Principal Software Engineer

We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to design, build, and operate core backend systems while remaining comfortable working across the entire stack when needed. This role is for an engineer with deep backend expertise who enjoys understanding how systems fit together, from APIs and data stores to deployment, infrastructure, and user-facing components. You will influence technical direction, improve engineering practices, and help ensure our software is scalable, reliable, and easy to operate in the cloud. Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain high-quality backend services and supporting systems.
• Work across the stack as needed to deliver complete, end-to-end solutions.
• Own services in production, including deployment, monitoring, performance, and operational health.
• Collaborate with product managers and designers to translate functional requirements into technical solutions.
• Drive architectural decisions with a focus on scalability, reliability, security, and maintainability.
• Improve development and delivery workflows, including CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure automation.
• Partner with engineers to identify and resolve production issues and system bottlenecks.
• Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership through design reviews, code reviews, and architectural guidance.
• Help establish best practices for operational readiness, observability, and system ownership.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience, primarily focused on backend systems.
• Proven ability to deliver reliable, maintainable software in production environments.
• Experience building and operating web-based services and APIs.
• Experience working with cloud platforms and modern infrastructure environments.
• Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code concepts and tooling.
• Experience contributing to or improving CI/CD pipelines and automated delivery processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Collaborative mindset, positive attitude, and desire to continuously learn and improve.

Preferred / Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Experience with TypeScript, Node.js, PostgreSQL, or similar backend technologies.
• Familiarity with frontend frameworks such as Angular.
• Experience with containerization, service-oriented architectures, or distributed systems.
• Exposure to observability tooling (logging, metrics, tracing).
• Experience using AI-assisted tools to enhance development productivity or operational workflows.

Technologies We Use

TypeScript, Node.js, Angular, SASS

PostgreSQL, Elasticsearch

AWS, Terraform

CI/CD tooling

AI-assisted development tools (e.g., Claude)

Zelis is modernizing the healthcare financial experience across payers, providers, and healthcare consumers. We serve more than 750 payers, including the top five national health plans, regional health plans, TPAs and millions of healthcare providers and consumers across our platform of solutions. Zelis sees across the system to identify, optimize, and solve problems holistically with technology built by healthcare experts - driving real, measurable results for clients.

At Zelis, AI is woven into the fabric of how we work. Every associate is expected - and empowered - to partner with AI to challenge the status quo, accelerate innovation, and amplify their impact. This is a place for builders with a growth mindset who act with agility, embrace change, and use modern technology to shape smarter solutions, exceptional experiences, and the future of our industry for our clients, customers, and our culture.

A Little About You

You bring a unique blend of personality and professional expertise to your work, inspiring others with your passion and dedication. Your career is a testament to your diverse experiences, community involvement, and the valuable lessons you’ve learned along the way. You are more than just your resume; you are a reflection of your achievements, the knowledge you’ve gained, and the personal interests that shape who you are.