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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 3,168 job postings from 160 companies.
Salary Range
Low
$167,625
16%
Mid
$198,813
16%
High
$230,000
Data Points
Sort By
Principal R&D Engineer
Los Angeles
·10+ Years Experience
$180k - $250k
$180,000 - $250,000
Principal R&D Engineer
Remote
·10+ Years Experience
$180k - $250k
$180,000 - $250,000
Principal R&D Engineer
Illinois
·10+ Years Experience
$180k - $250k
$180,000 - $250,000
Principal FPGA / RTL Design Engineer - Signal Processing
Irvine
·10+ Years Experience
$165k - $250k
$165,000 - $250,000
Principal FPGA / RTL Design Engineer - Signal Processing
Los Angeles
·10+ Years Experience
$175k - $225k
$175,000 - $225,000
Principal System Integration and Test Engineer
Irvine
·10+ Years Experience
$180k - $220k
$180,000 - $220,000
Principal Antenna Engineer
Schaumburg
$100k - $160k
$100,100 - $160,200
Principal Firmware Engineer
Argentine Republic
·7+ Years Experience
N/A
N/A
Principal Systems Integration and Test Engineer
Kirkland
·10+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$165k - $247k
$164,594 - $246,788
Principal Systems Engineer, Radar Development
Kirkland
·10+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$165k - $247k
$164,594 - $246,788
Principal Systems Architect, Radar Development
Kirkland
·10+ Years Experience
$137k - $247k
$137,196 - $246,788
Architect, Manufacturing Test
Kirkland
·10+ Years Experience
$150k - $224k
$149,659 - $224,437
Senior PCB Design Engineer
Kirkland
·15+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Mar 2026
$125k - $187k
$124,733 - $187,048
Principal Architect, Global Manufacturing CTO
Remote
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$187k - $246k
$187,200 - $245,700
Principal Power Systems Architect, Quantum Infrastructure
Milpitas
$240k - $281k
$239,500 - $281,400
Principal Power Systems Architect, Quantum Infrastructure
United States
$240k - $281k
$239,500 - $281,400
Principal Photonic Hardware Architect, Calibration Systems
Milpitas
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$230k - $250k
$230,000 - $250,000
Principal Photonic Hardware Architect, Calibration Systems
United States
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$230k - $250k
$230,000 - $250,000
Principal Photonics Design Methodology Engineer
United States
·8+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$230k - $245k
$230,000 - $245,000
Principal Photonics Design Methodology Engineer
Palo Alto
·8+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$230k - $245k
$230,000 - $245,000
Principal Characterization-Failure Analysis Engineer
Milpitas
·10+ Years Experience
$208k - $245k
$208,300 - $244,700
Principal Characterization-Failure Analysis Engineer
United States
·10+ Years Experience
$208k - $245k
$208,300 - $244,700
Principal Optical Fiber Architect
United States
·10+ Years Experience
$170k - $230k
$170,000 - $230,000
Principal Optical Fiber Architect
Milpitas
·10+ Years Experience
$170k - $230k
$170,000 - $230,000
Principal System Integration Lead (Quantum Hardware)
United States
·10+ Years Experience
$195k - $220k
$195,000 - $220,000
Principal System Integration Lead (Quantum Hardware)
Milpitas
·10+ Years Experience
$195k - $220k
$195,000 - $220,000
Technical Lead, Single Photon Sources Validation
United States
·12+ Years Experience
$195k - $215k
$195,000 - $215,000
Technical Lead, Single Photon Sources Validation
Milpitas
·12+ Years Experience
$195k - $215k
$195,000 - $215,000
Charging Systems Lead
Mountain View
·12+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jun 2026
$262k - $294k
$262,473 - $293,969
Sr Staff Stability, Control and Aerodynamics Engineer
Mountain View
·12+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Apr 2026
$205k - $241k
$205,000 - $241,000
Electric Propulsion Motor Lead
Mountain View
·12+ Years Experience
$186k - $233k
$186,000 - $233,000
Principal RF & Radar Systems Engineer
New York City
·15+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$200k - $240k
$200,000 - $240,000
Principal RF & Radar Systems Engineer
