Principal Software Developer
Lightspeed Commerce · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $180,000 / year
- United States
Tailored resume — keyword-matched to this role.
Hiring manager — we find who's hiring.
Intro email — drafted to reach them directly.
Job highlights
- Lead software design and architecture for critical retail product.
- Contribute to key system components and innovative solutions.
- Mentor engineers and promote best practices.
- Improve system reliability, performance, and development practices.
- Work in a flexible, high-growth tech company.
About the role
Principal Software Developer - Lightspeed Commerce
Lightspeed Commerce is seeking a hands-on Principal Software Developer to guide the design and architecture of critical system components for their flagship Lightspeed Retail product. This role involves contributing to key system parts, delivering innovative solutions, and upleveling engineering craft through technical guidance, best practices, and mentorship. The ideal candidate will be located in Canada/USA and able to work within EST/EDT hours, with flexible work environment options including fully remote, partially remote, or fully office-based.
What You'll Be Responsible For
- Ensuring well-designed and scalable systems for new initiatives.
- Analyzing and improving existing systems for performance and robustness.
- Identifying and addressing key recurring issues and overhead.
- Driving improvements in system reliability and performance.
- Enhancing development practices, from design reviews to incident management.
- Conducting architectural deep-dives and mentoring team members.
- Fostering a high-performance culture within the Retail organization.
- Contributing to broader organizational objectives.
What You’ll Be Bringing To The Team
- 15+ years of professional software development experience.
- 5+ years of experience as a technical leader for multiple teams.
- 2+ years of experience managing architecture across multiple teams (35+ engineers).
- History of developing business-critical, cloud-based systems at scale.
- Proven track record of delivering key business outcomes under challenging timelines.
- Experience in multiple technology stacks (e.g., Go, PHP, Java, RoR, Python).
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to moderate technical discussions and make decisions.
Even Better If You Have:
- Expertise in distributed systems and multi-region cloud systems.
- Deep expertise in domain-driven software development.
- Ability to lead and contribute alongside a team of engineers.
- Retail or E-commerce domain experience.
- People management experience.
Who You Are:
- Passionate about software development with a customer-focused mindset.
- A team player dedicated to helping other developers grow.
- Committed to continuous improvement, self-growth, and accountability.
- Proactive in leading features, solving problems, and researching technologies.
- Goal-oriented with a sense of urgency and focus.
- Fluent in English as a working language.
What’s In It For You:
- Join a growing team and help drive future success.
- Amazing benefits and perks, including equity for all employees.
- Constant development of skills and business acumen with growth opportunities.
- High degree of autonomy and a flexible work culture.
- Innovation time for exploration and learning.
- Opportunities to shape the company through cultural and technical committees.
- Numerous growth paths into technical or people management roles.
- Experience in a fast-paced, high-growth company.
- Opportunity to build relationships and make a mark within a diverse and inclusive company.
Benefits & Perks:
- Lightspeed equity scheme.
- Flexible paid time off and remote work policies.
- Comprehensive health insurance.
- RRSP contributions.
- $500 annual health and wellness benefit.
- Paid leave and assistance for new parents.
- Mental health support services.
- Training opportunities for skill and career growth.
- Volunteer day.
- Fully stocked kitchen and happy hours.
Lightspeed is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive and barrier-free workplace. Accommodations are available upon request.
Key skills/competency:
- Software Architecture
- System Design
- Technical Leadership
- Cloud Computing
- Distributed Systems
- Scalability
- Performance Optimization
- Mentoring Engineers
- Agile Methodologies
- Problem Solving
Skills & topics
- Principal Software Developer
- Software Architecture
- System Design
- Technical Leadership
- Cloud Computing
- Distributed Systems
- Scalability
- Performance Optimization
- Mentoring
- Go
- PHP
- Java
- RoR
- Python
- Retail Technology
- E-commerce
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight 15+ years of software development, 5+ years in technical leadership, and experience with large-scale cloud systems. Emphasize achievements in business-critical projects and diverse tech stacks.
- Showcase leadership: Demonstrate your ability to manage architecture across multiple teams and mentor engineers. Provide examples of driving system reliability and performance improvements.
- Address technical depth: Be prepared to discuss your experience with distributed systems, domain-driven design, and specific technologies like Go, PHP, or Python. Mention any retail or e-commerce domain experience.
- Prepare for interviews: Anticipate questions on architectural deep-dives, problem-solving scenarios, and fostering a high-performance culture. Be ready to discuss how you handle diverse opinions and make decisions.
Technical preparation
Master distributed systems and cloud architecture patterns.,Practice designing scalable, high-performance systems.,Prepare deep dives on multiple tech stacks.,Review best practices in testing and deployment.
Behavioral questions
Describe leading complex technical initiatives.,How do you mentor and grow engineering teams?,Share an example of solving a critical system issue.,How do you balance innovation with tight deadlines?
Frequently asked questions
- What are the key technical skills required for the Principal Software Developer role at Lightspeed Commerce?
- The Principal Software Developer role at Lightspeed Commerce requires a strong foundation in software architecture and system design, with at least 15 years of professional experience. Key technical skills include expertise in cloud computing, distributed systems, scalability, and performance optimization. Experience with multiple technology stacks such as Go, PHP, Java, RoR, or Python is essential. A proven history of developing business-critical systems at scale for the cloud is also a must.
- What is the expected experience level for a Principal Software Developer at Lightspeed Commerce?
- Lightspeed Commerce is looking for a Principal Software Developer with a significant level of experience. This includes a minimum of 15 years in professional software development, 5 years in a technical leadership role for multiple teams, and 2 years managing architecture across teams with over 35 engineers. This ensures candidates can handle complex architectural challenges and lead effectively.
- Does Lightspeed Commerce offer remote work options for the Principal Software Developer position?
- Yes, Lightspeed Commerce offers flexible work arrangements for the Principal Software Developer role. Candidates can choose between fully remote, partially remote, or fully office-based work environments. The primary requirement is the ability to work within EST/EDT hours, and to be located in Canada or the USA.
- What kind of mentorship and leadership responsibilities are involved for a Principal Software Developer at Lightspeed Commerce?
- As a Principal Software Developer, you will play a crucial role in upleveling engineering craft across the organization. This involves providing technical guidance, promoting best practices, and mentoring fellow engineers. You will also conduct architectural deep-dives and lead key members across service teams, contributing to a high-performance engineering culture.
- What are the benefits of joining Lightspeed Commerce as a Principal Software Developer?
- Joining Lightspeed Commerce as a Principal Software Developer offers numerous benefits, including equity for all employees, comprehensive health insurance, RRSP contributions, and a $500 annual wellness benefit. You'll experience a flexible work culture with autonomy, opportunities for continuous skill development, and pathways for both technical and people management growth within a fast-paced, high-growth global company.