Principal Software Engineer - Java/Polygot

Tivly • Austin, TX

1d • Remote

About The Position

The Principal Engineer is a highly hands-on technical leadership role at Tivly, responsible for designing, building, and scaling the core software systems that power our technology platform. Reporting directly to the Chief Technology Officer, this role helps define Tivly's technical direction and drives system architecture decisions. You'll apply modern engineering practices, from microservices architecture and API development to multi-language (polyglot) solutions, to improve performance, reliability, and scalability across our products. Success in this position requires deep technical expertise, strong architectural judgment, and a commitment to mentoring engineers. The goal is high-quality, maintainable software that supports business growth and innovation.

Requirements

• 7+ years of professional software engineering experience, including significant time in backend or platform roles.
• Advanced proficiency in Java, plus hands-on experience with at least one additional language such as Kotlin, Python, Go, or TypeScript.
• Proven track record designing, building, and scaling distributed systems and microservice-based architectures in a high-traffic environment.
• Strong experience with RESTful APIs, event-driven architectures, and integrating with internal and external services.
• Deep understanding of system performance, reliability, and observability (profiling, logging, metrics, alerting).
• Practical experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP, or Azure), containerization (Docker), and orchestration (Kubernetes).
• Familiarity with modern CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and code quality practices.
• Experience working closely with Product, DevOps, and Data teams to ship features and platform capabilities.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent practical experience considered.

Responsibilities

• Own the architecture and design of distributed systems serving millions of insurance leads and transactions.
• Evaluate new technologies and frameworks to enhance performance and maintainability.
• Contribute to strategic technology roadmap planning and cross-team alignment.
• Lead by example through hands-on coding, technical reviews, and system optimization.
• Support cross-functional development in multiple languages (e.g., Java, Kotlin, Python, TypeScript, Go).
• Ensure security, reliability, and compliance within all engineering deliverables.
• Collaborate with Product, DevOps, and Data teams on scalable API integrations and microservices.
• Mentor senior and mid-level engineers, fostering a high-performing and collaborative environment.
• Perform other related duties, ad hoc tasks, and special projects as assigned to support departmental and organizational goals.
• Consistently meet and maintain the established metrics and performance standards. Your direct supervisor and the organization set these standards and update them periodically to match changing business needs.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Sick Time
• Flexible Scheduling (Flex Time)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for health and dependent care
• Company‑paid Short‑ and Long‑Term Disability
• No‑cost mental, emotional, and physical well‑being support through the First Stop Health app
• 401(k) with 4% company match
• Pay for designated holidays without having to work

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior