Principal Software Engineer, VP

State Street • Burlington, MA

3d • $120,000 - $202,500

About The Position

Charles River Development, a State Street company, is seeking a Principal Software Engineer (Vice President) with deep Java expertise. This senior individual contributor will serve as a recognized technical authority, operating with broad autonomy and significant influence. The role leads modernization of mission-critical platforms toward cloud-native, distributed architectures and shapes technical strategy and engineering excellence across teams.

The position sets and evolves architecture, design standards, and engineering practices; provides technical strategy and leadership to senior engineering and executive stakeholders; and leads resolution of complex, high-risk, and business-critical challenges. It remains hands-on in designing, developing, testing, debugging, and implementing large-scale, multi-tier enterprise systems, while ensuring quality, performance, scalability, security, reliability, and maintainability.

The role drives technical governance and engineering excellence, including design and code reviews, technical-debt remediation, automated testing, CI/CD, observability, and operational excellence. It coordinates cross-team initiatives, collaborates with product, architecture, client support, and operations, and communicates technical recommendations and risks to senior management and non-technical stakeholders. It also mentors engineers, contributes to talent development, and provides expert troubleshooting and escalation support for complex client deployments and critical production issues.

The position calls for extensive commercial software development experience, deep knowledge of cloud-based and distributed systems, and a record of delivering high-performance production systems at scale. Financial-services experience and familiarity with regulated, mission-critical environments are strongly preferred. A bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field is required; a master's degree is preferred. Salary range: $120,000–$202,500 annually, subject to location. State Street offers a comprehensive benefits program.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field.
• 10–12+ years of commercial software development experience, including senior- or principal-level roles.
• Deep understanding of cloud-based and distributed systems.
• Demonstrated track record delivering high-performance, production-quality systems at scale.
• Expert-level proficiency in object-oriented design using Java, C++, or C#; the role specifically seeks deep Java expertise.
• Strong database and data-modeling skills, with experience in Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and/or data warehouse platforms.
• Exceptional problem-solving and systems-thinking skills, including understanding of performance, scalability, reliability, and resilience.
• Ability to work independently, manage ambiguity, and lead through influence rather than authority.
• Strong balance of deep technical execution and strategic, long-term thinking.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level communication.
• Demonstrated leadership developing and supporting commercial enterprise software used by non-technical customers.
• Significant experience working in Agile/Scrum environments and shaping process.
• Comfort operating in a highly regulated, mission-critical financial-services environment.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree preferred.
• Experience with compiler design, optimizers, solvers, code generation, or semantic analysis.
• Exposure to machine learning, AI, or cognitive computing.
• Strong financial-services background, such as portfolio management, trading, compliance, IBOR, or wealth management, is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as principal technical authority for key initiatives or core modules within Charles River platforms.
• Define and evolve system architecture, design standards, and engineering best practices across teams.
• Provide long-term technical strategy and thought leadership to senior engineering leaders and executive stakeholders.
• Drive adoption of modern cloud architecture, frameworks, and emerging technologies where they provide business value.
• Lead resolution of high-risk, complex, or business-critical technical challenges.
• Analyze, design, develop, test, debug, and implement large-scale, multi-tier, mission-critical enterprise systems.
• Lead complex enhancements spanning multiple components and teams.
• Set standards for code quality, performance, scalability, security, reliability, and maintainability, balancing delivery needs with long-term platform health.
• Remain hands-on with the most complex or ambiguous technical problems.
• Establish and enforce design review, code review, and technical governance practices.
• Identify systemic technical debt and lead cross-team remediation efforts.
• Champion automated testing, CI/CD, observability, and operational excellence; write and review unit, integration, and automation tests.
• Influence engineering roadmaps to align technology investments with business strategy.
• Partner with Product Management, Architecture, Client Support, and Operations.
• Lead and coordinate cross-team technical initiatives spanning multiple scrum teams.
• Translate complex technical concepts into recommendations for senior management and non-technical stakeholders, and advise on technical risk, platform direction, and investment priorities.
• Mentor engineers at all levels through coaching, design reviews, and knowledge sharing; influence hiring, onboarding, and technical talent development.
• Troubleshoot large, complex, high-visibility client deployments and serve as an escalation point for critical production or client issues.
• Design durable long-term solutions to recurring operational or client-impacting problems.

Benefits

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match.
• Insurance coverage including basic life, medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, and optional additional coverages.
• Paid time off including vacation, sick leave, short-term disability, and family-care responsibilities.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program.
• Incentive compensation, including eligibility for annual performance-based awards, subject to stated exclusions.
• Eligibility for certain tax-advantaged savings plans.
• Inclusive development opportunities, flexible work-life support, paid volunteer days, and employee networks.

What This Job Offers

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