Salesforce

Principal Architect, Software Engineering — Sales Cloud

Salesforce$257K — $496K *
Enterprise Technology
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 12+ years of software engineering experience with a focus on large-scale, multi-tenant SaaS platforms.
  • Deep expertise in distributed systems, cloud-native infrastructure, and security patterns, with strong server-side engineering skills in Java.
  • Solid foundation in web technologies, capable of working across the full frontend stack.
  • Proven experience using AI tools for software development, including expertise in prompt engineering and maintaining system context for workflows.
  • Familiarity with Salesforce architecture and APIs, with an emphasis on CRM and enterprise B2B software.

Responsibilities

  • Navigate technical complexities to drive initiatives; evaluate build vs. buy decisions rigorously.
  • Design and build large-scale software platforms, writing production-quality code for core services and APIs.
  • Implement API-first, headless, and AI-native capabilities with a focus on security and performance.
  • Partner with other architects to elevate technical quality through mentorship and design reviews.
  • Champion AI-accelerated engineering practices and critically evaluate code for quality and performance.
  • Own the long-range plan and lead architecture discussions, acting as the primary technical voice for the domain.

Benefits

  • Access to comprehensive support and resources promoting work-life balance.
  • Opportunities for personal and professional growth through mentorship and development programs.
  • Exposure to cutting-edge AI technologies and practices, enhancing technical skills.
  • Collaborative work environment fostering creativity and innovation.
Full Job Description

To get the best candidate experience, please consider applying for a maximum of 3 roles within 12 months to ensure you are not duplicating efforts.

Job Category

Software Engineering

Job Details

About the Team

Sales Cloud is Salesforce's flagship CRM product, the platform that helps the world's leading companies connect with their customers, close deals, and drive revenue growth. Our engineering organization is at the forefront of a fundamental shift in how enterprise software is built and experienced. We're reimagining the sales experience across every surface: headless CRM architectures, deep Slack integrations, lightweight product-led growth onboarding flows, and AI-native selling experiences powered by Agentforce.

We operate as a lean, high-velocity org: small pods of product, design, and engineering working in tight, iterative cycles. We ship continuously, prototype in days, and hold ourselves to the highest standards of architectural quality and production reliability. 

About the Role

We are seeking a Principal Architect who is also a hands-on, high-output software engineer, a builder-architect who moves fluidly from system design to code to production. This is not a traditional enterprise architecture position. We need someone who has designed, built, deployed, and operated large-scale systems, and who can personally write the software required to make complex architectures real.

You will own end-to-end architecture across a portfolio of strategic initiatives: 

  • Headless

  • Slack/CRM integration

  • Salesforce Starter Suite,Salesforce's all-in-one CRM for small and growing businesses

  • Salesforce Go,a streamlined setup and feature discovery experience that helps admins quickly configure and activate Salesforce capabilities), and

  • Product Led Growth surfaces. 

You'll define the long-range plan  and north star architecture in these areas, operating as the primary technical voice for your domain while elevating the engineering quality of the entire org.

What You'll Be Doing
  • Navigate technical and organizational complexity to drive cross-functional initiatives to completion; evaluate build vs. buy decisions and emerging platform capabilities (Agentforce, MCP, LLM APIs) with rigor and commercial awareness.

  • Design and build large-scale distributed software platforms; writing production-quality code for core services, APIs, platform components, and reference implementations across architecture, infrastructure, security, and runtime.

  • Design API-first, headless, and AI-native platform capabilities including secure tool invocation, model integration, context management, and agentic workflow automation.

  • Implement and enforce security patterns for identity, authorization, API access, tenant isolation, and auditability; contribute to engineering-wide standards for API design, performance, and developer experience.

  • Partner with other Principal Architects and senior engineers as a force multiplier: elevating technical quality through mentorship, design reviews, and thought leadership; own incident accountability for your domain.

  • Champion AI-accelerated engineering practices: Claude-based development, MCP integrations, and agentic workflows; critically evaluate human- and AI-generated code for correctness, quality, security, and performance.

  • Own and drive the long-range plan (LRP) and north star architecture for Headless, Slack/CRM integration, Starter Suite, Salesforce Go, and PLG initiatives; lead architecture reviews and product design discussions as the primary technical voice for your domain.

What We're Looking For
Required Qualifications
  • 12+ years of software engineering experience, with demonstrated success as a hands-on architect on large-scale, multi-tenant SaaS platforms. 

  • Deep expertise in distributed systems, cloud-native infrastructure (Kubernetes, containers, CI/CD, observability), API design, database optimization, and enterprise security and integration patterns. Strong server-side engineering skills in Java required.

  • Solid foundation in web technologies (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) with the ability to work across the full frontend stack.

  • Proven track record of using AI tools to accelerate software development;hands-on fluency with tools like Claude, Cursor, or equivalent; advanced prompt engineering skills; experience maintaining structured system context that keeps agentic workflows accurate and on mission.

