Principal Software Development Engineer
Expedia Group · Austin, TX
- On site
- Full-time
- $277,250 / year
- Austin, TX
Job highlights
- Lead design and implementation of complex software systems.
- Drive architectural decisions for large-scale systems.
- Mentor and develop engineering teams.
- Champion AI/ML solutions integration.
- Collaborate with stakeholders for business results.
About the role
About Expedia Group
Expedia Group brands power global travel for everyone, everywhere. We design cutting-edge tech to make travel smoother and more memorable, and we create groundbreaking solutions for our partners. Our diverse, vibrant, and welcoming community is essential in driving our success.
Why Join Us?
To shape the future of travel, people must come first. Guided by our Values and Leadership Agreements, we foster an open culture where everyone belongs, differences are celebrated and know that when one of us wins, we all win. We provide a full benefits package, including exciting travel perks, generous time-off, parental leave, a flexible work model (with some pretty cool offices), and career development resources, all to fuel our employees' passion for travel and ensure a rewarding career journey. We’re building a more open world. Join us.
Principal Software Development Engineer
Our Technology Team partners with teams across Expedia Group to create innovative products, services, and tools to deliver high-quality experiences for travelers, partners, and our employees. A singular technology platform powered by data and machine learning provides secure, differentiated, and personalized experiences that drive loyalty and traveler satisfaction.
Expedia Global Payments (EGP) is looking for top engineering talent to help drive the development of our payment platform, seamlessly roll out new payment methods, and continuously improve on our operational excellence and engineering practices. We offer a highly dynamic set of services that enable customers from all over the world to pay for travel in a variety of ways. We build, operate, and improve payment services for Expedia Group's brands, our suppliers (hoteliers, airlines, vacation rental owners/agencies, etc.), and our corporate needs. We do this accurately and at scale, processing over $100 billion payments in 55+ currencies in over 155 countries every year, and across a diverse set of payment options! This opportunity presents great technical challenges and the ability to have a tremendous business impact.
Technology and innovation are at the heart of our organization. We provide solutions that reduce the cost of payments and improve performance, scalability, availability, and resiliency. We also provide an abundance of functional support to services in our platform, and the needs are ever-growing, as we adapt to new payment solutions and capabilities.
This position focuses not only on implementing innovative software solutions for e-commerce payments systems at scale but also on being a role model and mentor to your fellow engineers. You will get to expand your skills in building highly scalable solutions while influencing others and raising the bar on the overall level of excellence within the team. You will also get the opportunity to influence decisions across the technology ecosystem within Expedia Group by being a key domain guide. Additionally, your input will be critical to the selection of new senior-level hires on the team.
In This Role, You Will
- Lead the design and implementation of complex, scalable software systems and services that span multiple domains or organizations.
- Drive architectural decisions, ensuring quality, reliability, and maintainability across large-scale distributed systems.
- Mentor, influence, and develop engineering teams, fostering technical excellence and best practices.
- Champion the integration and operation of AI/ML‑enabled solutions that improve business and customer outcomes.
- Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to define technical solutions and deliver impactful business results.
- Guide the adoption of modern development methodologies, system design (LLD), API design, and robust data modeling practices.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related technical field; or Equivalent related professional experience.
- 10+ years of relevant professional experience.
- Proven track record of leading complex technical initiatives across multiple systems, domains, or organizational boundaries.
- Demonstrated expertise in system design, large-scale architecture, API design, and data modeling.
- Familiarity with AI-driven systems, tools, or workflows and applying AI/ML concepts to real world products.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience architecting and operating distributed systems at scale, including service-oriented and microservices architectures.
- Deep knowledge of designing, integrating, and optimizing AI/ML‑enabled features into production software environments.
- Demonstrated leadership in driving operational excellence, automation, and continuous improvement across engineering teams.
- Skilled in data-driven decision making and leveraging metrics to optimize product and technology outcomes.
- Expertise in safely integrating and operating AI/ML‑enabled solutions to deliver measurable business improvements.
Key skills/competency
- Software Development
- System Design
- Architecture
- API Design
- Data Modeling
- AI/ML
- Distributed Systems
- Mentoring
- Leadership
- Payments Systems
Skills & topics
- Principal Software Development Engineer
- Software Engineering
- System Design
- Architecture
- API Design
- Data Modeling
- AI/ML
- Distributed Systems
- Payments
- Leadership
- Tech Lead
- Senior Engineer
- Expedia Group
- Computer Science
- Scalability
- Reliability
- Microservices
- Cloud Computing
- E-commerce
- Fintech
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your 10+ years of experience in system design, large-scale architecture, API design, and data modeling, emphasizing your leadership in complex technical initiatives.
- Showcase AI/ML expertise: Detail your familiarity and experience with AI-driven systems, tools, and applying ML concepts to real-world products, especially in distributed environments.
- Demonstrate leadership: Provide examples of mentoring engineering teams, driving operational excellence, and influencing technical decisions across organizations.
- Apply strategically: Visit careers.expediagroup.com/jobs and submit your application, ensuring it clearly reflects the Principal Software Development Engineer requirements.
- Prepare for interviews: Be ready to discuss your experience with distributed systems, microservices, and your approach to leading technical projects and fostering team growth.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the typical career progression for a Principal Software Development Engineer at Expedia Group?
- As a Principal Software Development Engineer at Expedia Group, career progression often involves deeper technical leadership, architectural influence across broader domains, and potentially moving into management or principal architect roles. Your expertise in system design, large-scale architecture, and AI/ML will be crucial for advancement, with opportunities to mentor more junior engineers and shape technology strategy.
- What kind of technical challenges can I expect as a Principal Software Development Engineer at Expedia Group's Payments team?
- The Expedia Global Payments (EGP) team faces significant technical challenges, including processing over $100 billion in payments annually across 55+ currencies and 155+ countries. You'll work on highly scalable, reliable, and resilient payment platforms, integrating new payment methods, optimizing performance, and ensuring security for a global user base. This includes architecting solutions for AI/ML integration and ensuring operational excellence.
- How does Expedia Group support the professional development of its Principal Software Development Engineers?
- Expedia Group invests in employee growth through career development resources, mentorship opportunities, and exposure to complex, cutting-edge technology. As a Principal Software Development Engineer, you'll have the chance to influence technical decisions, mentor teams, and expand your skills in areas like AI/ML and distributed systems, all within a supportive and innovative environment.
- What is the interview process like for a Principal Software Development Engineer role at Expedia Group?
- The interview process for a Principal Software Development Engineer at Expedia Group typically involves several stages. Expect initial screening, technical interviews focusing on system design, architecture, coding, and problem-solving, as well as behavioral interviews to assess leadership, mentorship, and collaboration skills. Senior leadership interviews may also be part of the process to evaluate strategic thinking and domain expertise.
- Does Expedia Group offer flexibility in work arrangements for Principal Software Development Engineers?
- Yes, Expedia Group offers a flexible work model, which may include hybrid arrangements. This allows employees to balance in-office collaboration with remote work, supported by modern office spaces designed to foster productivity and connection. Specific details would be discussed during the interview process.