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Hardware Engineering
IC6 - Advisory
The median salary range for Hardware Engineering (IC6) roles disclosed in public job postings is $168k - $230k as of Aug 2026, based on 3,159 job postings from 160 companies.
Salary Range
Low
$167,625
16%
Mid
$198,813
16%
High
$230,000
Data Points
Sort By
Senior Staff Embedded Engineer, Advanced Development
Minneapolis
·10+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Aug 2025
$140k - $190k
$140,000 - $190,000
RF Systems Architect
Westminster
·15+ Years Experience
$218k - $266k
$218,000 - $266,000
RF Systems Architect
Westminster
·15+ Years Experience
$218k - $266k
$218,000 - $266,000
Principal Ground Station Architect
Westminster
·15-19 Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$217k - $265k
$217,000 - $265,000
Principal Ground Station Architect
Westminster
·15-19 Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$217k - $265k
$217,000 - $265,000
Principal Spacecraft Systems Engineer II - Mission SEIT
Westminster
·12+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$193k - $236k
$193,000 - $236,000
Principal Spacecraft Systems Engineer II - Mission SEIT
Westminster
·12+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$193k - $236k
$193,000 - $236,000
Principal Communication Systems Engineer II – Modeling & Sim
Westminster
·11+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: May 2026
$184k - $226k
$184,000 - $225,800
Principal Communication Systems Engineer II – Modeling & Sim
Westminster
·11+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: May 2026
$184k - $226k
$184,000 - $225,800
Principal Electronics Engineer II - SATCOM
Westminster
·11+ Years Experience
$158k - $220k
$158,000 - $220,000
Principal Electronics Engineer II - SATCOM
Westminster
·11+ Years Experience
$158k - $220k
$158,000 - $220,000
Principal RF Test Engineer II
Westminster
·11+ Years Experience
$158k - $200k
$158,000 - $200,000
Principal RF Test Engineer II
Westminster
·11+ Years Experience
$158k - $200k
$158,000 - $200,000
Principal Verification Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$160k - $190k
$160,000 - $190,000
Principal Verification Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$160k - $190k
$160,000 - $190,000
Principal Verification Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Aug 2026
$160k - $190k
$160,000 - $190,000
Principal Verification Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Aug 2026
$160k - $190k
$160,000 - $190,000
Principal Wire Harness Design Engineer II
Westminster
·11+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$150k - $190k
$150,000 - $190,000
Principal Wire Harness Design Engineer II
Westminster
·11+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$150k - $190k
$150,000 - $190,000
Principal RF Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$142k - $190k
$142,000 - $189,500
Principal RF Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$142k - $190k
$142,000 - $189,500
Principal Power Electronics Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$142k - $190k
$142,000 - $189,500
Principal Power Electronics Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$142k - $190k
$142,000 - $189,500
Principal GNC Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Apr 2026
$142k - $190k
$142,000 - $189,500
Principal GNC Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Apr 2026
$142k - $190k
$142,000 - $189,500
Principal Electronics Design Engineer I - Phased Array
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Mar 2026
$142k - $190k
$142,000 - $189,500
Principal Electronics Design Engineer I - Phased Array
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Mar 2026
$142k - $190k
$142,000 - $189,500
Principal Communication Systems Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$142k - $190k
$142,000 - $189,500
Principal Communication Systems Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$142k - $190k
$142,000 - $189,500
Principal RF Test Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$158k - $189k
$158,000 - $189,000
Principal RF Test Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$158k - $189k
$158,000 - $189,000
Principal RF Test Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$158k - $189k
$158,000 - $189,000
Principal RF Test Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$158k - $189k
$158,000 - $189,000
Principal FPGA Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$158k - $189k
$158,000 - $189,000
Principal FPGA Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$158k - $189k
$158,000 - $189,000
Principal Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer II
Westminster
·11+ Years Experience
$142k - $189k
$142,000 - $189,000
Principal Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer II
Westminster
·11+ Years Experience
$142k - $189k
$142,000 - $189,000
Principal Electrical Engineer I - CDH
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: May 2026
$151k - $182k
$150,980 - $182,400
Principal Electrical Engineer I - CDH
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: May 2026
