Principal Software Engineer (Distributed Systems)

TL;DR

Principal Software Engineer (Distributed Systems): Leading the technical coherence of a platform spanning globally distributed key-value storage, configuration delivery, and health-mediation systems with an accent on safety, reliability, and scalability. Focus on designing complex distributed primitives, driving organization-wide technical initiatives, and integrating LLMs into production processes.

Location: Must be based in or able to work from Washington DC, Austin, NYC, or San Francisco (Hybrid)

Salary: $200,000 – $288,000 (varies by location)

Company

hirify.global is a global leader in Internet security and performance, powering millions of websites and properties through an intelligent, global network.

What you will do

• Own the technical coherence of globally distributed systems for configuration delivery and health-mediation.
• Translate edge and control-plane platform needs into robust, scalable engineering primitives.
• Write production code, design new systems, and review technical proposals from senior engineers.
• Drive consensus on technical decisions across multiple teams without direct authority.
• Integrate LLMs into existing development processes and system architectures.
• Mentor senior engineers and establish architectural patterns adopted across the organization.

Requirements

• 10+ years of software engineering experience with a history of leading complex, organization-wide initiatives.
• Expertise in at least one modern strongly-typed programming language.
• Proven track record of designing and managing high-volume, global-scale applications.
• Strong understanding of API design standards, patterns, and best practices.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship for export-controlled technology.
• Ability to attend in-person interviews at hirify.global offices if requested.

Nice to have

• Experience with scaling high-scale Configuration Management systems.
• Familiarity with Google’s Prodspec and Annealing systems.
• Experience with Kubernetes, RocksDB, or similar data stores.
• Experience with health checking and probe platforms at scale.
• Public evidence of technical leadership (conference talks, blog posts, open source).

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with equity participation.
• Flexible paid time off covering vacation and sick leave.
• Support for caregiving, mental health, and family forming.
• Global travel medical insurance and disability coverage.
• Culture focused on iteration, curiosity, and solving complex Internet-scale problems.