Principal Software Architect

Natera

10h

About The Position

We are seeking a visionary Principal Software Architect to lead the design and evolution of intelligent, high-scale systems that power critical software solutions in Natera. This role is ideal for a technical strategist who combines deep architectural expertise with a strong ability to collaborate across engineering, product, and operational teams. You will define and drive architectural patterns, influence platform strategy, and ensure our systems are robust, modular, and built for continuous innovation. If you are passionate about system design, cloud-native architecture, and shaping technical direction in a mission-driven environment, we’d love to connect.

Requirements

12+ years of professional software engineering experience, with 6+ years in a senior architectural leadership role.
Deep experience designing and scaling enterprise software systems, particularly in cloud-native environments (AWS preferred).
Proven success with architectural transformation initiatives (e.g., service decomposition, domain-driven design, platform re-architecture).
Strong understanding of architectural trade-offs in system design (performance, resilience, cost, etc.).
Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Nice To Haves

Experience with scientific, healthcare, or lab operations domains.
Familiarity with LIMS/LES systems, AI integration patterns, or regulated software environments.

Responsibilities

Define and own architectural strategy across product lines, ensuring alignment with long-term technical and business goals.
Design and evolve cloud-native systems with a focus on scalability, maintainability, observability, and security.
Create architectural blueprints and reusable frameworks that guide teams in building high-performance services and user-facing applications.
Act as a technical thought partner to engineering leadership, product managers, and executive stakeholders.
Mentor senior engineers and architects, cultivating a culture of system thinking and technical excellence.
Drive architectural governance, setting standards, conducting reviews, and managing risk across projects.
Lead modernization initiatives, including migration from monolithic to service-oriented or event-driven architectures.
Evaluate and introduce emerging technologies that improve developer productivity and system resilience.
Partner with AI/ML teams to ensure scalable integration of intelligent services and real-time analytics.
Work closely with teams to guide solution design, decomposition, and trade-off decisions.
Support high-priority projects through planning, hands-on design sessions, and technical troubleshooting.
Maintain a system-level view of infrastructure, services, and data flows to anticipate bottlenecks and scale risks.

Benefits

Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
401(k) with company match
Generous paid time off and company holidays
Additional wellness and work-life benefits
Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents.
Additionally, Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits.
Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more.
We also offer a generous employee referral program!

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