  • Proven ability to design and build AI-native product capabilities; deep familiarity with Agentforce, LLMs, MCP, agentic orchestration, RAG, vector databases, and integrating intelligent services into production software.

  • Deep knowledge of CRM and enterprise B2B SaaS software; candidates with exclusively B2C backgrounds are not a fit. 

  • Familiarity with Salesforce platform architecture,including multi-tenancy, governor limits, security models, and Sales Cloud APIs (REST, Bulk, Streaming, Platform Events), is strongly preferred; experience with Data Cloud, Agentforce, and Hyperforce infrastructure a plus.

  • Demonstrated ability to lead technical strategy across multiple engineering teams; acts as a genuine multiplier raising architectural quality through written design proposals, thorough design reviews, and executive-level communication.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; strong bias for action; able to drive ambiguous, cross-functional initiatives to completion despite organizational complexity.

  • Proven knack for defensive project scoping that preemptively eliminates external bottlenecks and guarantees delivery velocity.

  • Collaborative, low-ego working style that thrives in a dense community of strong architects and engineers.

  • B.S./M.S. in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience building product-led growth surfaces, self-serve onboarding flows, activation funnels, and lightweight CRM experiences.

  • Experience in a product-engineering hybrid capacity bridging design and delivery.

  • Salesforce platform certifications are a plus.

  • The One-Person Startup: Be a trailblazer. You will operate with the autonomy and end-to-end ownership of a startup founder, from writing crisp product requirements to deploying final, production-grade solutions.

  • The Founder's Instinct: You embody the "All-in-One Builder" mindset. You instinctively identify high-leverage problems, define the necessary solution, and execute the delivery with relentless drive.

  • Agentic Mindset: You have proven, hands-on experience leveraging advanced AI coding tools (e.g., Claude, Cursor) to generate, test, and rapidly iterate on code, coupled with an insatiable hunger to integrate emerging AI capabilities.

Unleash Your Potential

When you join Salesforce, you’ll be limitless in all areas of your life. Our benefits and resources support you to find balance andbe your best, and our AI agents accelerate your impact so you cando your best. Together, we’ll bring the power of Agentforce to organizations of all sizes and deliver amazing experiences that customers love. Apply today to not only shape the future — but to redefine what’s possible — for yourself, for AI, and the world.

About Salesforce

ExactTarget is a provider of on-demand email marketing software solutions. Their suite of on-demand one-to-one marketing applications enables clients to send business-critical and event-triggered communications to increase sales, optimize marketing investments, and strengthen customer relationships. They offer four editions of their on-demand software application along with integrated solutions such as ExactTarget for AppExchange and ExactTarget for [Microsoft](/organization/Microsoft) Dynamics CRM.

Salesforce Careers

Joining Salesforce means becoming part of a dynamic, global team of professionals who are deeply committed to driving customer success and innovation. As the world's leading Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform, Salesforce offers unparalleled job opportunities in technology and consulting, making it an ideal place for ambitious individuals looking to make a significant impact.

Work You'll Do

At Salesforce, every position is a chance to leverage your skills and creativity to transform businesses and industries. Our diverse team of experts collaborates to deliver cutting-edge solutions that foster growth and enhance leadership capabilities. By joining our team, you'll be at the forefront of digital innovation, using Salesforce's powerful platform to help clients navigate their transformation journeys.

Innovate and Lead

Salesforce is not just a company; it's a community where you can lead with your ideas and see them come to life. Our culture of innovation encourages you to challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of what's possible. With Salesforce, you'll work alongside leaders in technology and business who are committed to your growth and professional development.

Career Growth and Opportunities

Whether you're looking for an internship, a full-time position, or leadership roles, Salesforce provides a wealth of opportunities to advance your career. Our commitment to professional growth is reflected in our robust training programs, including leadership development and diversity training, designed to help you excel at every stage of your career.

Be Part of a Great Team

Salesforce prides itself on a culture that values diversity, teamwork, and open communication. We believe that our strength lies in our people, and we're committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive. Joining our team means being part of a supportive community that encourages networking and collaboration.

Benefits and Culture

At Salesforce, we understand that job satisfaction extends beyond the office. That's why we offer competitive benefits to support the health, well-being, and financial security of our employees and their families. From health insurance and retirement plans to wellness programs and flexible working arrangements, we provide the benefits that contribute to a better work-life balance.

Explore Job Opportunities

Ready to take the next step in your career? Explore the wide range of employment opportunities at Salesforce. From technical roles to customer engagement positions, we are continuously hiring talented individuals who are passionate about making a difference.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest at Salesforce by following our careers blog. Gain insights from the people who work here and learn how you can bring your career to the next level with Salesforce.

Apply Now

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Learn more about Salesforce
Size
73,541 employees
Market Cap
$130.4 billion
Industry
Net Income
$4 billion
Founded
2000
5 Year Trend
+25.7%
Revenue
$21.2 billion
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