with vendors and end users. The principal developer is also a member of a company’s marketing or corporate communications group. He or she may draft press releases, present company news and provide information about software products to the media.
Most principal developers have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. He or she also has considerable experience with software development and management. In addition, the principal developer typically has at least five years of work experience with an organization that develops software products. [Article end]

How to become a principle developer

Most companies are willing to accept an employee’s claim that he or she is a budding software engineer. The first step in obtaining a job as a principal developer is to obtain the skills necessary to be an effective developer. These include programming languages, computer architecture and systems concepts like networking and databases. Even if you already have experience in one of these areas, additional training will help you develop the skills you need to become a principal developer. Many software companies offer custom-designed training programs, often in combination with academic institutions. These programs allow you to study at home or on the job. A bachelor’s degree in computer science is generally required of principals, but a master’s degree is preferable. Some companies, such as IBM, Microsoft and Oracle, award master’s degrees after one year of on-the-job study. Many universities offer a training program for junior developers. A top university will provide the opportunity to study while working on real projects. Junior developers usually get the chance to work in a special department at their university, with top projects such as artificial intelligence or human development in mind. After completing their studies, many companies prefer to hire graduates rather than junior developers because they have the skills necessary to be principals. Some companies even hire graduates for specific projects and more senior developers for more complex tasks.

The benefits of being a principle developer

Being a principal developer can be extremely rewarding and lucrative. Not only is a salary and bonus structure most attractive, but also it opens an array of career advancement opportunities. Many principals are eligible for stock options when the company issues its initial public stock offering. Senior principals may advance to the position of lead developer or project manager. A select few may be promoted to department head, overseeing a team of principal developers. For principals who are interested in management, the road to senior management is well marked.
For those who want to go beyond coding, principals may become involved in marketing or product development. This is especially true when they have made a significant contribution to the product.
Principals are also eligible for promotions and career advancement long before their counterparts in other positions are considered. They have tremendous potential for growth with the company, and this is reflected in their salaries.