I feel like most places would be open to hiring a senior in place of a principle if they felt either, the senior could do the job well enough. At some places I

I feel like most places would be open to hiring a senior in place of a principle if they felt either, the senior could do the job well enough. At some places I've worked, level was determined after the decision to hire. A position would be open to levels I, II, & III, and a panel of people would determine which level they felt the candidate would come it at.