Principal Software Engineer, Developer Acceleration (Release Engineering)

Role Description

We're looking for a Principal Software Engineer to help define the technical future of release engineering at HubSpot — at the intersection of large-scale distributed systems and agentic AI.

• The role of AI in software delivery is no longer theoretical.
• We're actively deploying AI agents across our build, test, and deploy pipeline.
• This is a rare opportunity to work on infrastructure problems that very few engineers have encountered.
• Principal Engineers are expected to stay close to the code, lead high-impact initiatives end-to-end, and influence technical direction well beyond a single team.
• This role is for someone who can move between infrastructure architecture, agentic AI systems, and large-scale delivery pipeline design while remaining a hands-on builder throughout.

Key Expectations

• Own the future of HubSpot's release engineering platform.
• Shape the technical direction for the build, test, and deploy systems that underpin how HubSpot ships software.
• Drive architectural decisions across pipeline design, test infrastructure, deployment orchestration, and developer ergonomics.
• Help define what the next generation of HubSpot's delivery platform should look like.
• Be a deeply hands-on, high-leverage builder.
• Write production code regularly and lead complex initiatives from idea to rollout.
• Design and implement AI-powered QA agents that run on every deploy, reducing risk and increasing confidence in continuous delivery.
• Turn ambiguous infrastructure problems into simple, scalable systems and clear technical direction.
• Rethink testing and delivery infrastructure for a new era.
• Challenge 10-year-old assumptions about build systems and deployment pipelines.
• Drive the roadmap toward 500+ deploys per minute, identifying and eliminating bottlenecks across the delivery pipeline.
• Influence across the broader engineering org.
• Partner with engineering leaders to align release engineering direction with what HubSpot needs to build next.
• Work horizontally across teams to guide technical tradeoffs, rationalize configuration and change management across concurrent teams.
• Act as a multiplier through design reviews, technical mentoring, and principled decision-making on the most critical systems in the space.

Qualifications

• Deep experience building and evolving large-scale distributed systems, particularly in CI/CD, build infrastructure, release engineering, or foundational backend platforms.
• Strong architectural instincts with a bias toward simplicity, clarity, and long-term platform leverage.
• Experience operating at hyperscaler or platform-provider scale.
• A track record of owning and delivering complex, cross-team technical initiatives with org-wide or company-level impact.
• A hands-on mindset. You lead by building, debugging, reviewing, and shipping.
• The ability to move into unfamiliar technical territory quickly and help teams make better long-term decisions.

Benefits

• Annual Cash Compensation Range: $266,200 - $425,900 USD.
• Participation in HubSpot’s equity plan to receive restricted stock units (RSUs).
• Some roles may also be eligible for overtime pay.
• Flexible work arrangements with a focus on building strong connections with your team and peers.