Principal Software Architect

Cotality Australia; City of Brisbane; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Wellbeing leave

Wellbeing allowance

Parental leave

Calm app access

RP Data access

Volunteer leave

Job summary

Cotality is seeking a Principal Software Architect to provide architectural oversight across distributed engineering teams, focusing on data architecture, SDAP platform, and services. You will align solutions with the organisation’s data strategy and partner with data engineering, product leaders, and business stakeholders.

You will define enterprise data architecture, guide data models and pipelines, mentor engineers, and drive scalable, future-ready platforms while balancing delivery needs

Qualifications

• 10+ years in software development with 3–4 years in data architecture or principal engineering roles.
• Experience designing data architectures across cloud-native, distributed, and event-driven environments.
• Expertise in data modelling, data pipelines, and large-scale data platforms.
• Proven leadership and autonomy in ambiguous environments, influencing outcomes without direct authority.
• Strong communication to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Data Architecture Leadership: define and govern enterprise data architecture strategy and oversee data platforms, pipelines, and services.
• Collaborate with Data Engineering to design, implement, and evolve solutions in line with best practices and standards.
• Provide architectural leadership across platforms and products, balancing delivery with long-term sustainability.
• Partner with engineering, product managers, and stakeholders to align platform solutions with business goals.
• Establish and enforce data architecture practices, governance, security, and compliance.
• Mentor engineers and architects to uplift capabilities and promote modern data architectures.
• Remain hands-on with engineering and data teams to ground designs in practical realities.

Skills

Data architecture

Cloud-native

Distributed systems

Leadership

Communication

Job description

At Cotality, we are driven by a single mission—to make the property industry faster, smarter, and more people-centric.

Cotality is the trusted source for property intelligence, with unmatched precision, depth, breadth, and insights across the entire ecosystem. Our talented team of 5,000 employees globally uses our network, scale, connectivity and technology to drive the largest asset class in the world. Join us as we work toward our vision of fueling a thriving global property ecosystem and a more resilient society.

Cotality is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive work culture that inspires innovation and bold thinking; it's a place where you can collaborate, feel valued, develop skills and directly impact the real estate economy. We know our people are our greatest asset. At Cotality, you can be yourself, lift people up and make an impact. By putting clients first and continuously innovating, we're working together to set the pace for unlocking new possibilities that better serve the property industry.

Job Description

In this role, you will serve as a Principal Software Architect, providing architectural oversight and technical leadership across distributed engineering teams, with a primary focus on data architecture, SDAP platform, and services. You will ensure scalable, cohesive, and future-ready solutions that align with the organisation’s data strategy.

You will work closely with the Data Engineering team, as well as engineers, product leaders, and business stakeholders, to influence technical direction, improve platform adoption, and drive excellence across Cotality's data and software ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

• Data Architecture Leadership: Serve as the Data Architect, defining and governing the enterprise data architecture strategy. Provide oversight for data platforms, pipelines, and services while guiding data models, flows, and system integrations globally.
• Collaboration with Data Engineering: Partner closely with Data Engineering to design, implement, and evolve solutions, providing architectural guidance to ensure alignment with best practices and enterprise standards.
• Architecture Oversight: Provide architectural leadership across multiple platforms and products, balancing short-term delivery needs with strategic, future-state considerations to ensure long-term sustainability.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with engineering, product managers, and business stakeholders across domains (including property, lending, and data services) to align platform solutions with business goals.
• Technical Direction & Standards: Establish and enforce best practices in data architecture, system design, and platform integration while ensuring adherence to data governance, security, and compliance.
• Mentorship & Capability Building: Provide technical mentorship to engineers and architects, driving capability uplift and encouraging the adoption of modern data architecture principles.
• Hands-On Contribution: Remain actively engaged with engineering and data teams, contributing to practical, actionable solution designs grounded in engineering realities.

Job Qualifications

What You’ll Bring

Essential

• Experience: Minimum of 10 years in software development, including at least 3–4 years in a data architecture, architecture, or principal engineering role.
• Architecture & Design: Demonstrated experience designing and delivering modern data architectures across cloud-native, distributed, and event-driven environments.
• Data Systems: Strong expertise in data modelling, data pipelines, and large-scale data platform design.
• Leadership & Autonomy: Proven ability to operate in ambiguous environments, make sound technical judgements independently, and influence outcomes across teams without direct authority.
• Communication: Strong communication skills with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred

• Domain Background: Experience in property technology, financial services, or data-driven platforms.
• Product-Led Environment: Background working in a product-led technology organisation where software and data are core business capabilities.
• Modern Data Stack: Familiarity with modern data technologies and architectures (e.g., data lakes, streaming, distributed data systems).

Why Join Cotality?

• In addition to modern offices across Australia and New Zealand, our hybrid working model provides you with the opportunity for flexible working conditions that work best for you and the business;
• 10 half days of Wellbeing leave each year to help you recharge and access to our Employee Assistance Program;
• $600 AUD annual wellbeing allowance for gym memberships, wellness apps, ergonomic gear and more;
• Generous Parental leave offering, $750 AUD in Baby Bucks and our peer recognition turned into rewards program - Bravo!
• Free subscription to the Calm app as well as other mindfulness tools, online health and nutrition courses;
• Complimentary access to Australia’s most comprehensive property research platforms including RP Data and exclusive employee-only market updates and access to the industry’s best property experts;
• Two community and volunteer leave days each year to support meaningful causes and our charity partners.

Cotality's Diversity Commitment

Research suggests some candidates may hesitate to apply unless they meet every listed requirement. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly, we still encourage you to apply!

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly encourage women and underrepresented groups to apply.

Cotality is fully committed to employing a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive work environment that embraces everyone’s unique contributions, experiences and values. We offer an empowered work environment that encourages creativity, initiative and professional growth and provides a competitive salary and benefits package. We are better together when we support and recognize our differences.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Cotality is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace across Australia and New Zealand. We recruit, hire, train, and promote individuals based on merit, qualifications, and business needs, without regard to race, ethnicity, colour, national origin, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital or family status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a drug-free workplace free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying.