Senior Principal Engineer

Responsibilities

• Define and own the multi-year technical vision and strategic roadmap for Central Operations and Systems.
• Lead architecture and implementation for large cross-company technical programs.
• Architect Docker’s SDLC Golden Path and shared platform capabilities across product teams.
• Define infrastructure, deployment, security, scaling, monitoring, reliability, and observability standards.
• Design infrastructure supporting AI and agent initiatives, including rapid deployment and programmatic environment creation.
• Drive platform cost optimization, build-versus-buy decisions, and convergence of fragmented systems.
• Lead architectural reviews and establish technical contracts between platform and product teams.
• Mentor Staff and Principal engineers and influence executives and senior engineering leaders.
• Represent Docker’s platform architecture and AI adoption through external technical engagement.
• Participate in on-call support outside standard business hours as needed.

Requirements

• 12+ years of software engineering experience across multiple domains such as SDLC, AI engineering, and corporate systems.
• Proven experience architecting and delivering large-scale distributed systems serving millions of users and thousands of enterprise customers.
• Expert understanding of API design, service architecture, and system integration patterns at scale.
• Working knowledge of cloud platforms and modern infrastructure patterns including Kubernetes, service mesh, and infrastructure-as-code.
• Knowledge of enterprise security requirements and compliance frameworks including SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Track record of creating technical strategies that deliver business outcomes and translating business strategy into architecture and roadmaps.
• Experience prioritizing high-leverage platform investments and understanding SaaS business models and enterprise sales cycles.
• Experience making build-versus-buy decisions for critical platform components.
• Ability to lead cross-company programs, influence without direct authority, work with executives, and mentor senior engineers.
• Preferred experience with developer tools, infrastructure software, B2B SaaS, container technologies, Docker, Kubernetes, developer productivity platforms, legacy-system migrations, financial operations, or infrastructure cost optimization.
• Advanced technical degree and external technical leadership recognition through speaking, publications, or open-source contributions are preferred.

Benefits

• Remote-first work from home with offices in Seattle and Paris.
• Flexible scheduling and generous PTO, quarterly Whaleness Days, and an end-of-year Whaleness break.
• Home office support and a technology stipend equivalent to US$100 net per month.
• Annual learning and development stipend for conferences, courses, certifications, and continued learning.
• Sixteen weeks of paid parental leave after six months of employment.
• Equity for all full-time employees.
• Comprehensive medical, retirement, and paid holiday benefits varying by country.
• Docker swag.
• Visa sponsorship may be considered case by case.