Canada
·15+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$200k - $240k
$200,000 - $240,000
Principal RF & Radar Systems Engineer
Remote
·15+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$200k - $240k
$200,000 - $240,000
Principal Perception Hardware Engineer
New York City
·15+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Apr 2026
$200k - $240k
$200,000 - $240,000
Principal Perception Hardware Engineer
Canada
·15+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Apr 2026
$200k - $240k
$200,000 - $240,000
Principal Perception Hardware Engineer
Remote
·15+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Apr 2026
$200k - $240k
$200,000 - $240,000
Principal Design Engineer – RTL Design & Integration
Santa Clara
·8+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Aug 2025
$200k - $240k
$200,000 - $240,000
Principal Hardware Design Engineer
Milpitas
·15+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Mar 2026
$185k - $240k
$185,000 - $240,000
Lead/Principal Nondestructive Evaluation Engineer
Torrance
·5+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Mar 2026
$156k - $247k
$155,540 - $247,005
Lead/Principal Nondestructive Evaluation Engineer
United States
·5+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Mar 2026
$156k - $247k
$155,540 - $247,005
Principal Automation & Controls Engineer
United States
·10+ Years Experience
$148k - $236k
$148,430 - $235,740
Principal Automation & Controls Engineer
Torrance
·10+ Years Experience
$148k - $236k
$148,430 - $235,740
Principal Manufacturing Engineer
United States
·10+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$129k - $236k
$128,520 - $235,740
Principal Manufacturing Engineer
Torrance
·10+ Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$129k - $236k
$128,520 - $235,740
Principal Avionics Hardware Development Engineer
California
·8+ Years Experience
$200k - $260k
$200,000 - $260,000
Principal Avionics Hardware Development Engineer
United States
·8+ Years Experience
$200k - $260k
$200,000 - $260,000
Principal Guidance, Navigation, and Controls Engineer
California
·7+ Years Experience
$215k - $245k
$215,000 - $245,000
Principal Guidance, Navigation, and Controls Engineer
United States
·7+ Years Experience
$215k - $245k
$215,000 - $245,000
Principal Propulsion Engineer - Ground Fluids
United States
·6+ Years Experience
$182k - $232k
$181,913 - $232,444
Principal Propulsion Engineer - Ground Fluids
California
·6+ Years Experience
$182k - $232k
$181,913 - $232,444
Principal Manufacturing Engineer (Avionics / Electromechanical / Harnessing)
California
·6-10 Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$182k - $232k
$181,913 - $232,444
Principal Manufacturing Engineer (Avionics / Electromechanical / Harnessing)
United States
·6-10 Years Experience
·Last Posted: Jul 2026
$182k - $232k
$181,913 - $232,444
Principal Manufacturing Engineer (Payloads)
United States
·6-10 Years Experience
$182k - $232k
$181,913 - $232,444
Principal Manufacturing Engineer (Payloads)
California
·6-10 Years Experience
$182k - $232k
$181,913 - $232,444
Principal Mechanisms Engineer - Payloads
California
·7+ Years Experience
$180k - $230k
$180,000 - $230,000
Principal Mechanisms Engineer - Payloads
United States
·7+ Years Experience
$180k - $230k
$180,000 - $230,000
Principal Fluid Systems Engineer - Pharmaceutical Payloads
United States
·7+ Years Experience
$180k - $230k
$180,000 - $230,000
Principal Fluid Systems Engineer - Pharmaceutical Payloads
California
·7+ Years Experience
$180k - $230k
$180,000 - $230,000
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 1,067 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 1,307 Data Points | $136,000 | $160,565 | $185,130 | |
IC5 Expert 12+ YOE A very experienced team member who leads large, high-priority projects that impact company-level goals. | Very Large 399 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 479 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 144 Data Points | $180,000 | $210,775 | $241,550 | |
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 |