Principal Software Development Engineer, Backend
Core
Senior technical leadership role shaping backend architecture for scalable, secure, observable, and cost-efficient cloud-native platforms and services across a complex, customer-facing product domain.
Role type
Principal Software Development Engineer, Backend (Senior IC with strategic influence)
Builds
Scalable, secure, observable, and cost-efficient cloud-native platforms and services supporting multiple products and machine learning workloads
Domain
Cloud-native backend engineering, distributed systems, and platform services
Deliverable
production ML models | product features | infrastructure
Required skills
Backend architecture, distributed systems design, API design, cloud-native technologies, data and event pipelines, system reliability, performance optimization, observability, security, data governance, operational excellence
Preferred skills
Technical leadership across multiple teams, cross-functional collaboration, mentoring senior engineers, establishing engineering standards, modernizing engineering workflows
Technologies
AWS, GCP, Azure, cloud-native frameworks, distributed systems tools
Responsibilities
Define and drive long-term technical strategy and architecture for backend platforms; Lead design and implementation of high-throughput, low-latency APIs and data pipelines; Act as primary technical steward for the backend domain; Solve complex technical and business problems spanning teams and systems; Partner with Product, Data Science, and ML leaders to translate business objectives into technical roadmaps; Establish engineering standards and mentor senior engineers; Influence platform governance, security, and compliance practices; Champion modern backend technologies and tools to improve developer experience
Seniority
Principal, hands-on IC with strategic influence and mentorship
