Principal Software Engineer - US

Principal Software Engineer, Backend Infrastructure (Remote, US)

Location: US (remote-first, office optional), will consider strong profiles from Canada. EST preferred.

Compensation: $220K - $300K

Are you a technical leader ready to build the next generation of financial infrastructure?

Join a stellar team of leaders and experts in blockchain technology, cryptography, infrastructure, and security to build the backbone of secure, resilient systems for the evolving financial era. Our client is hiring a Principal Software Engineer to lead the design, development, and scaling of their core backend systems. This is a high-impact, remote-first role for someone who excels at setting technical direction and owning critical projects end-to-end.

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will be more than just a coder; you will be a key driver of technical strategy and execution. You will own mission-critical projects while setting the technical direction and ensuring their platform is fast, resilient, and secure under the high-stakes demands of financial workflows.

• Lead the design and development of highly scalable, secure backend services and APIs.
• Define and evolve the architecture for databases, microservices, and system integrations.
• Own critical projects from initial requirements through production deployment and iteration.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex performance and reliability challenges at massive scale.
• Drive improvements to CI/CD, observability, and engineering processes across multiple teams.
• Collaborate with product, security, and leadership to shape roadmap priorities and align technical execution with long-term company strategy.
• Mentor senior engineers, promote best practices, and represent technical expertise in high-level client discussions.
• Make key architectural decisions and drive engineering standards across the organization.

Requirements

• 10+ years of backend software engineering experience, with demonstrable leadership in the fintech, payments, or blockchain space.
• Mastery of TypeScript plus deep expertise in one or more systems languages (e.g., Rust, Go, C++).
• Proven track record building scalable APIs, robust infrastructure, and developer platforms.
• Deep expertise with databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, NoSQL) and major cloud platforms (e.g., AWS).
• Strong knowledge of microservices architecture, CI/CD pipelines, observability tools, and the Secure Software Development Life Cycle (SSDLC).
• Familiarity with applied cryptography, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), and secure backend architectures.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills, clear communication, and the ability to influence technical direction across teams.

Benefits

• Title: Principal Software Engineer
• Salary: $220,000–300,000 per year (full-time)
• Equity: 150–300 stock options vested over 4 years
• Healthcare & Retirement: Comprehensive Healthcare coverage and 401K plan.
• Equipment: High-end work equipment provided (MacBook Pro + essentials).
• Travel: Covered travel expenses.

Due to the high volume of applications we anticipate, we regret that we are unable to provide individual feedback to all candidates. If you do not hear back from us within 4 weeks of your application, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion. We genuinely appreciate your interest and wish you the best in your job search.

Commitment to Equality and Accessibility:

At MLabs, we are committed to offer equal opportunities to all candidates. We ensure no discrimination, accessible job adverts, and providing information in accessible formats. Our goal is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace with equal opportunities for all. If you need any reasonable adjustments during any part of the hiring process or you would like to see the job-advert in an accessible format please let us know at the earliest opportunity by emailing human-resources@mlabs.city.

MLabs Ltd collects and processes the personal information you provide such as your contact details, work history, resume, and other relevant data for recruitment purposes only. This information is managed securely in accordance with MLabs Ltd’s Privacy Policy and Information Security Policy, and in compliance with applicable data protection laws. Your data may be shared only with clients and trusted partners where necessary for recruitment purposes. You may request the deletion of your data or withdraw your consent at any time by contacting legal@mlabs.city.