10+ years of professional software engineering experience
Deep expertise in Java, C#/.NET, Node.js/JavaScript, or Python
Proven track record in designing and delivering large-scale enterprise systems
Experience leading complex technical initiatives across multiple teams
Hands-on experience with AI-assisted development tools
Production experience with AWS or similar cloud platforms
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent experience
Responsibilities
Design and guide scalable, secure, resilient architectures
Lead modernization of legacy platforms to cloud-native and AI-enabled architectures
Identify and address technical debt and performance bottlenecks
Shape long-term technology strategy through hands-on experiments
Stay hands-on in design, implementation, and debugging
Build reusable components and shared frameworks
Define engineering standards and mentor senior engineers
Benefits
Flexible First work environment
Medical, vision & dental plans
Life, AD&D, and disability insurance
401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match
Parental leave and adoption assistance
Education assistance and tuition reimbursement
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Full Job Description
$125,000 - $180,000 + VIP Bonus
Vertafore is looking for a Principal Software Engineer to help shape the future of our technology platforms and lead how we build software in an AI-native world.
You'll be a senior technical leader who stays hands-on. You'll set architectural direction, personally take on our hardest engineering problems, and show what an engineering organization can achieve when engineering excellence and AI are leveraged together.
You'll work closely with Product and Engineering leadership so that what we build delivers real value to our customers.
What you'll do
Set technical direction
Design and guide scalable, secure, resilient architectures, making the tradeoffs between speed, quality, and long-term sustainability.
Lead the modernization of legacy platforms toward cloud-native, API-first, and AI-enabled architectures.
Identify and address technical debt, architectural risk, and performance bottlenecks early.
Shape long-term technology strategy, and evaluate emerging technologies through hands-on experiments and proofs of concept.
Build and deliver
Stay hands-on in design, implementation, prototyping, and debugging, and personally take on our most complex problems.
Build reference implementations, reusable components, and shared frameworks that speed up teams across the organization.
Own technical outcomes, not just recommendations, with high standards for security, performance, reliability, and observability.
Lead AI-native engineering
Set the example in using AI coding agents, automated testing, and intelligent code review in daily work.
Help define Vertafore's AI-native development methodology, tooling, and standards, including where human judgment matters most.
Automate repetitive engineering work, and measure the impact on velocity, quality, and reliability.
Raise the bar across engineering
Define engineering standards and design principles, and lead design reviews that encourage constructive debate.
Mentor senior engineers, architects, and emerging technical leaders.
Influence decisions across teams without direct authority, and partner with Product, Architecture, and Security to turn business strategy into technical plans.
What we're looking for
Core qualifications
10+ years of professional software engineering, with deep expertise in at least one of Java, C#/.NET, Node.js/JavaScript, or Python.
A track record of designing and delivering large-scale enterprise systems, grounded in architecture, distributed systems, and APIs.
Significant experience leading complex technical initiatives and influencing direction across multiple teams.
Hands-on experience with AI-assisted development tools, and evidence that you've improved how teams work through automation.
Production experience with cloud platforms, ideally AWS.
Clear communication with both technical and nontechnical audiences.
A bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
Areas of depth
Our platform spans a wide range of technologies, and we don't expect anyone to be an expert in all of them. We're looking for real depth in several of these areas and the curiosity to grow in the rest.
Cloud and infrastructure: AWS services such as EKS, ECS, and EC2; containerization; cloud-native architecture.
DevOps and delivery: CI/CD pipelines, deployment automation, observability, and DevSecOps.
Data: relational databases such as Oracle, PostgreSQL, or SQL Server, including SQL development and performance tuning.
Frontend: modern UI frameworks such as React or Angular.
Modernization: evolving large-scale legacy applications into modern platforms.
Applied AI: LLMs, retrieval-augmented generation, agents, and agentic workflows.
Platform engineering: shared services, internal platforms, and developer productivity tools.
Regulated environments: sensitive customer data, compliance requirements, and enterprise SaaS.
Skills & Requirements
#LI-Hybrid
Is this role not an exact fit for you? Keep an eye on our Careers Page for other positions!
Why Vertafore is the place for you: *Canada Only
The opportunity to work in a space where modern technology meets a stable and vital industry
Medical, vision & dental plans
Life, AD&D
Short Term and Long Term Disability
Pension Plan & Employer Match
Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave
Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
Education Assistance
Additional programs - Employee Referral and Internal Recognition
Why Vertafore is the place for you: *US Only
The opportunity to work in a space where modern technology meets a stable and vital industry
We have a Flexible First work environment! Our North America team members use our offices for collaboration, community and team-building, with members asked to sometimes come into an office and/or travel depending on job responsibilities. Other times, our teams work from home or a similar environment.
Medical, vision & dental plans
PPO & high-deductible options
Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Accounts Options:
Health Care FSA
Dental & Vision FSA
Dependent Care FSA
Commuter FSA
Life, AD&D (Basic & Supplemental), and Disability
401(k) Retirement Savings Plain & Employer Match
Supplemental Plans - Pet insurance, Hospital Indemnity, and Accident Insurance
Vertafore, Inc. is a software company that provides insurance technology solutions. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Bothell, Washington. Vertafore operates in the technology sector and has a workforce of over 1700 employees. The company's products and services are designed to help insurance agencies and carriers manage their operations more efficiently. Vertafore's solutions include agency management, rating and connectivity, content management, and compliance and licensing. The company has a strong presence in the United States and serves over 20,000 customers.
