Principal Software Engineer

About the RoleWe are seeking a highly accomplished Principal Software Engineer to serve as the foremost technical authority within our Product Engineering & Technology (PET) division. This is a hands-on leadership position for an exceptional software architect and engineering practitioner who will define the technical direction of our flagship cybersecurity products while driving the adoption of sovereign cryptography and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) principles across our technology ecosystem.The successful candidate will architect and deliver high-assurance software solutions that operate seamlessly across both enterprise environments and highly sensitive sovereign, air-gapped infrastructures. This individual will establish engineering standards, govern secure software development practices, and provide strategic technical leadership across the organization.Sovereign Architecture & Backend EngineeringDefine and lead the architecture, development, and deployment of highly resilient backend services using Python and FastAPI.Establish and enforce engineering standards, coding practices, and architectural principles across the software development organization.Design scalable microservices architectures capable of operating in both connected and disconnected sovereign environments.Embed advanced cryptographic controls into applications, including:Sovereign cryptographic frameworksSecure key management implementationsPost-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) readinessSecure data protection mechanisms for data in transit and at restEnsure compliance with NCA Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC) and other applicable security frameworks.Frontend Engineering & Systems IntegrationLead the design and development of modern, highly responsive frontend platforms using Vue.js, JavaScript, and TypeScript.Architect seamless integration between application platforms and specialized cybersecurity hardware appliances deployed within Operational Technology (OT) environments.Ensure reliable real-time communication, synchronization, and data integrity across distributed systems.Drive frontend performance optimization, scalability, and maintainability across the CyProducts ecosystem.Technical Leadership & Engineering ExcellenceAct as the highest technical escalation point for complex software engineering challenges.Mentor senior engineers and technical leads, fostering a culture of engineering excellence and innovation.Define and mandate best practices for:Software architectureCode qualitySystem reliabilitySecurity engineeringPerformance optimizationReview critical architectural decisions and provide authoritative technical direction.Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC)Champion and enforce Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) practices across all engineering teams.Establish security-first engineering processes from project inception through deployment and maintenance.Design and implement secure CI/CD pipelines leveraging GitLab CI/CD.Drive automated security validation including:Static Application Security Testing (SAST)Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)Dependency and container security scanningInfrastructure security validationEnsure software releases meet stringent security and quality standards before deployment.Strategic Architecture & InnovationDefine the long-term technical roadmap for software platforms and engineering practices.Lead initiatives to reduce technical debt while maintaining delivery velocity.Evaluate and introduce emerging technologies, frameworks, and cryptographic approaches.Support the organization's strategic vision for sovereign cybersecurity solutions and secure digital transformation.Required QualificationsEducationBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.Master's degree preferred.ExperienceMinimum 10 years of professional software engineering experience.Significant experience operating at Principal Engineer, Lead Architect, or equivalent senior technical leadership level.Proven track record designing and delivering complex distributed systems within high-security or mission-critical environments.Extensive hands-on coding experience with continued involvement in architecture and software development.Preferred CertificationsCertified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP)Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)Google Cloud Professional Cloud ArchitectCISSPGIAC Secure Software Programmer (GSSP)TOGAF (Architecture)