Principal Software Engineer (Distributed Systems)

TL;DR

Principal Software Engineer (Distributed Systems): Leading the architecture and evolution of core product microservices and resilient distributed systems with an accent on scalability, security, and high availability. Focus on designing large-scale backend infrastructure, driving cross-organizational technical strategy, and integrating AI-assisted engineering tools.

Location: USA, CA, Pleasanton. Hybrid: Must spend at least 50% of time per quarter in the office or in the field.

Salary: $222,900 – $334,300 USD

Company

A Fortune 500 leading AI platform for managing people, money, and agents.

What you will do

• Lead the architecture, design, and evolution of secure, scalable, and decoupled core product microservices.
• Design and deliver large-scale, resilient distributed systems supporting mission-critical features with strong reliability guarantees.
• Drive cross-organizational technical strategy to improve agility, modularity, and operational excellence.
• Establish and champion best practices for domain-driven design, API contract management, and observability.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to senior and staff engineers to raise the technical bar.
• Lead cloud infrastructure efficiency and cost optimization across large-scale AWS and GCP deployments.

Requirements

• Must be based in the USA (Pleasanton, CA or other US locations).
• 12+ years of software engineering experience with a track record in large-scale distributed systems and microservices.
• 12+ years of hands-on experience with Java or Scala.
• 5+ years of experience building and operating products in cloud environments (AWS/GCP), including S3, Lambda, and EC2.
• 5+ years of experience with containerization and orchestration using Docker and Kubernetes.
• Bachelor’s or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

Nice to have

• Proven ability to integrate AI capabilities into scalable software solutions.
• Proficiency with AI-assisted development tools like Cursor, Claude Code, or GitHub Copilot.
• Expert-level programming proficiency in Go.
• Experience with frontend frameworks such as React/TypeScript.
• Deep understanding of modern architectural standards, including Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Culture & Benefits

• Flex Work approach combining remote work with intentional in-person time.
• Culture rooted in integrity, empathy, and shared enthusiasm.
• Comprehensive investment in tools, growth, and long-term skill development.
• Eligibility for hirify.global Bonus Plan and annual refresh stock grants.