Principal Software Development Engineer (Kubernetes)

TL;DR

Principal Software Development Engineer (Kubernetes): Leading the architecture, design, and implementation of a global container runtime platform for hirify.global with an accent on scalability, reliability, and developer experience. Focus on driving technical strategy for Kubernetes-based environments, automating infrastructure lifecycles, and mentoring engineering teams to ensure operational excellence.

Location: San Jose, California (Hybrid work model).

Salary: $249,000 – $348,500 (plus performance potential up to $398,500).

Company

hirify.global is a global travel technology company powering experiences for travelers and partners worldwide through a data-driven platform.

What you will do

• Design and evolve a core Kubernetes-based compute platform focusing on multi-tenancy and service mesh integration.
• Architect for scale to support a 10x increase in traffic and services across the global infrastructure.
• Lead the design of next-generation GitOps workflows and CI/CD pipelines.
• Automate infrastructure lifecycle management using Terraform, Crossplane, and other IaC tools.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to senior engineers, guiding RFCs and architectural reviews.
• Serve as the final escalation point for complex, cross-cutting production incidents and system failures.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in infrastructure automation, configuration management, or container orchestration.
• Strong programming proficiency in Java, Go, Python, or Ruby.
• Proven experience with AWS, Docker, and Kubernetes/EKS.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a technical field or equivalent professional experience.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Nice to have

• Experience with Service Mesh (Istio, Linkerd) and service discovery.
• Knowledge of security development principles (token management, encryption, certificates).
• Familiarity with developer portal tools like Backstage.
• Background in building self-service platform capabilities.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision).
• Flexible work model with office presence requirements.
• Generous paid time off, parental leave, and travel discounts.
• Wellness & travel reimbursement programs.
• Opportunity to work in a diverse, award-winning inclusive culture.