Principal Software Engineer

Role Description

This is a remote role that may be hired in several markets across the United States. At First Citizens Bank we’re in the midst of a bold digital transformation—simplifying, consolidating, and modernizing the way we serve our customers. This is not business-as-usual. We’re reimagining our digital banking platform from the ground up—rethinking how channels connect, how technology supports growth, and how teams collaborate to deliver with speed and purpose.

The CIAM & Fraud Principal Software Engineer is the senior-most hands-on engineering authority for customer identity and fraud technology built on the Okta platform. The role ensures that digital banking journeys are secure, resilient, and fraud-aware, while maintaining a low-friction customer experience.

• Own engineering integrity and technical decision-making for CIAM and Fraud platforms.
• Ensure Okta-based identity solutions balance customer experience, fraud prevention, security, and scalability.
• Influence platform roadmaps and priorities through deep domain expertise.
• Act as a critical control point for high-risk changes impacting customers and regulatory outcomes.
• Serve as the engineering authority for Customer facing Okta Customer Identity Cloud implementations.
• Define and maintain CIAM and Fraud specific engineering standards, patterns, and reference implementations.
• Lead complex engineering initiatives including:
  • OAuth2 / OIDC authentication and token lifecycle management
  • Okta Identity Engine adaptive and risk-based authentication
  • MFA step-up for high-risk transactions
  • Integration of fraud and behavioral risk signals
• Lead resolution of severe production incidents and security vulnerabilities.
• Partner with Architecture, Security, Fraud, and Delivery leadership to ensure alignment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 10 years of experience in Software application development and maintenance OR High School Diploma or GED and 14 years of experience in Software application development and maintenance.
• Principal or Staff-level engineering experience.
• Deep hands-on expertise with Okta CIAM.
• Strong experience in banking or regulated financial services.
• Proven delivery of secure, customer-facing platforms at scale.
• Minimum 5-8 years experience with at least one major programming language (e.g. Java, Python, Go, etc.).
• Strong understanding of fraud prevention, risk-based authentication, and secure digital journeys.
• Experience working within agile, product-aligned delivery models.
• Familiarity with regulatory, audit, and operational risk expectations.
• Strong CIAM and fraud-aware identity design expertise.
• Deep understanding of Okta architecture and configuration concepts.
• OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, SAML.
• Fraud signal integration and risk-based decisioning.
• Strong understanding of REST APIs, event-driven architectures.
• Experience of Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).

Benefits

• The base pay for this position is generally between $165,000 and $195,000. Actual starting base pay will be determined based on skills, experience, location, and other non-discriminatory factors permitted by law.
• For some roles, total compensation may also include variable incentives, bonuses, benefits, and/or other awards as outlined in the offer of employment.
• Benefits are an integral part of total rewards and First Citizens Bank is committed to providing a competitive, thoughtfully designed and quality benefits program to meet the needs of our associates.