Position Summary
As a Principal Software Engineer, you will serve as a senior technical leader responsible for defining architecture, driving large-scale system design, and shaping long-term technical strategy across backend, AI, and cloud-native platforms.
This role combines deep hands-on engineering with cross-team influence. You will operate in high-ambiguity environments, translate business and product vision into scalable technical solutions, and raise engineering standards across the organization.
The Principal Engineer is expected to lead through technical excellence, systems thinking, and pragmatic decision-making — delivering durable, scalable, and intelligent systems that power mission-critical products.
Key Responsibilities
• Define and drive end-to-end architecture for large-scale backend and cloud-native systems
• Lead design and development of distributed systems supporting high availability, scalability, and performance
• Shape technical strategy in areas such as AI/ML integration, data platforms, observability, and automation
• Evaluate and introduce emerging technologies (e.g., LLMs, vector databases, agent frameworks, cloud-native patterns) where appropriate
• Make sound engineering trade-offs balancing speed, quality, cost, and maintainability
• Drive system-level performance optimization, reliability engineering, and operational excellence
• Lead complex cross-team initiatives and influence engineering direction beyond immediate team boundaries
• Establish technical standards, review architecture, and ensure long-term platform sustainability
• Mentor senior engineers and elevate overall engineering quality
• Proactively identify risks and remove structural bottlenecks in delivery
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
• 10+ years of software development experience with demonstrated technical leadership at scale
• Proven expertise in backend system design and distributed architecture
• Strong understanding of concurrency models, system reliability, scalability patterns, and performance tuning
• Deep knowledge of data systems (SQL/NoSQL, streaming, message queues, caching, vector storage)
• Experience integrating AI/ML systems into production environments
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and container orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Strong coding proficiency in one or more of: Go, Python, Rust, Java
• Ability to operate independently, lead through influence, and communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience building SaaS platforms, networking systems, storage systems, or data-intensive infrastructure
• Experience designing AI-powered systems (LLMs, RAG pipelines, data processing platforms)
• Experience leading multi-team or multi-year architecture programs
• Contributions to open-source projects or technical thought leadership
What Success Looks Like
• Clear, scalable architecture adopted across teams
• Reduced system complexity and improved operational efficiency
• Strong engineering standards and measurable improvements in quality
• Successful delivery of high-impact initiatives under ambiguity
• Elevated technical maturity across the organization
The US base salary range for this full-time position is $212,000-$259,000. Fortinet offers employees a variety of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, 401(k), 11 paid holidays, vacation time, and sick time, as well as a comprehensive leave program.
Wage ranges are based on various factors, including the labour market, job type, and job level. Exact salary offers will be determined by factors such as the candidate's subject knowledge, skill level, qualifications, experience, and geographic location.
All roles are eligible to participate in the Fortinet equity program. Bonus eligibility is reviewed at the time of hire and annually at the Company’s discretion.
Why Join Us:
We encourage candidates from all backgrounds and identities to apply. We offer a supportive work environment and a competitive Total Rewards package to support you with your overall health and financial well-being.
Embark on a challenging, enjoyable, and rewarding career journey with Fortinet. Join us in bringing solutions that make a meaningful and lasting impact to our 660,000+ customers around the globe.