Principal Software Engineer

Job Description:

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Principal Software Engineer to lead the modernization and migration of enterprise Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) applications to cloud-native platforms. This individual will provide deep technical leadership across software architecture, Java development, cloud migration strategy, legacy modernization, GenAI adoption, and enterprise system integration.


The ideal candidate combines extensive hands-on Java engineering expertise with experience modernizing legacy platforms, integrating complex enterprise systems, and leading large-scale cloud transformation initiatives. This role partners closely with product owners, architects, engineers, business stakeholders, and leadership teams to drive modernization efforts from strategy through execution.


Work Arrangement: Hybrid - 4 days onsite per week


Key Responsibilities

Software Engineering & Solution Architecture

• Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain enterprise software applications and services.
• Engage with customers and stakeholders to understand business requirements, technical challenges, and user needs.
• Design scalable, secure, and highly available software solutions using modern development frameworks and cloud-native architectures.
• Create and maintain application architecture, integration patterns, technical roadmaps, and design standards.
• Develop user-facing applications, APIs, microservices, and backend services using Java and related technologies.
• Collaborate with architects, product owners, UX teams, and engineering teams throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Promote engineering best practices including Test-Driven Development (TDD), Continuous Integration (CI), and Continuous Delivery (CD).

Cloud Migration & Modernization

• Lead cloud migration initiatives from planning through implementation and post-migration validation.
• Develop migration strategies, project plans, risk mitigation approaches, and execution roadmaps.
• Evaluate existing application portfolios and recommend modernization approaches, including rehosting, replatforming, refactoring, and rearchitecting.
• Drive transformation of monolithic and legacy applications into cloud-native microservices architectures.
• Provide technical leadership on cloud architecture, security, scalability, and operational best practices.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues arising during migration and modernization efforts.

Enterprise Integration

• Provide expertise integrating PLM systems with enterprise applications including ERP, CRM, manufacturing, and other business platforms.
• Design and implement API-based and event-driven integration solutions.
• Ensure seamless connectivity between modern cloud platforms and legacy systems.

Quality, Security & Performance

• Define and implement testing strategies, processes, and quality standards.
• Drive application performance optimization and platform scalability initiatives.
• Support security best practices including data protection, encryption, privacy, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure solutions align with enterprise architecture standards and governance requirements.

Stakeholder & Program Leadership

• Serve as a primary technical advisor to Product Delivery Owners (PDOs), Skill Team SPCOs, and business stakeholders.
• Communicate project progress, risks, dependencies, and mitigation strategies to leadership.
• Conduct post-migration assessments, document lessons learned, and recommend continuous improvements.
• Mentor engineers and contribute to building organizational cloud and modernization capabilities.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Evaluate emerging technologies and modern engineering practices.
• Identify opportunities to leverage automation, AI, and cloud services to improve delivery efficiency.
• Stay current on Google Cloud Platform (GCP) advancements, industry trends, and modernization frameworks.
• Contribute to modernization standards and best practices across the organization.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field.

Technical Experience

Java Development

• 15+ years of hands-on Java development experience.
• Expert knowledge of Java 8/11/17+, Core Java, Spring Framework, Spring Boot, and RESTful API development.
• Strong understanding of object-oriented design, microservices architecture, and enterprise integration patterns.
• Experience with Maven or Gradle, Git, Jenkins, JUnit, and Mockito.
• Ability to design, develop, and support Java-based services integrating with legacy systems through APIs, messaging platforms, batch processing, or middleware technologies.

Cloud & Legacy Modernization

• Proven experience modernizing legacy applications into cloud-native solutions.
• Hands-on experience migrating mainframe, monolithic, or on-premises applications to cloud environments.
• Experience re-platforming and re-architecting legacy Java and/or COBOL applications into containerized microservices.
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud-native development patterns.
• Strong experience working with AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
• Familiarity with event-driven architectures, 12-factor application principles, API-led integration, Strangler Fig modernization patterns, and serverless architectures.
• Experience assessing application portfolios and creating modernization roadmaps.

Project & Program Leadership

• Lead and manage cloud migration initiatives from project inception through post-migration support.
• Develop detailed migration plans, including timelines, resource allocation, dependencies, and risk management strategies.
• Coordinate migration activities across infrastructure, application, and data layers.
• Partner with architects, engineers, product owners, and business stakeholders to execute enterprise cloud migration strategies.
• Troubleshoot and resolve migration-related technical and operational issues.

Enterprise Integration & PLM Expertise

• Deep expertise integrating PLM platforms with enterprise systems such as ERP, CRM, manufacturing, and supply chain applications.
• Experience designing complex integration architectures across cloud and on-premises environments.
• Strong understanding of enterprise application ecosystems and large-scale transformation programs.

Risk, Compliance & Governance

• Identify and mitigate technical, operational, and business risks throughout migration initiatives.
• Ensure solutions comply with organizational standards, security requirements, and regulatory obligations.
• Conduct post-migration assessments and implement lessons learned to improve future delivery efforts.

Preferred Qualifications

Generative AI Experience

• Experience designing, developing, or integrating Generative AI solutions within enterprise environments.
• Knowledge of Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), vector databases, embeddings, and prompt engineering techniques.
• Experience with LangChain, OpenAI/Azure OpenAI, Hugging Face, or similar AI frameworks.
• Experience deploying AI-powered solutions such as chatbots, document summarization, code assistance, intelligent search, or data extraction platforms.

AI-Assisted Modernization

• Experience leveraging AI technologies to accelerate application modernization initiatives.
• Familiarity with AI-assisted code conversion, legacy code analysis, automated test generation, documentation creation, and cloud migration activities.
• Understanding of responsible AI principles, governance, security, privacy, and model validation within enterprise environments.

Additional Preferred Experience

• Product Management
• J2EE
• Jenkins
• Artificial Intelligence & Expert Systems
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP) certifications
• Cloud architecture or modernization certifications

EEO Employer

Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law. If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation in using our website for a search or application, please contact our Employee Services Department at [email protected] or View phone number on click.appcast.io.


Everforth Apex is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Everforth Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRateds Best of Staffing® in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work® in the United Kingdom and Mexico.

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Everforth Apex Benefits Overview: Everforth Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Everforth Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Everforth Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Everforth Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Everforth Apex team member can provide.

Everforth Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Everforth Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law.

If you require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act to participate in an interview with a virtual recruiter or to use our website for a search or application, please contact our Benefits Department at [email protected] or View phone number on click.appcast.io. Please note that this contact information is strictly to be used for medical ADA accommodations and that no other inquiries will be answered.

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