Principal Software Engineer - Zalando Payments (all genders)
Core
Provide hands-on technical leadership for the entire Zalando Payments department, driving architecture for mid-to-large scale projects and integrating autonomous agents into the software development lifecycle.
Role type
Principal Software Engineer (Payments/Fintech)
Builds
Payment systems and agent-augmented engineering workflows for Zalando's fashion e-commerce platform
Domain
Fintech / Payments / E-commerce
Deliverable
production ML models | product features | infrastructure
Required skills
Architecture design for mid-to-large scale systems, hands-on implementation of complex solutions, autonomous agent integration, AI-driven SDLC, coaching and mentoring engineers, cross-departmental strategy alignment
Preferred skills
Experience in regulated financial institutions, reporting to Head of Engineering or higher, shaping company-wide technical strategy
Technologies
Autonomous agents, AI tools, payment infrastructure
Responsibilities
Own technical design and end-to-end delivery of departmental projects, partner with leadership to drive hands-on product solutions, execute high-impact engineering via prototyping and troubleshooting, lead agent-augmented delivery implementation, strengthen departmental expertise through coaching, drive operational excellence via systems improvement
Seniority
Principal, hands-on IC with strategic influence
