Principal Software Engineer, Backend Engineering (Seattle, WA or McLean, VA or Remote)

10-15+ years of experience designing, building, and operating large-scale, distributed, cloud-native platforms. Proven experience as a Principal/Staff Engineer or Senior Architect. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Go, or Typescript. Expertise in modern cloud architecture (GCP, AWS, Azure), containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and IaC (Terraform). Deep knowledge of scalable architectures, API design (REST, gRPC), and event-driven systems. A systems-thinking approach to problem-solving and making strategic trade-offs. Exceptional communication skills. BS/MS in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Define and own the long-term technical vision and architectural roadmap. Drive the selection and governance of foundational technologies, frameworks, and architectural patterns. Future-proof the platform by anticipating technical challenges and industry trends. Establish and enforce engineering-wide best practices for architecture, code, and design. Drive initiatives to reduce technical debt and enhance platform scalability, security, performance, and observability. Serve as the decision-maker on critical system designs, ensuring architectural cohesion across teams. Mentor senior engineers and tech leads. Lead hands-on by prototyping solutions and solving the most complex technical challenges. Cultivate a culture of technical excellence and innovation. Translate ambiguous business needs into clear technical strategies. Communicate complex architectural decisions to all stakeholders.