Principal Software Development Engineer (Developer Productivity)

TL;DR

Principal Software Development Engineer (Developer Productivity): Defining and implementing the strategy, metrics framework, and data models to measure engineering effectiveness with an accent on SDLC telemetry and AI-driven workflows. Focus on building robust data pipelines, synthesizing signals across Git/CI/CD/Jira, and translating technical insights into strategic recommendations for the CTO office.

Location: United States (Seattle, Chicago, Austin, or San Jose)

Salary: $214,500 - $398,500

Company

Global travel platform powering brands like Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo to make travel smoother and more accessible for everyone.

What you will do

• Define and evolve the end-to-end strategy, metrics framework, and data model for Developer Productivity and Insights.
• Design and maintain robust data pipelines and dashboards integrating signals from Git, CI/CD, Jira, and AI tooling.
• Lead deep analytical investigations into developer flow and quality to provide concrete recommendations for senior leadership.
• Experiment with tools, workflows, and guardrails to measurably improve engineering outcomes.
• Act as the technical owner for engineering-wide insights tooling and set standards for data quality and observability.
• Collaborate with the CTO office to shape AI-era productivity strategy, including measurement of agentic workflows.

Requirements

• 10+ years of software development experience delivering large-scale distributed systems or platforms.
• Proven expertise in system design (LLD), API design, and data modeling.
• Experience leading developer relations or technical evangelism efforts at scale.
• Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and the ability to integrate AI-enabled components into existing services.
• Must be based in the US (Seattle, Chicago, Austin, or San Jose).
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

Nice to have

• Experience measuring developer productivity using DORA or SPACE frameworks.
• Proficiency in SQL and modern data platform tooling like Spark and Databricks.
• Practical experience with AI developer tools such as Claude, GitHub Copilot, or Cursor.
• Strong executive presence with a track record of translating complex data into narratives for CTO-level leaders.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible work model with access to modern office spaces.
• Generous paid time off and parental leave.
• Unique travel perks, including wellness and travel reimbursement and IATAN membership.
• Dedicated career development resources to fuel professional growth.