Principal Software Engineer/Developer

The Principal Software Engineer/Developer is a highly experienced application architect, full-stack engineering leader, and recognized technical authority responsible for defining and driving enterprise application architecture, cloud-native development, and large-scale modernization strategies. This role operates at a senior leadership level while remaining hands-on, leading the design and development of secure, scalable, and resilient .NET solutions deployed in Microsoft Azure. The Principal Software Engineer/Developer guides development teams, advises executive and customer stakeholders, establishes application architecture and engineering standards, and ensures alignment with business objectives and federal or other highly regulated requirements.

Requirements

• Define and lead enterprise architecture strategy across cloud, applications, and infrastructure
• Develop multi-year technology roadmaps aligned with organizational and client objectives
• Demonstrate experience serving as lead architect or technical lead for enterprise .NET application development teams, including hands-on design, development, code review, and modernization of legacy systems
• Establish architecture standards, reference models, and governance frameworks
• Advise executive leadership on emerging technologies, risks, and investment priorities
• Architect and oversee complex Microsoft Azure solutions, including hybrid and multi-cloud environments
• Lead enterprise cloud adoption, migration, and modernization strategies
• Design and develop cloud-native and modernized enterprise applications on Microsoft Azure leveraging Azure App Services, Azure Functions, Azure SQL, API Management, messaging services, and related Azure platform capabilities to build secure, scalable, and resilient .NET solutions
• Serve as a hands-on technical leader by actively contributing to application design and development efforts using the Microsoft .NET framework and related technologies
• Perform hands-on coding, code reviews, prototyping, and technical implementation activities to ensure architectural standards and solution quality are achieved
• Maintain current hands-on experience developing and modernizing .NET applications deployed in Microsoft Azure, with proficiency in modern web and application development technologies such as Angular, React, JavaScript/TypeScript, Node.js, and related enterprise frameworks
• Collaborate with cloud engineering teams to ensure application architectures are successfully deployed using automated CI/CD and Infrastructure as Code practices
• Ensure optimization for performance, scalability, resilience, and cost efficiency
• Lead large-scale application modernization initiatives
• Establish best practices for microservices, API-first, and event-driven architectures
• Guide development teams in full-stack and cloud-native development
• Ensure security-by-design principles
• Oversee alignment with federal frameworks (e.g., NIST, Zero Trust)
• Partner with cybersecurity teams
• Lead cross-functional teams
• Drive DevSecOps and automation
• Serve as trusted advisor
• Redesign data structures to support modern, scalable, and efficient data architectures
• Plan and execute comprehensive data mapping activities across systems, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and alignment with enterprise standards
• Develop end-to-end solution designs that align business requirements with system capabilities, ensuring seamless integration and data flow
• Leverage AI tools and technologies to enhance architectural design, productivity, and decision-making
• Apply AI-assisted development tools appropriately to accelerate software design, development, documentation, code review, and technical analysis
• Communicate effectively across all levels of the organization, including technical teams, senior leadership, executives, and external customers
• Serve as the primary technical interface to customers, ensuring clear, consistent, and professional communication of solutions and outcomes
• Translate complex technical concepts, architectures, and trade-offs into concise, business-friendly language
• Present solution options with clear pros/cons, risks, and trade-offs to support informed decision-making
• Develop and communicate reasonable level-of-effort estimates, timelines, and solution assumptions
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-scale transformation initiatives
• Deep, current hands-on expertise in the .NET platform and modern full-stack development technologies, including Angular, React, JavaScript/TypeScript, Node.js, Azure App Services, Azure Functions, Azure SQL, API Management, and messaging services
• Experience in federal, regulated, or large-scale enterprise environments strongly preferred
• Preferred certifications in Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert and Microsoft Azure Developer Associate
• Optional/preferred certifications include CISSP, CCSP, CISM, TOGAF, or equivalent architecture, cloud, or security-related credentials. Candidates are not required to possess security certifications to be considered for this role
• Working knowledge of automated CI/CD and Infrastructure as Code practices, including the ability to collaborate effectively with cloud engineering and DevSecOps teams responsible for application deployment

Qualifications

• US Citizenship Required
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or related field (Master's preferred)
• 12-15 years of progressive experience in enterprise application architecture, software engineering leadership, and large-scale application modernization initiatives, including cloud-native solution development
• 12-15 years of leadership experience leading, managing, architecting, and contributing to full-stack enterprise application development and modernization initiatives
• 8+ years designing and leading secure enterprise .NET application solutions deployed in Microsoft Azure environments, including implementations within FedRAMP-authorized, NIST-aligned, or other highly regulated environments
• Current hands-on experience developing and modernizing .NET applications in Microsoft Azure using modern web and application development technologies such as Angular, React, JavaScript/TypeScript, Node.js, and related frameworks