Job Description

Powering the world's payments ecosystem

ACI powers the payments ecosystem - globally, and you power ACI. You'll innovate, collaborate, and grow - in an energetic technology culture with decades of proven success. ACIers - in all roles and levels - are truly your colleagues and many are your friends. Our size and reach allow you to see the global impact of your work. You are visible, your talents are valued, and you are empowered to shape the future of payments.

As a Principal Software Engineer in Norcross, GA or Omaha, NE, you will join a diverse, passionate team, dedicated to powering the world's payments ecosystem!

The Principal Software Engineer defines technical vision and architecture for major initiatives across multiple teams. This senior technical leadership position drives engineering excellence, sets standards, influences product roadmap with technical insights, and serves as a technical authority for complex challenges across the organization.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Vision & Strategy

• Define technical vision and architecture for major cross-team initiatives
• Lead design reviews and set engineering standards across multiple teams
• Influence product roadmap with technical insights and innovation opportunities
• Evaluate and adopt new technologies including AI/ML to improve engineering productivity

Technical Leadership & Problem Solving

• Identify and resolve complex technical challenges that span multiple systems
• Drive technical excellence and best practices across engineering organization
• Serve as technical escalation point for critical issues and architectural decisions
• Lead architecture reviews and provide guidance on system design

Cross-Organizational Impact

• Represent engineering in cross-organizational initiatives and strategic planning
• Mentor senior engineers and technical leads across teams
• Drive adoption of engineering best practices and architectural patterns
• Build strategic technical relationships with partners and stakeholders

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field; Master's preferred
• Equivalent experience (10+ years) may substitute for degree

Experience

• 8-12 years of software engineering with demonstrated technical leadership
• Proven track record of delivering complex, large-scale software systems
• Experience leading technical initiatives across multiple teams
• Strong influence on technical direction and engineering culture
• Payments, financial services, or regulated industry experience preferred

Technical Skills

• Expert software architect with large-scale system design experience
• Deep expertise across multiple technical domains and technology stacks
• Advanced knowledge of distributed systems, microservices, and cloud architectures
• Experience with performance optimization at scale and system reliability
• Strong understanding of security architecture and compliance requirements
• Proficiency in evaluating and adopting emerging technologies including AI/ML
• Expert proficiency in multiple programming languages and frameworks - Java, J2EE, Python
• Rest API
• Angular
• Databases: Oracle and PostgreSQL
• CI/CD Tools: Jenkins, Azure Pipelines
• Docker and Kubernetes
• Prometheus and Grafana
• RabbitMQ
• AWS (EC2, S3 and Lambda
• Azure DevOps, Confluence
• AI Tools: Claude and MS Copilot
• Deep understanding of software architecture patterns and design principles
• Experience with distributed systems, microservices, Spring Boot, and event-driven architecture
• Strong system design and scalability expertise
• Knowledge of application runtime environments and underlying infrastructure platforms
• Performance optimization and debugging experience at scale
• Talented use of AI tools and integration of AI/ML capabilities into applications

Professional Skills

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Strong cross-team influence and stakeholder management
• Strategic thinking with ability to connect technical decisions to business outcomes
• Leadership through influence without direct authority

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Conference speaking, technical publications, or recognized thought leadership
• Advanced certifications in relevant technologies
• Experience with enterprise-scale systems (millions of users, petabytes of data)
• Track record of technical innovation and patents

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Hybrid work model (2-3 days in-office); multiple office locations available
• 10-15% travel for conferences, strategic meetings, and cross-site collaboration
• On-call escalation participation; flexible hours for global collaboration

ACI Worldwide is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. This position does not offer sponsorship for employment visa status or work permit now or in the future.

In return for your expertise, we offer opportunities for growth, career development, and a competitive compensation and benefits package-all within an innovative and collaborative work environment.

Are you ready to help us transform the payments ecosystem? To learn more about ACI Worldwide, visit our web site at www.aciworldwide.comJob ID (Requisition #18647)

ACI Worldwide is an AA/EEO employer in the United States, which includes providing equal opportunity for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, and an EEO employer globally.

Important Notice About Recruitment Scams
Job seekers should be aware of ongoing recruitment scams where individuals or organizations impersonate legitimate companies to offer fake job opportunities. These scams often involve requests for personal information, payments, or interviews through unofficial channels. Please be cautious and verify any communications claiming to be from our company (www.aciworldwide.com / @aciworldwide.com). The ACI Worldwide recruitment team will always follow official channels and will never request payment.

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About Us

ACI Worldwide is a global leader in mission-critical, real-time payments software. Our proven, secure and scalable software solutions enable leading corporations, fintechs and financial disruptors to process and manage digital payments, power omni-commerce payments, present and process bill payments, and manage fraud and risk. We combine our global footprint with a local presence to drive the real-time digital transformation of payments and commerce.