Principal (engineer) vs Senior (engineer): Who's the daddy?

Whilst job hunting I've come across a number of adverts for posts, with the same company, as both Principal & Senior Engineers.
The job descriptions are, pretty much, identical, & the salary for both is "competitive". Anyone have any experience as to which is the higher grade?

Andy

Comments

  • Zazen999
    Zazen999 Posts: 6,183 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Doesn't it depend on the company?

    Have you asked for an organisational chart, so that you can see?

    Probably a history thing, where one company has been bought by another, but kept the old job names, even though the jobs are the same.
  • Tweetinat
    Tweetinat Posts: 184 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I would expect a Principal Engineer to be the 'daddy' - definition of principal being "First, highest, or foremost in importance, rank, worth, or degree.. " (http://www.answers.com/principal)

    My OH recently took a new job and they also use this distinction between grades, with the principal being the more senior position...

    HTH - Natalie
  • Principal is senior to Senior.
  • As they have said above,

    though I have known a company that went

    Assistant Engineer
    Engineer
    Senior Engineer
    Principal Engineer
    Senior Principal Engineer

    towards the top end it was almost a case of adding names for the sake of it!!

    what sort of area is it you are applying for? sounds like it could be simalar to my job so i may be able to offer more advice if its wanted.
  • matty2767
    matty2767 Posts: 442 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    snr
    principal
    associate
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