Principal Software Engineer

Job Summary

We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to provide deep technical leadership within our Integration Engineering organization. In this role, you will define and evolve the architecture of our cloud-native, API-first platform that powers our patented data- and AI-driven Security Knowledge Platform™.

As a Principal Engineer, you will operate at an organization-wide level—setting technical direction, driving large-scale modernization initiatives, and serving as a trusted technical authority across integrations, backend systems, and platform services. You will partner closely with senior engineering leaders, product, and business stakeholders to enable a new era of modern, scalable, and resilient crowdsourced security that stays ahead of threat actors.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Technical Strategy & Architecture

• Define and own API-first, cloud-native architecture standards, service patterns, and integration frameworks across the platform.

• Lead the organization-wide transition to cloud-native and service-oriented architectures, ensuring scalability, security, and operational excellence.

• Act as the principal technical authority for backend systems and third-party integrations across the engineering organization.

• Drive long-term technical strategy and architectural decision-making aligned with business and platform goals.

Platform Modernization & Reliability

• Lead modernization efforts toward a highly reliable, event-driven, and observable platform.

• Ensure high availability, performance, stability, and fault tolerance across all integration workflows.

• Establish best practices for resiliency, data consistency, and system scalability.

• Bring deep expertise in Kafka or similar event streaming technologies and their use in large-scale distributed systems.

AI & Emerging Technology Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership in the adoption and integration of AI-powered tools and systems, with a focus on measurable business outcomes.

• Guide architectural decisions related to AI scalability, security, and reliability in production systems.

• Evaluate emerging technologies and frameworks to keep the platform future-ready.

Cross-Team Leadership & Influence

• Lead complex, cross-org engineering initiatives that span multiple teams and domains.

• Influence engineering roadmaps and technical direction without direct people management authority.

• Partner with product, security, and business stakeholders to identify and enable high-impact integration opportunities.

• Mentor senior and staff engineers, raising the bar for engineering excellence across the organization.

People Management Responsibility

• This role does not have direct people management responsibilities.

• Influence is exercised through technical leadership, mentorship, and cross-functional collaboration.

Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Experience & Education

• 12+ years of professional software engineering experience, with demonstrated impact at scale.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

• Experience in the cybersecurity domain or security-centric platforms is strongly preferred.

Technical Expertise

• Deep expertise in cloud-native architecture, microservices, and API design.

• Proven experience designing and owning large-scale, cross-system integrations.

• Strong understanding of AI systems, platform scalability, security, and reliability.

• Experience with event-driven architectures (Kafka or equivalent).

• Familiarity with enterprise UI frameworks and their integration with backend systems.

Leadership & Delivery

• Exceptional technical leadership and architectural decision-making skills.

• Strong background in agile delivery, backlog planning, and stakeholder communication.

• Demonstrated ability to influence senior engineers and leaders across teams.

• Excellent problem-solving, prioritization, and systems-thinking capabilities.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Sitting and/or standing: Ability to remain in a stationary position for approximately 50% of the time.

• Carrying/lifting: Ability to carry and move a laptop as needed throughout the workday.

• Work Environment: Primarily remote, with occasional in-person presence as needed.

ADA Statement

Bugcrowd is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, Bugcrowd will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR at ada@bugcrowd.com.