Principal Software Engineer

FINRA; Rockville (MD); Hybrid; USD 154,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Overtime pay for non-exempt employees

Health, dental & vision insurance

Life insurance and disability cover

401(k) with company match

Job summary

FINRA in Rockville, MD, seeks a senior technology professional with ten-plus years of related experience and mastery in system design, OO development, cloud tech, and DevOps. The role emphasizes expert-level design, cross‑functional collaboration, and ownership of complex engineering initiatives to improve system functionality and mitigate risks.

Responsibilities include guiding colleagues, integrating FINRA values, and coordinating with stakeholders to drive solutions while maintaining

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or related discipline with at least ten (10) years of related experience, or equivalent training and/or work experience or Master’s degree and eight (8) years of related experience.
• Mastery level system design experience
• Mastery level experience in object-oriented development
• Mastery level experience with cloud technologies
• Strong experience in data storage technologies
• Strong background in performance tuning and optimization
• Strong background in DevOps and CI/CD technologies
• Strong background in test automation and unit testing
• Strong background in software security

Responsibilities

• Has specialized depth and/or breadth in a product/business area and is considered a company-level expert
• Demonstrates advanced capabilities with respect to software systems and processes within job area
• Implements solutions to minimize disruptions caused by changes in the business environment.
• Mastery in computer science fundamentals - Algorithm design, Problem solving, Complexity analysis and data structures.
• Creates, tests, refines, and implements work pieces that improve overall system functionality
• Takes corrective action when tech debt accumulates and there are gaps in engineering excellence
• Proactively identifies gaps with potential risk mitigation strategies and/or technology solutions.
• Holds the team accountable to aligned priorities, escalating when necessary
• Openly owns responsibility for actions and results and is comfortable with uncertainty
• Guides other colleagues through consultation and mentoring in techniques and processes and provides functional supervision.
• Integrates the culture of intelligence, integrity, and initiative into team goals and decisions.
• Engages stakeholders and cross-functional partners in effective communication that clearly conveys information
• Establishes a network of colleagues to support tech or business opportunities
• Demonstration of FINRA’s values.
• Collaboration, both in-person and virtually, in furtherance of FINRA’s mission of investor protection and market integrity.

Skills

Algorithm design

Problem solving

Complexity analysis

Data structures

Mastery in system design

Mastery in object‑oriented development

Mastery in cloud technologies

Data storage technologies

Performance tuning

DevOps/CI/CD

Test automation

Software security

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related discipline

Master’s degree in Computer Science or related discipline

Job description

Works autonomously having responsibility to deliver on longer term outcomes. Reports directly to a Director or Senior Director. Requires extensive knowledge of multiple/related functional areas and industry practices.

Essential Job Functions:

• Has specialized depth and/or breadth in a product/business area and is considered a company-level expert
• Demonstrates advanced capabilities with respect to software systems and processes within job area
• Implements solutions to minimize disruptions caused by changes in the business environment.
• Mastery in computer science fundamentals - Algorithm design, Problem solving, Complexity analysis and data structures.

Engineering/Operations Excellence:

• Creates, tests, refines, and implements work pieces that improve overall system functionality
• Takes corrective action when tech debt accumulates and there are gaps in engineering excellence
• Proactively identifies gaps with potential risk mitigation strategies and/or technology solutions.
• Holds the team accountable to aligned priorities, escalating when necessary
• Openly owns responsibility for actions and results and is comfortable with uncertainty

Collaboration:

• Guides other colleagues through consultation and mentoring in techniques and processes and provides functional supervision.
• Integrates the culture of intelligence, integrity, and initiative into team goals and decisions.
• Engages stakeholders and cross-functional partners in effective communication that clearly conveys information
• Establishes a network of colleagues to support tech or business opportunities
• Demonstration of FINRA’s values.
• Collaboration, both in-person and virtually, in furtherance of FINRA’s mission of investor protection and market integrity.

Education/Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or related discipline with at least ten (10) years of related experience, or equivalent training and/or work experience or Master’s degree and eight (8) years of related experience.
• Mastery level system design experience
• Mastery level experience in object-oriented development
• Mastery level experience with cloud technologies
• Strong experience in data storage technologies
• Strong background in performance tuning and optimization
• Strong background in DevOps and CI\\CD technologies
• Strong background in test automation and unit testing
• Strong background in software security

Working Conditions:

• Hybrid work environment, with defined in-person presence requirements.
• Occasional travel and extended hours may be required.

For work that is performed in CO, FL, TX, IL, PA, MA, MD, VA, Washington, DC, NY and NJ, please refer to the chart below for the salary range for the corresponding location. FINRA complies with all state and local pay transparency laws and regulations requiring the disclosure of salary ranges for the position. In addition to location, actual compensation is based on various factors, including but not limited to, the candidate’s skill set, level of experience, education, and market considerations.

CO/FL/TX: Minimum Salary $134,400, Maximum Salary $260,400

IL/PA: Minimum Salary $147,600, Maximum Salary $286,500

MA/MD/VA/Washington, DC: Minimum Salary $154,400, Maximum Salary $299,600

NY/NJ: Minimum Salary $154,400, Maximum Salary $312,600

#LI-Hybrid

• Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.
• Non‑exempt employees are also eligible for overtime pay in accordance with federal, state, or local law.
• As part of its dedication to employee wellness, FINRA provides comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance.
• Additional insurance includes basic life, accidental death and dismemberment, supplemental life, spouse/domestic partner and dependent life, and spouse/domestic partner and dependent accidental death and dismemberment, short- and long-term disability, long‑term care, business travel accident, disability and legal.
• FINRA offers immediate participation and vesting in a 401(k) plan with company match and