CAE Senior Principal Software Architect (Design)

Frontdoor Defense; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 171,000 - 314,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Compensation package

Paid time off

Health benefits

Learning reimbursements

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Divergent is seeking a Senior Principal Software Architect to define and advance the architecture of complex CAE desktop and web applications. You will drive architectural strategy, establish reusable frameworks, and lead GPU-accelerated workflows across multiple programs.

The role requires deep expertise in interactive 3D architectures, graphics rendering, and scalable software design. You will mentor senior engineers and influence cross-team priorities within the DES and Platform IPT.

Qualifications

• Divergent DES organization seeks a Senior Principal Software Architect to define architecture for desktop and web CAE apps.
• Leadership in shared software frameworks, standards, and reusable capabilities.
• Experience with GPU compute, graphics rendering, and high-performance software systems.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute architectural strategies for multi-project CAE apps across platforms.
• Establish shared architectures, standards, and reusable capabilities for the DES organization.
• Lead scalable GPU compute orchestration and resource management for heavy workloads.
• Address cross-team dependencies and drive architectural consistency.
• Guide technical direction and mentor senior engineers across teams.
• Review architectures and align roadmaps with long-term objectives.

Skills

Desktop architecture

3D graphics

GPU compute

Technical leadership

Architectural strategy

Mentoring engineers

Cross-team influence

Education

12+ years experience

Tools

Siemens NX

Teamcenter

CAE/CAD/PLM ecosystems

Job description

CAE Senior Principal Software Architect (Design)

Define and implement scalable architecture for multi-project CAE desktop and web apps

Location: Torrance, California

Compensation: $171,450 - 314,390 USD / year

About The Role

Senior Principal Software Architect

Divergent's Design and Engineering Systems (DES) organization is seeking a Senior Principal Software Architect (E8) to define and advance the architecture of complex engineering applications and shared software capabilities across multiple programs and product areas.

This role serves as a functional technical advisor, applying deep expertise in desktop application architecture, interactive 3D systems, and computational engineering software to address emerging technical challenges and drive innovation with broad business impact.

The Senior Principal Software Architect establishes and executes architectural strategies, leads major technical initiatives, and influences the development of scalable application frameworks and GPU-enabled computational infrastructure. Working across DES, Platform, and related engineering functions, this individual ensures architectural consistency, reduces systemic technical risk, and enables multiple teams to deliver high-quality engineering software at scale.

The Role

• Define and execute architectural strategies for interactive 3D desktop and web-based CAE applications spanning multiple projects, programs, and product areas.
• Establish shared application frameworks, architecture standards, and reusable software capabilities that support development across the DES organization.
• Lead the architecture of scalable GPU compute orchestration, clustered GPU job scheduling, and resource management for computationally intensive engineering workflows.
• Anticipate emerging technical challenges and develop solutions to complex problems spanning application architecture, graphics rendering, UI frameworks, computational workloads, and platform integration.
• Drive major technical initiatives that improve software scalability, application performance, development efficiency, and architectural consistency across multiple programs.
• Establish architectural principles and technical decision frameworks that guide software design, technology selection, and cross-team implementation.
• Resolve systemic technical dependencies and integration challenges across desktop applications, shared services, computational design systems, and engineering platforms.
• Influence technical roadmaps and architectural priorities across DES and Platform IPT, aligning investments with long-term computational design and engineering objectives.
• Provide functional architectural guidance to engineering teams and senior technical contributors, ensuring complex systems are designed for reliability, maintainability, and extensibility.
• Lead architecture reviews and major technical design decisions, balancing program requirements with broader system-level considerations.
• Establish approaches for integrating topology optimization, computational geometry, CAE solvers, and GPU-accelerated computation into cohesive engineering applications.
• Mentor senior and staff-level engineers and strengthen architectural decision-making and technical leadership across multiple teams.
• Represent the function in high-impact technical discussions with engineering leadership, platform stakeholders, customers, and vendors as appropriate.
• Evaluate architectural risks, emerging technologies, and technology investments that may affect multiple programs or product areas.

Basic Qualifications

• Ability to lawfully access information and technology subject to U.S. export controls.
• Extensive experience defining software architecture for complex desktop applications, CAE systems, engineering platforms, or comparable industrial software.
• Demonstrated expertise in interactive 3D application architecture, graphics rendering, UI frameworks, and high-performance software systems.
• Proven ability to define and execute technical strategies spanning multiple projects, programs, or product areas.
• Experience developing shared software frameworks, architectural standards, and reusable platform capabilities adopted across teams.
• Demonstrated ability to solve unique, complex technical problems spanning multiple systems or engineering disciplines.
• Experience architecting GPU compute infrastructure, distributed execution systems, or computational job orchestration.
• Strong judgment in making high-impact architectural decisions and balancing competing technical and program requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction across organizational boundaries and advise engineering leadership on architectural strategy.
• Experience leading major technical initiatives and mentoring senior technical contributors.
• Familiarity with Siemens NX, Teamcenter, and comparable CAE, CAD, and PLM ecosystems.

Preferred Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in software engineering, architecture, CAE, CAD, PLM, scientific computing, or related technical domains.
• Track record of defining architecture across multiple engineering applications, platforms, or product areas.
• Experience integrating topology optimization, computational geometry, simulation solvers, and GPU-accelerated workloads into engineering software.
• Experience designing systems that combine interactive 3D visualization with asynchronous or distributed computation.
• Demonstrated success improving architecture consistency, software reuse, engineering productivity, and system reliability across multiple programs.
• Experience influencing multi-year technical roadmaps and architectural investment decisions.
• Experience advising technical leaders on complex architecture, technology selection, and system integration decisions.
• Experience representing an engineering software function in customer, vendor, or cross-functional technical discussions.

Work Environment

• Onsite/hybrid/remote

Compensation

At Divergent, our pay range is based on the level of the job. For this role, we will consider candidates at levels E07 - E09 as evaluated through our interview process.

• E07 / Principal Engineer: $171,450 - $235,740
• E08 / Sr. Principal Engineer: $197,990 - $272,240
• E09/ Technical Fellow: $228,650- $314,390

Pay Range $171,450 —$314,390 USD

What We Offer:

• Holistic Compensation Package: Enjoy a world-class compensation package that includes a competitive salary, equity plan, and discretionary results-based incentive bonus opportunities, ensuring you're truly valued for your contributions.
• Wellness and Time Off: Embrace a healthy lifestyle with paid vacation, sick time, and company holidays, including a year-end shutdown to recharge. We support growing families with paid parental leave, recognizing the importance of bonding time.
• Comprehensive Health and Wellness: Prioritize your well-being with our comprehensive health and wellness benefits, offering both HMO and Premium PPO options. Additionally, benefit from company-sponsored life insurance and short and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind.
• Investment in Growth: We're committed to your professional development. Take advantage of reimbursement opportunities for learning and development initiatives, empowering you to continuously expand your skill set and reach peak performance.
• Collaborative and High-Performing Environment: Join our collaborative, dynamic, and high-performing team within a fast-paced, mission-driven company. Together, we're disrupting the traditional manufacturing industry, fostering innovation, and integrating people and technology to reduce our footprint.

Equal Employment Opportunity Divergent is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected characteristic. Divergent provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act. EEO Poster

In order to adjust to changes in our business, it may become necessary to add, remove or modify certain duties and responsibilities, or to reassign you to another job position. From time to time you may be asked to work on special projects or to assist with other work. Your cooperation and assistance in performing such additional work is expected.