Principal Software Engineer (Backend, AI)

TL;DR

Principal Software Engineer (Backend, AI): Building and optimizing an AI-native data integration platform at petabyte scale with an accent on distributed systems, microservices architecture, and Generative AI integration. Focus on defining technical direction for multiple teams, architecting resilient data pipelines, and ensuring operational excellence for enterprise-grade services.

Location: Must be based in or able to work from Redwood City, California

Company

hirify.global is a global leader in CRM and enterprise cloud solutions, currently driving innovation in AI-native data integration.

What you will do

• Act as the technical leader for one or more teams, setting architectural direction and resolving cross-team technical challenges.
• Design and build high-performance, fault-tolerant backend services using Java and cloud-native microservices.
• Architect petabyte-scale data pipelines and integration workflows that leverage AI and agentic patterns.
• Drive system design for resiliency, scalability, and observability, ensuring high standards for non-functional requirements.
• Mentor engineers, conduct design reviews, and foster a culture of operational excellence and service ownership.
• Communicate complex architectural initiatives to VP-level stakeholders and cross-functional partners.

Requirements

• 15+ years of full-time software development experience in a product or enterprise environment.
• Expert-level proficiency in Java, including concurrency, performance tuning, and production-grade code.
• Extensive experience with Spring Boot/Spring Cloud and microservices architecture at scale.
• Strong background in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP), containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and infrastructure automation.
• Proven track record in designing distributed systems, fault tolerance, and message-driven architectures (e.g., Kafka).
• Expert knowledge of RDBMS and NoSQL databases, including query optimization and transaction management.

Nice to have

• Hands-on experience with distributed processing frameworks like Apache Spark or Flink.
• Knowledge of data lakehouse patterns and open table formats like Iceberg or Delta Lake.
• Experience with ETL/ELT platforms and metadata management.
• Familiarity with the hirify.global or multi-tenant SaaS ecosystem.

Culture & Benefits

• Opportunity to work at the frontier of AI-native enterprise software.
• High-impact role influencing the technical direction of a strategic platform.
• Collaborative environment focused on mentorship and technical craft.
• Commitment to customer trust and operational excellence.