Principal Engineer

The Opportunity

We are seeking a strategic engineering leader to serve as a Principal Software Engineer, acting as the bridge between technical vision and organizational execution. This role defines architectural direction, drives large-scale platform transformation, and elevates engineering practices across teams. You will influence senior leadership, guide engineering culture, and lead complex initiatives spanning multiple product lines.

The ideal candidate is a systems thinker who thrives in ambiguity, navigates competing business priorities, and delivers scalable, maintainable platform architecture at enterprise scale.

What You’ll Own

Architecture & Technical Strategy

• Define and govern architecture standards across the full stack (UI, API, data, infrastructure)
• Establish design patterns, engineering guardrails, and development best practices across teams
• Define software and system architecture for one or more product lines
• Drive tech stack consolidation and evaluate new technologies that enhance business capabilities
• Design robust, scalable software systems that deliver measurable business value
• Create coherent designs across multiple interacting systems and services

Modularization & Platform Transformation

• Architect and lead company-wide modularization initiatives
• Define module boundaries, ownership models, and integration interfaces
• Create modularization roadmaps balancing technical risk and business priorities
• Lead large-scale platform upgrades and structural transformations
• Ensure high-quality rollout with minimal defect rates and well-defined failure domains

Tech Debt & Delivery Strategy

• Build and maintain a prioritized tech debt roadmap
• Balance long-term architectural health with near-term delivery commitments
• Influence senior leadership on investment and sequencing decisions
• Solve technical challenges that impact multiple products or teams

Observability, Reliability & Scalability

• Own system-level monitoring, KPIs, and observability strategy
• Define standards for logging, alerting, and reliability benchmarks
• Create supportability and scalability through automation of delivery, testing, and deployment
• Design CI/CD processes and repository architecture to support efficient development

Data & Integration

• Define integration standards and cross-system communication patterns
• Ensure clean data flows and reliable system interoperability
• Design cohesive multi-component systems with aligned expectations
• Partner with data teams to support platform-wide data architecture

AI Leadership in the SDLC

• Champion adoption of AI-driven solutions across the software development lifecycle
• Guide engineering standards and governance around AI usage at scale
• Integrate AI-driven capabilities such as performance tuning, telemetry analysis, and incident detection
• Collaborate with product and data teams to enable AI-powered platform features

Engineering Culture & Leadership

• Set the bar for engineering quality, craftsmanship, and best practices
• Guide teams on architecture decisions and development standards
• Mentor senior engineers and sponsor career growth
• Recruit and develop principal and staff-level engineering talent
• Mediate technical conflicts and drive alignment across teams

Executive Communication & Organizational Influence

• Communicate technical strategy, trade-offs, and risks to executive leadership
• Translate architectural decisions into business impact
• Shape technical narratives and drive cross-organizational alignment
• Navigate complex business constraints and ambiguous environments

What You Bring

Core Attributes

• Systems thinker who understands dependencies across complex platforms
• Strong problem solver comfortable operating in high-ambiguity environments
• Persuasive communicator able to influence executive stakeholders
• Proven ability to lead large-scale technical initiatives
• Skilled at balancing business urgency with technical excellence
• Ability to align multiple teams without direct authority

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive software engineering experience
• 4+ years operating at Principal, Staff, or Distinguished Engineer level
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-scale architectural transformation
• Deep expertise in distributed systems, API design, and platform architecture
• Experience with modularization, platform consolidation, or re-architecture initiatives
• Proven track record influencing engineering direction across multiple teams
• Experience integrating AI/ML into engineering workflows or product capabilities
• Executive-level communication skills with C-suite stakeholders

Impact of This Role

• Sets engineering technical strategy across the organization
• Solves cross-product architectural challenges
• Drives platform scalability and modernization
• Elevates engineering standards and culture
• Enables new business capabilities through technology innovation
• Guides adoption of AI-driven engineering practices

What’s in it for you:

• Full medical, dental, and vision benefits with 100% employer paid options and buy up plans
• Flexible PTO
• Employer HSA contribution 
• 9 Company Paid holidays
• 401(k) match, 3% after 90 days of employment
• Supportive culture with one-of-a-kind growth opportunities
• Hybrid in-office and work at home (2 days in-office Tuesdays and Thursdays)
• Paid Parental Leave as well as a two-week "ease-back" program that enables parents to return part-time at full pay
• Company and team outings       
• Peer-to-peer recognition program
• Vendor discounts

Compensation:  $180k - $225k annual compensation

Please note that the above compensation information is a good faith estimate for Colorado-based hires only and is provided pursuant to the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act and Equal Pay Transparency Rules.

Work Authorization: You must be authorized to work in the United States.  The Company is unable to provide sponsorship for workers.