Principal Software Engineer
Code for America · Remote (in the U.S.)
Posted 5 days ago · $143,884 to $176,138
or apply directly on Code for America's site. We never take the application ourselves.
Is this posting real?
- This role has been open
- 5 days Code for America's roles stay open a median of 45 days
- Reposted
- No
- Salary listed
- Yes 88% of Code for America's roles list one
- Ghost-job risk at Code for America
- high 5 stale, 1 reposted of 8 open
- Hiring momentum
- 12 roles opened in the last 90 days ↑ up vs. the prior 90 days
- Last confirmed on the employer's board
- 2026-09-17
Measured from postings appearing on and disappearing from Code for America's own greenhouse board since 2026-08-03. Full hiring picture for Code for America.
About this role
As a Principal Software Engineer at Code for America, you will define technical standards and practices while driving high-quality software delivery across multiple teams. Your role involves solving ambiguous technical problems, mentoring engineers, and setting the technical direction for projects that enhance public services. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate trends into technical strategies and support the engineering culture through documentation and shared practices.
- benefits
- 5/5
- freshness
- 5/5
- career value
- 5/5
- role clarity
- 5/5
- pay transparency
- 5/5
Scored from the posting itself — how clearly the role is described, how much it says about pay and benefits, and how recently it was listed. Not a judgement of Code for America as an employer.
What you need
- 10+ years of software engineering experience
- Deep expertise in system architecture, data modeling, web technologies, and API design
- Demonstrated track record of defining technical standards or patterns adopted across multiple teams
- Experience framing and solving ambiguous technical problems
- Expertise across multiple languages, frameworks, and tech stacks
- Demonstrated ability to use AI coding tools judiciously
Nice to have
- Deep expertise in one or more specific technology or domain areas relevant to Code for America's product portfolio
- Personal or professional experience with the social safety net or other mission-relevant government services
- Experience as a tech lead, engineering manager, or similar leadership role prior to moving into a Principal IC track
- Experience building and integrating AI-powered features in production systems
What you get
- Comprehensive benefits package
- Laptop provided
- One-time $700 payment for remote environment setup
- Cell phone and/or internet reimbursement of $50 per month
- $500 annual stipend towards professional development
- Training/guidance for staff required to utilize AI
Worth weighing
- No specific technologies or tools mentioned, which may indicate a broad tech stack
- The role involves significant cross-team influence, which may require strong interpersonal skills
- The hiring process may take 1-2 months or longer, which could be a consideration for candidates looking for a quick turnaround
Summarised from Code for America's posting. Read the full original.
Listed by Code for America on their greenhouse job board, last confirmed open on 2026-09-17. PitchMeAI is not the employer.
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