Principal Software Architect

Zelody; Remote; USD 170,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A modern financial technology company is seeking a Principal Software Architect & Lead Engineer to design transformative AI-first systems. You will lead engineering efforts, coding high-stakes components, and deconstruct traditional banking constraints to enhance integration. This role requires deep expertise in TypeScript, Node.js, and Python, along with a minimum of 7 years of experience in scalable systems, preferably in fintech. Join a team backed by significant investments and help shape the future of finance.

Qualifications

• You have deep expertise in TypeScript, Node.js, and Python for AI and Data orchestration.
• You’ve scaled distributed systems in fintech, payments, or defense.
• Experience managing small, high-output teams without micro-managing.

Responsibilities

• Architect a system where LLMs and Agentic frameworks are core logic.
• Spend 60–70% of your time coding high-stakes components.
• Oversee a lean team of engineers and conduct deep code reviews.
• Design 'agentic bridges' for core banking system integration.

Skills

Architecture over Implementation

7+ Years of Engineering Excellence

AI as a First Principle

The '0 to 1' Scar Tissue

Leadership Maturity

Tools

TypeScript

Node.js

Python

AWS-native architectures

Job description

Principal Software Architect & Lead Engineer

Location: Remote, US (Portland or SF preferred)

Compensation: $170k–$200k + Equity

Reports to: CTO

The Mission

Banking integrations are traditionally rigid, brittle, and human-heavy. At Zelody, we aren’t just "mapping APIs"—we are building an agentic orchestration backbone that treats financial data as a living, self-correcting ecosystem.

We are looking for a visionary Architect who codes. You aren’t here to maintain a roadmap; you are here to challenge the very premise of how money moves. You will design the "AI-First" patterns that replace legacy middleware, moving us from static ETL to autonomous, intent-driven data flows.

The Role

This is a high-leverage position combining system design, hands‑on execution, and technical mentorship. As our first Principal-level hire, you will:

• Design the "AI-Native" Blueprint: Move beyond wrappers. You will architect a system where LLMs and Agentic frameworks aren't just features, but the core logic of the orchestration layer.
• Code the Foundation: Spend 60–70% of your time in the IDE, building the high‑stakes components of our event‑driven architecture (TypeScript/Node/Python).
• Lead & Scale: Act as a player‑coach. You will oversee a lean team of engineers, conducting deep code reviews and setting the standard for "Zelody-grade" engineering.
• Deconstruct Legacy Constraints: Analyze how core banking systems (FIS, Fiserv, Jack Henry) communicate and design "agentic bridges" that make integration feel like magic to the end user.

What You Bring (The "AI Mindset")

• Architecture over Implementation: You don't just know how to build; you know what to build to make traditional workflows obsolete.
• 7+ Years of Engineering Excellence: You’ve scaled distributed systems in high‑stakes environments (Fintech, Payments, or Defense).
• AI as a First Principle: You have a track record of building with LLMs/Agents where the AI handles the "uncertainty" of data mapping and decisioning.
• The "0 to 1" Scar Tissue: You’ve been in the trenches of a pre‑seed/seed startup and know when to build for "right now" vs. "forever."
• Leadership Maturity: Experience managing or supervising small, high‑output teams. You know how to unblock others without micro‑managing.

Technical Stack & Requirements

• Languages: Deep expertise in TypeScript/Node.js and Python (for AI/Data orchestration).
• Infrastructure: AWS‑native, event‑driven architectures, and modern workflow engines (Temporal, etc.).
• Compliance: You treat SOC2, PCI, and GDPR as architectural constraints, not afterthoughts.
• Data: Familiarity with the "alphabet soup" of finance (ISO 20022, NACHA) is a plus, but the ability to automate their translation is the requirement.

Why Join Zelody?

We are backed by Counterpart Ventures and The Fintech Fund, we have revenue, and we have a massive problem to solve. We’re turning "data noise" into a symphony. If you’re tired of building incremental CRUD apps and want to design the autonomous future of finance, let’s talk.