> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2720946-principal-software-engineer-ai-tools-and-security](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2720946-principal-software-engineer-ai-tools-and-security). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal Software Engineer, AI Tools and Security - **Company:** Security Tools - **Location:** Seattle, WA, United States (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $198,000.0 - $319,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Java (Programming Language), Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, C++ (Programming Language), Cloud Computing, Continuous Integration, Distributed Systems, Performance Tuning, Reliability Engineering, Service-Oriented Architecture, Software Technical Review, Strategies of Testing, Rust (Programming Language), Google Cloud, Large Language Models, Backend, Kubernetes, Information Technology, Deployment Automation, Software Version Control, Docker, Microservices - **Published:** September 4, 2026 - **Apply:** https://startup.jobs/principal-software-engineer-ai-tools-and-security-seattle-or-sf-bay-area-docker-com-8109244 ## About the Role * 10+ years of backend engineering experience, including extensive work on production-grade, distributed systems at scale. * Technical leadership across multiple teams or domains, with a proven ability to drive architectural vision, set technical direction, and influence long-term product strategy. * Exceptional product and platform mindset-you think beyond implementation details to how technology shapes developer and business outcomes. * Expertise in designing and evolving large-scale, cloud-native systems, with deep knowledge of distributed computing, service-oriented architecture, and performance optimization. * Demonstrated experience building secure, resilient, and high-throughput backend services, with a strong grasp of reliability engineering principles (SLOs, observability, incident response). * Fluency in Go (preferred) or another modern systems language (Rust, Java, C++, etc.), with the ability to lead technical design reviews and mentor others in language-specific best practices. * Strong grasp of software engineering fundamentals-CI/CD, testing strategy, source control, and deployment automation-applied in complex, multi-service environments. * Proven track record of technical mentorship and cross-functional collaboration, enabling teams to deliver high-impact, high-quality software efficiently. * Deep experience with major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and infrastructure-as-code tooling. * Ownership mentality with a bias for action and iterative delivery, balancing short-term impact with long-term architectural health. * Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. * Comfortable operating autonomously in distributed, remote-first teams, and leading through influence rather than authority. * Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. Bonus: * Experience with Kubernetes, Docker, and microservices architecture * Prior experience with OpenAI, Anthropic, or similar LLM APIs, and the MCP specification ## Description We're looking for a Principal Backend Engineer who thrives at the intersection of AI, security, and developer experience. You'll lead the technical direction of the Gateway and related services, collaborating closely with Product, Design, and Security to deliver elegant frameworks and APIs that developers love to use. This is a high-velocity, high-ownership environment: you'll ship fast, iterate constantly, and help shape the future of secure agent-based development., * Define the technical solution for a new product * Help shape the product with peers in Product and Design * Mentor other technical team members * Be the technical point of contact for the team * This role may require participation in an on-call rotation to provide support outside of standard business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as needed. ## Related Videos - [Engineering Mindset in the Age of AI - Gunnar Grosch, AWS](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1735-engineering-mindset-in-the-age-of-ai-gunnar-grosch-aws) - [Docker Compose: Rediscovered](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1978-docker-compose-rediscovered) - [Developing the Backend with Stefan Lingler, CTO at Shpock](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100360-developing-the-backend-with-stefan-lingler-cto-at-shpock) - [Understanding Kubernetes in a visual way](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100085-understanding-kubernetes-in-a-visual-way) - [Microservices: how to get started with Spring Boot and Kubernetes](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/242-microservices-how-to-get-started-with-spring-boot-and-kubernetes) - [Collaborative Intelligence: The Human & AI Partnership](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1097-collaborative-intelligence-the-human-ai-partnership) ## Related Articles - [How to Become an AI Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/331-how-to-become-an-ai-engineer) - [What is Software Engineering in the Age of AI?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/640-what-is-software-engineering-in-the-age-of-ai) - [Navigating the AI Shift](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/629-navigating-the-ai-shift) - [MLOps And AI Driven Development](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/82-mlops-and-ai-driven-development) - [Dev Digest 137 - AI'm not sure about this](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/485-dev-digest-137-ai-m-not-sure-about-this) - [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers)