Principal Software Architect

Zelody; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Zelody seeks a Principal Engineer to architect an AI-native orchestration layer for banking integrations in Portland, OR. You will design system-level blueprints and mentor a lean team of engineers.

In this first Principal hire, you will own critical decisions, review code, and shape the technical culture while building high-stakes, event-driven components in TypeScript/Node.js and Python, interfacing with FIS, Fiserv, Jack Henry.

Qualifications

• Architect an AI-native orchestration layer for banking integrations.
• 7+ years building distributed systems in Fintech or related sectors.
• Proven leadership in small teams and code reviews.
• Hands-on experience with TypeScript/Node.js and Python.
• Familiarity with ISO 20022, NACHA, and AWS event-driven infra.

Responsibilities

• Design the AI-native blueprint for Zelody's platform.
• Code core components in TypeScript/Node.js and Python.
• Lead and mentor a lean engineering team.
• Deconstruct legacy banking integrations and build agentic bridges.

Skills

Architecture

Distributed Systems

AI/LLMs

Leadership

TypeScript/Node.js

Python

AWS/cloud

Tools

Temporal

AWS

LLM Integration

Job description

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.

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.