Principal Software Engineer - Backend
Dragos, Inc. · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $225,000 / year
- United States
Job highlights
- Lead backend development for OT Security Platform.
- Design and implement high-performance Rust systems.
- Optimize software architectures for speed and efficiency.
- Mentor senior engineers and lead technical strategy.
- Contribute to a mission-driven cybersecurity company.
About the role
Principal Software Engineer Backend - Dragos, Inc.
Dragos is on a relentless mission to defend industrial organizations that provide us with the necessities of modern civilization; running water, functioning electricity, and safe industrial working environments. As the market leader in ICS/OT Cybersecurity, we are dedicated to arming our customers with best-in-class technology, threat intelligence, and services to protect their systems as effectively and efficiently as possible. We’re a remote-first culture with operations in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and APAC. We’re looking for mission-oriented teammates who embody our core values of authenticity, transparency, and trust. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join a mission that can save the world!
About The Role
Dragos is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join our team in building the leading OT Security Platform. We work in a matrix style engineering organization which means in this role, you will be part of our Backend Community. To be successful at Dragos you will need to:
- Be passionate about your craft, minding the details while working quickly.
- Have a strong product sense and care deeply about the customers and problems we are solving.
- Be self-directed with a strong work ethic and ability to operate autonomously.
- Have excellent communication skills for remote collaboration, working well across engineering disciplines.
At Dragos, we don’t hire engineers whose only mission in life is to write code. We are looking for backend engineers who yearn to contribute to more than just a code base and who are willing to stretch themselves to accomplish the mission.
Responsibilities
Our backend community is the heartbeat of the Dragos Platform, playing a pivotal role in the success of our customers’ ability to secure their OT environments.
As a Backend Engineer You Will
- Design and implement robust, testable, high-performance systems and tools in Rust.
- Optimize existing software architectures to enhance speed and efficiency.
- Actively participate in all phases of the development lifecycle, including debugging and optimization, ensuring and elevating software quality.
- Stay informed about the latest advancements in Rust programming, security, and software design principles, helping to foster an environment of continuous learning and improvement.
- Give and receive peer feedback on a normal cadence as part of our review cycle.
Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience developing backend systems at scale in high-performance team environments
- 5+ years of experience in relational databases such as Postgres
- 5+ years of experience with NoSQL databases such as Elasticsearch
- 5+ years of experience working in a microservices architecture
- Solid experience and understanding of Rust, with architectural understanding of language design tradeoffs
- Experience integrating with third party devices and data providers
- Experience incorporating AI tools, models, or services into development workflows
- Proven track record of mentoring and developing senior engineers
- Demonstrated ability to lead architectural decisions and influence technical strategy across multiple teams
Additional Qualifications
- Experience building and operating distributed systems at scale with a focus on reliability
- Familiarity with Kubernetes and cloud‑native architectures
- Experience with containerization (Docker)
- Strong understanding of observability tooling (Prometheus, Grafana)
- Experience building CI/CD pipelines and working with IaC tools (Terraform)
- Experience building information security–focused products or applying secure coding practices
- Experience with Kotlin, Go, or Python in production environments
- Experience mentoring team members or leading technical initiatives
Compensation
Salary: $225,000
Competitive Equity Package
Comprehensive Benefits Plan
Dragos is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other basis forbidden under federal, state, or local laws. All new hires must pass a background check as a condition of employment.
Key skills/competency
- Principal Software Engineer
- Backend Development
- Rust
- Databases (Postgres, Elasticsearch)
- Microservices Architecture
- Distributed Systems
- System Design
- Mentorship
- Technical Leadership
- OT Cybersecurity
Skills & topics
- Principal Software Engineer
- Backend Development
- Rust
- ICS/OT Cybersecurity
- Distributed Systems
- Microservices
- Databases
- System Design
- Software Architecture
- Remote Work
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight backend development, Rust, distributed systems, and leadership experience.
- Showcase impact: Quantify achievements in scaling systems and mentoring engineers.
- Address the mission: Emphasize your passion for cybersecurity and industrial defense.
- Prepare for technical deep dives: Be ready to discuss Rust architecture and system design.
- Demonstrate remote collaboration skills: Highlight your experience in distributed teams.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the primary focus of a Principal Software Engineer Backend at Dragos?
- The primary focus is to lead the design and implementation of robust, high-performance backend systems for Dragos's OT Security Platform, utilizing technologies like Rust and contributing to the company's mission in ICS/OT Cybersecurity.
- What programming languages and technologies are essential for this Principal Software Engineer role at Dragos?
- Solid experience with Rust is essential, along with expertise in relational databases (Postgres) and NoSQL databases (Elasticsearch). Experience with microservices architecture, distributed systems, and cloud-native technologies is also crucial.
- Does Dragos require previous experience in cybersecurity for their Principal Software Engineer Backend position?
- While direct cybersecurity product experience is a plus ('Additional Qualifications'), the core requirement is strong backend development skills. However, understanding information security principles and secure coding practices is highly valued for this role.
- What are the key responsibilities of a Principal Software Engineer Backend at Dragos regarding mentorship and leadership?
- A key responsibility includes mentoring and developing senior engineers, as well as demonstrating the ability to lead architectural decisions and influence technical strategy across multiple teams. You'll also foster continuous learning within the backend community.
- What is the work environment like for a Principal Software Engineer Backend at Dragos, considering their remote-first culture?
- Dragos operates with a remote-first culture, emphasizing excellent communication skills for remote collaboration. You'll work within a matrix-style engineering organization, contributing to a mission-oriented team that values authenticity, transparency, and trust.
- How does Dragos value contributions beyond just coding for their backend engineers?
- Dragos seeks backend engineers who are passionate about their craft, possess strong product sense, and are driven to contribute to the company's mission beyond just writing code. They value self-directed individuals willing to stretch themselves to accomplish collective goals.
- What is the expected salary range for a Principal Software Engineer Backend at Dragos?
- The provided compensation details include a salary of $225,000, a competitive equity package, and a comprehensive benefits plan. Specific salary may vary based on experience and qualifications.