$151k - $182k
$150,980 - $182,400
Principal Electrical Engineer I - FlatSat Lead
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: May 2026
$151k - $182k
$150,980 - $182,400
Principal Electrical Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Apr 2026
$151k - $182k
$150,980 - $182,400
Principal Electrical Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Apr 2026
$151k - $182k
$150,980 - $182,400
Principal Electrical Engineer I - FlatSat Lead
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: May 2026
$151k - $182k
$150,980 - $182,400
Principal Electrical Engineer I - CDH
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$151k - $182k
$150,980 - $182,400
Principal Electrical Engineer I - CDH
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$151k - $182k
$150,980 - $182,400
Principal Electrical Engineer I - FlatSat Lead
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$151k - $182k
$150,980 - $182,400
Principal Electrical Engineer I - FlatSat Lead
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$151k - $182k
$150,980 - $182,400
Principal Electrical Engineer I - Phased Array Unit Lead
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$150k - $182k
$150,000 - $182,000
Principal Electrical Engineer I - Phased Array Unit Lead
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$150k - $182k
$150,000 - $182,000
Principal Electrical Engineer I - RPU Unit Lead
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$150k - $182k
$150,000 - $182,000
Principal Electrical Engineer I - RPU Unit Lead
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$150k - $182k
$150,000 - $182,000
Principal Mechanical Design Engineer II
Westminster
·11+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$150k - $180k
$150,000 - $180,000
Principal Mechanical Design Engineer II
Westminster
·11+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$150k - $180k
$150,000 - $180,000
Principal Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) Engineer I - EGSE
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: May 2026
$150k - $180k
$150,000 - $180,000
Principal Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) Engineer I - EGSE
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: May 2026
$150k - $180k
$150,000 - $180,000
Principal Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) Engineer I - EGSE
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$150k - $180k
$150,000 - $180,000
Principal Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) Engineer I - EGSE
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$150k - $180k
$150,000 - $180,000
Principal Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) Engineer I - EGSE
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$150k - $180k
$150,000 - $180,000
Principal Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) Engineer I - EGSE
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$150k - $180k
$150,000 - $180,000
Principal Mechanical Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$134k - $161k
$134,000 - $161,000
Principal Mechanical Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$134k - $161k
$134,000 - $161,000
Principal Mechanical Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$134k - $161k
$133,900 - $161,000
Principal Mechanical Engineer I
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
$134k - $161k
$133,900 - $161,000
Principal RF Engineer I
Broomfield
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Oct 2025
$130k - $155k
$130,000 - $155,000
Principal Electronics Test Technician
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Apr 2026
$96k - $115k
$95,680 - $115,440
Principal Electronics Test Technician
Westminster
·9+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Apr 2026
$96k - $115k
$95,680 - $115,440
RF Systems Architect
Austin
·15+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Systems Engineer (Ground Station Architect)
Melbourne
·15-19 Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Systems Engineer (Ground Station Architect)
Melbourne
·15-19 Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal RF Engineer I
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal RF Engineer I
Cambridge
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal RF Engineer I
Melbourne
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal RF Engineer I
Melbourne
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal RF Test Engineer I
Austin
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Power Electronics Engineer I
Austin
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Mechanical Engineer I
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Mechanical Engineer I
Cambridge
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Hardware Engineer II
Austin
·11+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Hardware Engineer I
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Hardware Engineer I
Austin
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Hardware Engineer I
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Hardware Engineer I
