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 Youâll 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 Whatâs 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.