Principal Backend Engineer

Parallels; United States; Remote; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Parallels is seeking a Principal Backend Engineer to shape the backend across scalable services. You’ll drive architectural direction, decompose a mature Django app into asynchronous microservices, and own critical server-side systems at scale.

You’ll define tech strategy, mentor a team of 7–8 engineers, lead cross-team architectural transitions, and ensure secure, high-performance APIs and cloud-native patterns across the stack. Experience with Agile/Scrum and polyglot workloads is valued.

Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of modern backend infrastructure and asynchronous messaging/storage (RabbitMQ, Celery, Kafka, PostgreSQL, Redis).
• Strong Python foundation (or deep Go/C++/Rust with Python knowledge) and the maturity to master Python backend ecosystem.
• Extensive Backend Experience with principal-level design of distributed systems.
• Pragmatic architectural mastery with Domain-Driven Design, Clean Architecture, Hexagonal patterns.
• Strong API design experience spanning full API schemas and contracts.
• Deep understanding of cloud architecture, containers, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Ability to influence engineering practices, drive technical consensus, and lead architectural transitions.
• Coaching/mentoring capabilities within a team and cross-team collaboration.
• Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments.

Responsibilities

• Drive architectural roadmaps for backend systems.
• Architect and lead the decomposition of a Django application into asynchronous microservices.
• Define technical strategy, tech stack, and repository organization; evaluate build-vs-buy decisions.
• Write code for the most complex, critical system mechanisms and assist teammates.
• Architect secure and scalable integration patterns across the system.
• Redefine system architecture by auditing microservices and enforcing bounded contexts.
• Design robust, scalable APIs and own cloud architecture strategy with focus on resilience and performance.
• Serve as a technical cornerstone, partnering with leadership to enforce standards and guide 7–8 engineers.

Skills

Python

Go

C++

Rust

RabbitMQ

Kafka

PostgreSQL

Redis

Django

APIs

Cloud architecture

CI/CD

DDD

Microservices

Agile/Scrum

Mentoring

Tools

Kubernetes

GraphQL

Job description

Parallels has an immediate vacancy for this role.

Push the boundaries of tech. In your sweatpants.

We’re looking for an experienced Principal Backend Engineer to help us change the way the world works, withParallels:anytime, anywhere, any-device productivity. Here, you’ll drive the outbound prospecting effort by executing strategic prospecting campaigns to target accounts and executive personas with our Parallels team.

The top creative and technical minds could work anywhere. So why are so many of them choosing Parallels? Here are three reasons:

1. This is the moment.It’s an exciting time at Parallels, with strong leadership, a refreshed brand, and a whole new approach to changing the way the world works. We’re at the forefront of a movement, and we want you to ride this wave with us.
2. We want you to be you.Too often, companies tell you about their culture and then expect you to fit it. Our culture is built from the people who work here. We want you to feel safe to be who you are, take risks, and show us what you’ve got.
3. It’s your world.We know you have a life. We want to be part of it, but not all of it. At Parallels, we’re serious about empowering people to work when, how, and where they want. Couch? Sweatpants? Cool with us. We believe that happy employees mean happy customers. That’s why we hire amazing people and get out of their way.

Sound good so far? Awesome. Let’s talk more about thePrincipal Backend Engineer roleand see if we’re destined to be together.

Requirements

• Expert knowledge of modern backend infrastructureand asynchronous messaging/storage (RabbitMQ, Celery, Kafka, PostgreSQL, Redis, etc.).
• Solid foundation in Python (or deep expertise in Go/C++/Rust with a working knowledge of Python)coupled with the engineering maturity to quickly master the Python backend ecosystem.
• Extensive Backend Experiencewith a proven track record in principal-level roles designing complex, distributed systems.
• Pragmatic Architectural Mastery.Expertise in designing highly cohesive, loosely coupled systems. Deep understanding of software design patterns and architectural methodologies such as Domain-Driven Design, Clean Architecture, Hexagonal combined with the clear judgment on when simpler approaches are better.
• Strong background in designing client APIs.Not just individual APIs or groups, but the entire API schema and contract of a system.
• Deep understanding of cloud architecture, containerization, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Demonstrated ability to influence engineering practices, drive technical consensus, and lead complex architectural transitions across multiple teams.
• You have skills and authority to coach and mentor the team. You have skills or knowledge the team can learn from you.
• Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments.

Nice to have

• Experience with Azure as a cloud platform.
• Experience designing and implementing GraphQL APIs.
• Experience with Kubernetes or other container orchestration tools.
• Experience implementing Identity Management in enterprise applications (SCIM provisioning, OAuth2, OpenID Connect, SAML).
• Polyglot background:Experience with Golang, Rust, or C++ for performance-critical domains.
• Spec-Driven Development (SDD) & AI-Native Engineering.Experience designing formal, machine-readable specifications and strict contracts, tests as the single source of truth. You know how to define strict system boundaries and executable contracts that constrain AI agents, ensuring they accelerate code generation without introducing architectural drift or spaghetti code.

What You’ll Do

• Drive and define architectural roadmaps for backend systems.
• Architect and lead the strategic decomposition of a mature Django application into scalable, asynchronous microservices.
• Define technical strategy, tech stack, and how code is organized across repositories.Make critical build-vs-buy decisions, including evaluating whether to proceed with internal implementation vs. using a 3rd-party tool.
• Write code for the most complex, critical system mechanisms.While you won't be fixing everyday bugs, you will implement the most critical mechanisms, and features for the business. Help teammates when needed.
• Architect secure and scalable integration patternsacross the system, establishing best practices for 3rd-party integrations, identity management, and SSO/SCIM integrations.
• Redefine system architecture & designby auditing existing microservices and implementing strict bounded contexts.
• Design robust, scalable, and standardized APIs. Take ownership of the cloud architecture strategy with a strong emphasis on backend resilience, fault tolerance, and performance.
• Act as the technical cornerstone for the engineering team.Partner directly with engineering leadership to define and enforce technical standards. You will have the organizational backing to drive complex architectural transitions across a team of 7-8 engineers.

About Parallels

Parallels is a top VDI/EUC product helping businesses since 1999. Whether it's desktop or cloud, on-prem or hybrid, Parallels delivers speed, security, and affordability for the modern work environment.

It is our policy and practice to offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, age, religion, national origin, sex, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetics, or any other protected characteristic.

Parallels is committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process and work environment. If you are contacted for a job opportunity, please advise us of any accommodations required. Appropriate accommodation will be provided upon request as required by law.