Principal Software Engineer - Full Stack at Zero

ABOUT THE JOB Here, we partner with forward-thinking organizations in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry to push the boundaries of how the built environment is designed and delivered. As the premier full-service management advisory firm exclusively focused on the built world, we combine domain expertise with leading-edge technology strategy to solve real problems at scale. We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer - Full Stack to architect our technology foundation and lead our engineering team in building next-generation solutions for the AEC industry. You'll define our technical strategy, establish engineering excellence standards, and mentor a growing team of engineers while remaining hands-on with critical systems. This role requires both deep technical expertise and the ability to translate complex architectural decisions into practical, scalable solutions that transform how buildings are designed, built, and operated. This is a unique leadership opportunity to shape the technical direction of a company at the forefront of digital transformation in one of the world's most critical industries. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - Architect and design scalable, cloud-native software systems that serve as the foundation for our technology platform, making critical decisions about technology stack, system boundaries, and integration patterns. - Lead and mentor a team of engineers ranging from interns to senior developers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, continuous learning, and pragmatic innovation. - Drive technical strategy by evaluating emerging technologies, defining architectural patterns, and establishing best practices for code quality, testing, and documentation. - Build and maintain critical full-stack applications using React, Python, and modern cloud services, demonstrating hands-on leadership in complex technical implementations. - Design and implement microservices architectures with containerized services, APIs, and event-driven systems that can scale to meet enterprise AEC workflow demands. - Collaborate with stakeholders including CTO, product owners, and domain experts to translate business requirements into robust technical solutions that balance innovation with reliability. - Establish engineering standards for CI/CD pipelines, code reviews, testing strategies, and operational excellence across all development teams. - Lead technical initiatives such as system modernization, performance optimization, and the integration of AI/ML capabilities into core platform services. - Champion DevOps culture by working closely with infrastructure teams to ensure seamless deployment, monitoring, and maintenance of production systems. - Participate in architectural reviews, provide technical guidance on complex problems, and make build-vs-buy decisions for critical system components. REQUIREMENTS - Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field (or equivalent practical experience). - 8+ years of professional software development experience with at least 3 years in a technical leadership or principal engineer role. - Deep expertise in full-stack development with production experience in React.js, Python, and at least one additional backend language (Go or Rust preferred). - Proven track record of architecting and delivering large-scale, distributed systems in cloud environments (AWS preferred). - Strong understanding of microservices architecture, API design principles, and event-driven systems. - Hands-on experience with containerization (Docker) and orchestration technologies (Kubernetes/ECS). - Expertise in data architecture including relational databases, NoSQL solutions, and streaming platforms. - Experience with modern DevOps practices including infrastructure-as-code (CDK/CloudFormation), CI/CD pipelines, and observability tools. - Excellent communication skills with ability to articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. - Strong problem-solving abilities with a pragmatic approach to balancing technical debt, feature delivery, and system reliability. - Understanding of compliance frameworks (SOC2, ISO 27001) and security best practices. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (A PLUS, NOT A REQUIREMENT) - Experience in the AEC industry or with CAD/BIM technologies (Revit, AutoCAD, IFC standards). - Familiarity with AI/ML integration and MLOps practices for production systems. - Background in computational geometry, 3D graphics, or spatial data processing. - Knowledge of event sourcing, CQRS patterns, and distributed system design patterns. - Contributions to open-source projects or published technical articles/talks. - Experience with graph databases and complex data modeling for interconnected systems. - Track record of successful technical transformations or legacy system modernizations. WHAT YOU’LL GAIN - Technical leadership opportunity to define the architectural foundation for products that will transform a $10 trillion global industry. - Direct impact on systems that influence how critical infrastructure and buildings are designed, constructed, and operated. - Collaboration with a diverse team of engineers, AI researchers, and AEC domain experts pushing the boundaries of what's possible. - Resources and autonomy to experiment with cutting-edge technologies while building production-grade systems. - Mentorship opportunities both in giving (to your team) and receiving (from industry veterans and technical advisors). - Exposure to unique technical challenges spanning real-time collaboration, 3D visualization, AI/ML integration, and enterprise-scale data processing. - The chance to establish engineering culture and technical standards that will scale with a rapidly growing organization. WHY US? Here, Principal Engineers aren't just architects drawing diagrams—you'll be hands-on leaders shaping how technology transforms the built environment. We believe in technical leadership that combines strategic thinking with practical execution. You'll have the autonomy to make critical technical decisions, the resources to build world-class systems, and the opportunity to mentor the next generation of AEC technology innovators. Our engineering team operates at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and real-world impact. The systems you architect won't just be technically elegant—they'll directly influence how buildings are designed, how construction projects are managed, and how our built environment evolves to meet the challenges of the 21st century. If you're passionate about technical leadership, excited by the challenge of transforming a massive industry, and ready to build systems that matter, we want to hear from you.