Principal Software Architect (Hands-On Monolith Modernization - 7M to 35M Users)

High Country Search Group; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

High Country Search Group is seeking a Principal Software Architect to modernize a large monolith and support rapid growth. The role combines hands-on coding with strategic roadmap creation, focusing on decomposing domain models and redesigning data architecture to remove performance bottlenecks without production downtime.

You will contribute 30-40% of your time coding critical migrations and proofs-of-concept while guiding architectural direction and cross-team alignment.

Qualifications

• Experience driving architectural transformations or monolith breakdowns at scale.
• Experience through multiple iterations of product scaling.
• Deep expertise in API design, event-driven patterns, domain boundaries, and service extraction.
• Strong data architecture background with zero-downtime migrations.
• Language-agnostic mindset across Rails, Node/TS, Python, Go, Java.
• Experience using AI-assisted tooling to write code and accelerate delivery.
• Ability to define a clear technical direction and gain buy-in across teams.
• Hands-on leader willing to write code and review PRs.

Responsibilities

• Lead modernization of a monolithic system to support 5x growth.
• Spend 30-40% of time writing critical-path migrations and proofs-of-concept.
• Set 2-5 year technical roadmap for the platform.
• Decompose domains and redesign data architecture to remove bottlenecks.

Skills

Architectural transformations

Monolith breakdowns

System design

Data architecture

Polyglot languages

AI-native tooling

Technical leadership

Code-writing / PRs

Job description

Hiring: Principal Software Architect (Hands-On Monolith Modernization - 7M to 35M Users)

A LITTLE ABOUT THE ROLE

I am helping one of my largest clients hire a Principal Software Architect. The person they hire will be a KEY contributor in the growth of an already successful application. This role is responsible for modernizing a monolithic architecture to support 5x growth, scaling the platform from 7 million to over 35 million users across 25,000 active centers. You will spend 30-40% of your time writing code for critical-path migrations and proofs-of-concept while setting the 2-5 year technical roadmap. The core mission is to decompose overgrown domain models and redesign data architecture to eliminate performance bottlenecks without causing production downtime.

REQUIREMENTS

• Proven experience driving architectural transformations or monolith breakdowns at scale (e.g., using strangler-fig patterns for systems serving millions of users)
• Experience through at least 2 iterations of product scaling to understand the long-term consequences of architectural decisions
• Deep expertise in system design, including API design, event-driven patterns, domain boundaries, and service extraction
• Strong data architecture background, with experience identifying query bottlenecks, managing zero-downtime data migrations, and addressing database scaling limits (partitioning, sharding, or multi-machine distribution)
• Language-agnostic polyglot mindset (Rails, Node/TypeScript, Python, Go, Java) where overall system architecture principles matter more than syntax memorization
• Truly AI-native workflow, actively using agentic tools (such as Claude Code, Cursor, or Kiro) to write code, build spikes, and accelerate team output
• Ability to define a clear technical direction and gain organizational buy-in across teams where no pre-determined blueprint exists
• Hands-on principal, staff, or lead-level background willing to write code, review PRs, and lead by example rather than operating purely through slides and diagrams

LOCATION

This role is based in Denver HQ, and the expectation of work is HYBRID, 3 days a week.

COMPENSATION

The salary range for this position is between $180K - $200K

NOTE: This client is unable to offer sponsorship or visa transfers at this time.