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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal Software Engineer, Front-End - **Company:** 401GO - **Location:** Sandy, UT, United States (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $180,000.0 - $225,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Software as a Service, Software Quality, Code Review, Django Web Framework, Python (Programming Language), Software Architecture, Software Engineering, Technical Debt, Backend, Front End Software Development - **Published:** June 29, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=90c1a8b0172c8388 ## About the Role Do you have experience in Team development?, * 10+ years of professional software engineering experience. * Strong front-end engineering experience. * Prior experience operating at a Staff, Principal, or equivalent senior technical level. * Experience leading a small engineering team, either formally or informally. * Professional Python experience. * Strong judgment around software architecture, maintainability, testing, and code quality. * Ability to work effectively as both a hands-on engineer and technical leader. * Clear communication skills and the ability to work cross-functionally. * Experience mentoring engineers and providing actionable code review feedback. * Eligibility to work in the United States. Bonus points for: * Django experience. * HTMX experience. * Experience working with or managing outsourced engineers. * Experience with SaaS products, fintech, payroll, benefits, retirement, or regulated industries. * Experience improving front-end systems in a mature production application. * Experience working in a small or scaling engineering team. ## Description We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer with strong front-end experience, solid Python fundamentals, and the ability to lead both technically and operationally as our product and engineering needs grow. As a Principal Software Engineer, Front-End, you will begin as a high-impact individual contributor while you learn our product, architecture, team, and development practices. In the first few months, your focus will be hands-on technical execution: shipping meaningful product improvements, understanding our front-end patterns, and building credibility across the engineering team. As you ramp up, this role will expand into technical leadership and light management of a small group of outsourced front-end engineers, likely two to three developers. You will help guide front-end architecture, improve engineering quality, mentor developers, review work, and ensure our outsourced team is aligned with 401GO's product and technical standards. This role is ideal for someone who has already operated at a Staff or Principal level, enjoys staying close to the code, and has experience leading a small engineering team. What You'll Be Doing: * Serve as a Principal-level individual contributor on product and front-end engineering work. * Lead front-end architecture decisions and help improve the quality, consistency, and maintainability of our user interfaces. * Work across the stack when needed, especially with Python-based backend systems. * Collaborate closely with product, design, operations, and engineering leadership. * Review code, provide technical direction, and raise the bar for engineering quality. * Help manage and guide a small team of outsourced front-end engineers after the initial ramp-up period. * Translate product and business needs into practical, maintainable technical solutions. * Identify technical debt and help prioritize pragmatic improvements. * Mentor engineers and provide clear technical feedback. * Help establish patterns, standards, and practices that allow the team to move quickly without sacrificing quality. ## Related Videos - [Developing the Backend with Stefan Lingler, CTO at Shpock](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100360-developing-the-backend-with-stefan-lingler-cto-at-shpock) - [Are Code Reviews Worth It? Insights from 16 Years of Review Data](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1135-are-code-reviews-worth-it-insights-from-16-years-of-review-data) - [Resolving technical debts in software architecture](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1680-resolving-technical-debts-in-software-architecture) - [Recruitment Reinvented: Bold strategies and the $10K signing incentive](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1068-recruitment-reinvented-bold-strategies-and-the-10k-signing-incentive) - [The Hidden Cost of AI Coding: Technical Debt You Can’t See](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100304-the-hidden-cost-of-ai-coding-technical-debt-you-can-t-see) - [Meet Your New BFF: Backend to Frontend without the Duct Tape](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/682-meet-your-new-bff-backend-to-frontend-without-the-duct-tape) ## Related Articles - [Fully Remote Software Engineer Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/447-fully-remote-software-engineer-jobs) - [What’s the Difference Between Frontend and Backend Development?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/240-what-s-the-difference-between-frontend-and-backend-development) - [Is Software Engineering Hard?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/448-is-software-engineering-hard) - [How to Answer the Interview Question: “Why Do You Want to Be a Software Engineer?”](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/392-how-to-answer-the-interview-question-why-do-you-want-to-be-a-software-engineer) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [How Much FAANG Companies Actually Pay Software Engineers in 2025](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/230-how-much-faang-companies-actually-pay-software-engineers-in-2025)