Cambridge
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Electronics Test Engineer I
Austin
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Electronics Lab Technician I
Melbourne
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Electronics Lab Technician I
Melbourne
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Electronics Lab Technician I
Austin
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal EMC/EMI Engineer I
Melbourne
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal EMC/EMI Engineer I
Melbourne
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Electrical Engineer I - RPU Unit Lead
Austin
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Electrical Engineer I - Phased Array Unit Lead
Austin
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Component Engineer II
Melbourne
·11+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Component Engineer II
Melbourne
·11+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Component Engineer I
Melbourne
·8+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Component Engineer I
Melbourne
·8+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Communication Systems Engineer I
Austin
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Communication Systems Engineer I
Melbourne
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Communication Systems Engineer I
Melbourne
·9+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Distinguished Technical Staff, Network architecture, Co-packaged optics, and systems
San Jose
·15+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$170k - $242k
$169,600 - $242,250
Distinguished Technical Staff, Network architecture, Co-packaged optics, and systems
United States
·15+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$170k - $242k
$169,600 - $242,250
Leader of Advanced Photonics Technology Development
Ottawa
·7+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Feb 2026
$148k - $200k
$147,950 - $200,150
Leader of Advanced Photonics Technology Development
Canada
·7+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Feb 2026
$148k - $200k
$147,950 - $200,150
Principal Thin Film Process Engineer
San Jose
·10+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: May 2026
$131k - $187k
$130,850 - $186,900
Principal Thin Film Process Engineer
United States
·10+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: May 2026
$131k - $187k
$130,850 - $186,900
Principal Engineer, Analog Design
San Jose
·10+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$131k - $187k
$130,850 - $186,900
Principal Engineer, Analog Design
United States
·10+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$131k - $187k
$130,850 - $186,900
Data Center / Transceiver Integration, Principal Engineer
San Jose
·10+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Mar 2026
$109k - $155k
$108,800 - $155,400
Data Center / Transceiver Integration, Principal Engineer
United States
·10+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Mar 2026
$109k - $155k
$108,800 - $155,400
Principal Engineer, Mechanical
Wuhan
·3+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Engineer, Mechanical
People's Republic of China
·3+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Senior Staff Electrical Engineer
San Diego
·10+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$158k - $197k
$158,000 - $197,000
Staff Optomechanical Engineer
San Diego
·8+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Feb 2026
$126k - $165k
$125,800 - $165,267
Principal RF Engineer
Canada
$152k - $180k
$152,000 - $180,000
Principal RF Engineer
Cambridge
$152k - $180k
$152,000 - $180,000
Principal RF Engineer
Glasgow
N/A
N/A
Principal RF Engineer
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
N/A
N/A
Principal RF Engineer
Munich
N/A
N/A
Principal RF Engineer
Federal Republic of Germany
N/A
N/A
Media Production Broadcast Engineer / Architect
United States
·8+ Years Experience
$109k - $177k
$109,400 - $176,880
Media Production Broadcast Engineer / Architect
San Francisco
·8+ Years Experience
$109k - $177k
$109,400 - $176,880
Principal Engineer - Fusion MCAD
Kraków
·10+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Engineer, SCADA Engineering (BESS)
Chicago
·8+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$155k - $180k
$155,000 - $180,000
Principal Engineer, Performance & Technology (Solar)
Chicago
·5+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: May 2026
$135k - $165k
$135,000 - $165,000
Principal Process Engineer - Site Based, Redmond, WA
Redmond
·12+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: May 2026
$155k - $172k
$155,000 - $172,000
Principal Automation & MES Engineer - Site based, Redmond, WA
Redmond
·10+ Years Experience
$140k - $170k
$140,000 - $170,000
Principal Mechanical Engineer
Massachusetts
·8+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$130k - $170k
$130,000 - $170,000
Principal Mechanical Engineer
United States
·8+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$130k - $170k
$130,000 - $170,000
Principal Laser Engineer
Lake Forest
$116k - $193k
$115,500 - $192,500
Principal Opto-Mechanical Engineer II
Lake Forest
·5+ Years Experience
$169k
$169,400
Principal Firmware Engineer II
California
$169k
$169,400
Sr. Principal, Global Packaging Engineering
Fort Worth
·7+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Sr. Principal Global Automation Engineer
Fort Worth
·15+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Sr. Principal, Automation & Control Engineering (T)
Republic of Singapore
·8+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Sr. Principal, Automation & Control Engineering (T)
Singapore
·8+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal, Molding & Tooling Engineering
Houston
N/A
N/A
Principal, Molding & Tooling Engineering
West Virginia
N/A
N/A
Principal, Molding & Tooling Engineering
West Virginia
N/A
N/A
Principal II, Molding & Tooling Engineering
Houston
N/A
N/A
Principal Firmware Engineer (FPGA) (m/f/d)– Medical Devices
Federal Republic of Germany
·7+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal, Manufacturing Science & Technology Engineering
Fort Worth
N/A
N/A
Principal Engineer, Automation & Control Engineering
Batam
·10+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Engineer, Automation & Control Engineering
Republic of Indonesia
·10+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Engineer III, R&D Process & Product Design
Fort Worth
·5+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal/Sr. Principal Device Design Engineer
Fort Worth
N/A
N/A
Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer
San Francisco
·15+ Years Experience
$185k - $200k
$185,000 - $200,000
Principal Laser Process Engineer
San Francisco
·8+ Years Experience
$150k - $180k
$150,000 - $180,000
Power Electronic Principal Systems Engineer - Data Center Power Architecture
Kingdom of Spain
·5+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Apr 2026
$114k - $148k
$113,740 - $147,862
Power Electronic Principal Systems Engineer - Data Center Power Architecture
Zaragoza
·5+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Apr 2026
$114k - $148k
$113,740 - $147,862
Associate Principal Resident Engineer (Onsite)
Connecticut
·5+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Mar 2026
$155k
$155,000
Associate Principal Resident Engineer (Hybrid)
Houston
·5+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$155k
$155,000
Senior Propulsion Engineer – Structures
Centennial
·15+ Years Experience
$160k - $203k
$160,000 - $203,000
Senior Propulsion Engineer – Engine Mechanical Design
Centennial
·15+ Years Experience
$160k - $203k
$160,000 - $203,000
Senior Propulsion Engineer – Turbine Systems Aerodynamics and Design
Centennial
·15+ Years Experience
$107k - $135k
$107,000 - $135,000
Senior Propulsion Engineer – Engine Secondary Air Systems
Centennial
·15+ Years Experience
$107k - $135k
$107,000 - $135,000
Senior Propulsion Engineer – Bearing Mechanical Design
Centennial
·15+ Years Experience
$107k - $135k
$107,000 - $135,000
Senior Propulsion Engineer – Compression Systems Aerodynamics and Design
Centennial
·15+ Years Experience
$107k - $135k
$107,000 - $135,000
Senior Technical Architect, NPI
Richardson
·Last Posted: May 2026
$134k
$134,347
Level Comparison
| Level | Sample Size | Low | Mid | High | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IC1 Entry 0-1 YOE Contributes to smaller projects under detailed guidance. | Very Large 435 Data Points | $72,800 | $86,400 | $100,000 | |
IC2 Developing 2-4 YOE Contributes to projects under general guidance. Skills are relatively developed with room for growth. | Very Large 1,065 Data Points | $100,000 | $120,000 | $140,000 | |
IC3 Proficient 5-7 YOE Owns specific projects and requires minimal guidance. Skills are fully developed. | Very Large 978 Data Points | $120,000 | $142,500 | $165,000 | |
IC4 Advanced 8-11 YOE Owns complex projects and drives their direction. Displays in-depth and broad skills and expertise. | Very Large 1,303 Data Points | $137,000 | $161,065 | $185,130 | |
IC5 Expert 12+ YOE A very experienced team member who leads large, high-priority projects that impact company-level goals. | Very Large 397 Data Points | $158,125 | $186,563 | $215,000 | |
IC6 Advisory An authority in their field who defines and drives initiatives with long-term strategic impact. | Very Large 478 Data Points | $167,625 | $198,813 | $230,000 | |
M3 Manager Directly supervises a team of individual contributors and is accountable for their results. | Very Large 221 Data Points | $158,000 | $181,500 | $205,000 | |
M4 Sr. Manager Experienced people manager responsible for setting objectives, observing budgets, and tracking results. | Very Large 143 Data Points | $180,000 | $211,550 | $243,100 | |
M5 Director Oversees managers or leads their own department. Responsible for vision, strategy, hiring, and results. | Large 97 Data Points | $215,500 | $251,000 | $286,500 | |
M6 Sr. Director Manages senior leaders in various groups. Responsible for a business function. | Medium 41 Data Points | $240,000 | $270,000 | $300,000 |