Methods and systems are disclosed for enabling centralized path definition and policy with distributed path setup, and centralized path setup control with distributed path utilization constraints. In one example, a path computation client (PCC) requests, utilizing opaque PCE profile identifiers, a path computation from a path computation element (PCE). The PCE profile identifier corresponds to path computation constraints, stored local to PCE, and are unknown to the PCC. Advantageously, the PCE profile identifiers allow the PCC to initiate path computation requests based on information local the PCC while leveraging centralized path computation by the PCE. In another example, a PCE requests, utilizing opaque PCC profile identifiers, that a PCC initiate a path. The PCC profile identifier corresponds to path usage parameter constraints, stored local to PCC, and are unknown to the PCE. Advantageously, the PCC identifiers allow the PCE to marshal path initiation while leveraging distributed resources to enforce compliance with usage parameters.