Principal Software Engineer
Core
Define long-term technical direction and strategy for customer-facing experiences used by millions, integrating AI to improve value and shape how Dropbox builds and scales.
Role type
Principal Software Engineer (Technical Strategist & Hands-on IC)
Builds
Foundational systems, platforms, and AI-powered features for Dropbox's core product.
Domain
Cloud storage, collaboration tools, distributed systems, and applied AI/LLMs.
Deliverable
production ML models | product features | infrastructure
Required skills
Distributed systems architecture, large-scale software design, AI/LLM integration, frontend and backend development, system reliability, technical strategy, cross-organizational influence.
Preferred skills
Scaling company-wide platforms, leading technology introductions (AI/ML), operating in distributed virtual-first organizations.
Technologies
LLM-based APIs, agentic frameworks, distributed databases, storage systems, concurrency models.
Responsibilities
Define long-term technical strategy and partner with senior leaders on company objectives; architect and evolve foundational systems operating at hundreds of millions of users; drive AI adoption to increase productivity and produce AI-based features; resolve structural bottlenecks and align roadmaps across organizations; implement critical, complex, and foundational parts of the system.
Seniority
Principal, company-level strategy with hands-on execution