Principal Software Engineer, Distributed Cloud

At F5, we strive to bring a better digital world to life. Our teams empower organizations across the globe to create, secure, and run applications that enhance how we experience our evolving digital world. We are passionate about cybersecurity, from protecting consumers from fraud to enabling companies to focus on innovation.

Everything we do centers around people. That means we obsess over how to make the lives of our customers, and their customers, better. And it means we prioritize a diverse F5 community where each individual can thrive.

Principal Software Engineer

We’re looking for a Principal Software Engineer with deep experience building and scaling SaaS platforms in the cloud. This role requires a hands-on technical leader who can architect and deliver complex, distributed systems while mentoring engineers and driving cross-functional alignment.

You’ll lead design and development of scalable microservices, define engineering best practices, and help shape the future of our SaaS platform. This is a highly influential role focused on delivering performant, secure, and reliable solutions that align with business goals.

What You’ll Do

Lead architecture and development of scalable, enterprise-grade backend systems and APIs

Drive design reviews and partner with stakeholders to align technical solutions with product strategy

Mentor engineers, promote engineering excellence, and foster continuous improvement

Influence cross-team technical direction and ensure alignment with scalability, security, and observability best practices

Define and uphold high standards for code quality, maintainability, and performance

Own implementation of observability, testing, and monitoring strategies

What You Bring

Deep expertise in microservices, distributed systems, and cloud-native technologies (Kubernetes, Docker, GitOps, CI / CD)

Proficiency in backend development with Golang or similar languages (Java, C++, Rust)

Strong understanding of SQL / NoSQL databases, performance tuning, GRPC, Kafka, Protobuf

Knowledge of DNS, CDN, networking principles, and Linux systems (including scripting and automation)

Excellent analytical and debugging skills with a track record of owning mission-critical systems

Strong communication and leadership skills, with experience mentoring teams and influencing technical direction

Qualifications

10+ years of backend software engineering experience in cloud-native environments

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent industry experience

The Job Description is intended to be a general representation of the responsibilities and requirements of the job. However, the description may not be all-inclusive, and responsibilities and requirements are subject to change.