Principal Software Engineer (BE)

We are looking for a PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER (BE) to join our team! We invite you to check out the details below and consider whether becoming a Nerd is the next step in your career journey.

The Principal Software Engineer utilizes their deep professional software engineering experience to oversee entire project life cycles while serving as a technical leader to their project team. Highly proficient in their craft, the Principal Software Engineer provides architectural direction and technical guidance to other engineers while being effective communicators with non-technical team members. The Principal Software Engineer is responsible for the overall technical quality of the product.

Requirements:

• Undergraduate or graduate degree in a computer related field, coding bootcamp certificate, OR a thorough demonstration of self-taught software development skills
• 8+ years of software development experience
• 2-3+ years of application software architecture experience, including familiarity with common design patterns and approaches for solving typical application problems for their discipline
• Ability to write complex software and demonstrated proficiency in explaining the "why" behind code
• Strong technical communication acumen; can explain complex technical problems to technical and non-technical audiences (clients, project members, team members, peers, etc.)
• Strong understanding of the development process and ability to maintain an iterative approach throughout the project lifecycle
• Strong proficiency in C# and .NET development, including designing, building, and maintaining scalable, production-ready applications and services.
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure, including developing, deploying, and maintaining cloud-based applications and services.
• AI-forward development mindset, with demonstrated experience incorporating AI-assisted development tools into daily software engineering workflows, including code generation, debugging, testing, and optimization.
• Proficiency in context and specification-driven AI development, including providing structured context, defining clear technical requirements, and validating AI-generated solutions for quality, security, and maintainability.

Preferred:

• Introductory systems architecture experience
• Has experience or demonstrates the ability to participate in client pitches
• Exposure to full stack applications and coding skills outside of your specialization
• Experience developing AI-powered applications, including LLM integrations, AI agents, agentic workflows, or AI orchestration frameworks.
• Experience participating in technical solutioning, including requirements discovery, solution design, technical feasibility assessments, and presenting proposed approaches to clients or stakeholders.

What You'll Do:

• Oversee the entire technical lifecycle of a product including, but not limited to software/language/framework decisions, breaking down features into technical stories, and production readiness
• Write and demonstrate comprehension of complex software using expert level understanding of code patterns, application architecture, and best practices
• Serve as the technical lead for a team of software engineers
• Own the technical quality of their product
• Leading fruitful discussions about and documenting architectural decisions
• Adapt the development process to fit the team and client needs
• Foster cross-functional collaboration as a technical liaison between engineering and other project disciplines (Design, Quality, Project Management, Strategy, Product, etc.).
• Own the technical review process for team members and provide ongoing technical feedback and recommendations
• Participate in the internal leadership of their respective domain; provide input to the strategic direction of the domain, assist with domain initiatives, and maintain best practices within the domain
• Utilize deep technical communication acumen to explain complex technical concerns across multiple levels of abstraction and audiences
• Assess the technical skills of prospective candidates and provide recommendations to hiring managers
• Provide ad-hoc technical support to other practitioners in the domain as needed
• Assist with sales requests as needed by providing technical recommendations and estimates to prospective clients
• Participate in other duties as assigned

Pay Range:

• $164,500-$200,000/per year

The pay range provided reflects the target compensation for this position, and individual pay within this range is determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate's relevant experience, specific skills, education, certifications, internal equity with comparable roles at our company, market conditions, and the geographic location of the role. We are committed to fair and equitable compensation practices, and we regularly review our pay structures to ensure competitiveness and alignment with industry standards.

Our Benefits & Perks:

We believe in supporting our Nerds with a truly comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed for flexibility and financial security.

• Health & Wellness: Choose from two comprehensive medical plans (including an HSA-eligible option), plus high-quality dental and vision insurance.
• Financial Security (Company-Paid): We provide peace of mind by fully covering the cost of several essential plans: Basic Life and AD&D Insurance, Short-Term Disability (STD), and Long-Term Disability (LTD) coverage.
• Comprehensive Support: Take advantage of discounted, employee-paid options to protect your family, pets, and assets, including Voluntary Life and AD&D, Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity insurance, Pet Insurance, and plans offering Legal Support and Identity Theft Protection.
• Retirement: We offer a 401(k) plan with a company match of up to 3.5% with immediate vesting.
• Time Off: Nerds enjoy flexible time off with Flex PTO that can be used for vacation, personal time, personal illness, or time off to care for dependents.
• Remote Work: Nerdery is a remote-friendly workplace. Our Minnesota office space is available for Nerds who prefer an in-office environment or collaborative setting.
• Professional Growth: All Nerds have dedicated resources and access to funds to pursue professional development, attend industry conferences, and obtain certifications.

What Skills Will Help You Be A Successful Nerd?

• Customer-Focused Execution and Communication: Excels at translating deep customer understanding into impactful work, ensuring that every project and decision delivers exceptional user value. Able to effectively explain technical decisions to non-technical stakeholders.
• Tenacious Problem-Solving: Relentlessly unravels complex problems, developing innovative solutions to overcome any challenge that stands in the way of progress.
• Integrity-Driven Work: Builds trust by consistently upholding high standards in all work and advocating for the right approach, ensuring quality and transparency.
• Collaborative Impact: Actively elevates the team's capabilities by fostering a collaborative environment, sharing knowledge, and prioritizing collective success over individual credit.
• End-to-End Ownership: Takes full accountability for an initiative's entire lifecycle, from concept to completion, ensuring the final result successfully achieves its intended goals.
• Dedication to Craftsmanship: Driven by a passion for their craft to continuously learn, deepen their expertise, and strive for excellence in their chosen field.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions

• Sitting for extended periods: will spend significant time in meetings, presentations, and computer use.
• Occasional standing and walking: will need to move around during presentations and client interactions.
• Computer Use: Extensive use of a keyboard, mouse, and computer screen for extended periods. Ability to adjust focus between screen and documents.
• Public Speaking: requires public speaking, including presenting to clients.
• Reaching: Reaching for items on a desk, retrieving documents, or working with equipment is required.
• Lifting: Occasional lifting of light objects (e.g., laptops, peripherals) may be necessary.
• Office Environment: The work environment is primarily an office setting, with typical office equipment and noise levels.
• On-site client work: some work might involve on-site client visits and demonstrations, possibly requiring some walking and standing for extended periods.

Are We the Right Fit For You?

The best way to get the scoop on whether Nerdery is the right place for you is to chat with current Nerds. We would be delighted to have a conversation with you and share insight into what it's really like to work at our organization and if it's a place where you can thrive. Our interview process will provide you ample opportunity to talk with other team members and assess whether the role is a good fit for your next chapter. Take the first step and apply today - our Talent Advocates will then reach out to you to get the ball rolling!

Compensation

The base pay range for this role is $164,500 - $200,000 per year.