Principal Software Engineer

About the Role

We are seeking a seasoned and visionary Principal Software Engineer to serve as the leading technical authority within our Product Engineering & Technology (PET) division. This pivotal, hands-on leadership role is designed for an exceptional software architect and engineering expert who will shape the technical direction of our flagship cybersecurity solutions while championing the adoption of sovereign cryptography and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) principles across our entire technology ecosystem.

The ideal candidate will architect and deliver high-assurance software solutions that seamlessly integrate into both enterprise environments and highly sensitive sovereign, air-gapped infrastructures. This role demands the establishment of rigorous engineering standards, the governance of secure software development practices, and the provision of strategic technical leadership across the organization. The successful candidate will bridge the gap between cutting-edge innovation and operational excellence, ensuring that our cybersecurity products remain at the forefront of security and reliability.

Sovereign Architecture & Backend Engineering

In this capacity, you will define and lead the architecture, development, and deployment of highly resilient backend services using Python and FastAPI. Your responsibilities will include:

• Establishing and enforcing engineering standards, coding practices, and architectural principles across the software development organization to ensure consistency and excellence.
• Designing scalable microservices architectures capable of operating in both connected and disconnected sovereign environments, ensuring uninterrupted functionality under all conditions.
• Embedding advanced cryptographic controls into applications, including sovereign cryptographic frameworks, secure key management implementations, and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) readiness.
• Implementing robust secure data protection mechanisms for data in transit and at rest to safeguard sensitive information.
• Ensuring compliance with NCA Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC) and other applicable security frameworks to meet regulatory and industry standards.

Frontend Engineering & Systems Integration

You will lead the design and development of modern, highly responsive frontend platforms using Vue.js, JavaScript, and TypeScript. Your responsibilities will encompass:

• Architecting seamless integration between application platforms and specialized cybersecurity hardware appliances deployed within Operational Technology (OT) environments.
• Ensuring reliable real-time communication, synchronization, and data integrity across distributed systems to maintain operational coherence.
• Driving frontend performance optimization, scalability, and maintainability across the CyProducts ecosystem to enhance user experience and system efficiency.

Technical Leadership & Engineering Excellence

As the highest technical escalation point for complex software engineering challenges, you will:

• Mentor senior engineers and technical leads, fostering a culture of engineering excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Define and mandate best practices for software architecture, code quality, system reliability, security engineering, and performance optimization.
• Review critical architectural decisions and provide authoritative technical direction to guide the organization toward success.

Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC)

You will champion and enforce Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) practices across all engineering teams, ensuring that security is embedded at every stage of the development process. This includes:

• Establishing security-first engineering processes from project inception through deployment and maintenance.
• Designing and implementing secure CI/CD pipelines leveraging GitLab CI/CD to automate and streamline development workflows.
• Driving automated security validation, including Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), dependency and container security scanning, and infrastructure security validation.
• Ensuring that software releases meet stringent security and quality standards before deployment to mitigate risks and enhance reliability.

Strategic Architecture & Innovation

You will define the long-term technical roadmap for software platforms and engineering practices, balancing innovation with operational stability. Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading initiatives to reduce technical debt while maintaining delivery velocity to ensure sustainable growth.
• Evaluating and introducing emerging technologies, frameworks, and cryptographic approaches to keep our solutions at the cutting edge.
• Supporting the organization's strategic vision for sovereign cybersecurity solutions and secure digital transformation to address evolving threats and market demands.

Required Qualifications

To qualify for this role, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline. A Master's degree is preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 10 years of professional software engineering experience, with significant experience operating at a Principal-level or equivalent capacity.
• Technical Proficiency: Extensive expertise in software architecture, cryptography, and secure software development practices, with a proven track record of delivering high-assurance solutions in complex environments.