[epicureanideal]

If they claim they don't pay that high they are not really looking for Principal Software Engineers. Maybe the title system is different where they are. As I understand it, a Principal Software Engineer is between one and three steps above a Senior Software Engineer. If it's only one step higher for them and they're a relatively low to average paying company, then perhaps they don't pay that much. But if it's 2 or 3 steps higher than a Senior Software Engineer and they're at least an average paying company, you should be able to get more.