Principal Software Engineer - Azure & AI Leader

ntrs; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Trust is seeking a highly experienced Principal Software Engineer to provide technical leadership and hands-on execution across complex cloud-native initiatives. You will mentor teams, influence architecture, and collaborate with global partners to deliver scalable software.

The role emphasizes strong Java expertise, Azure cloud proficiency, and modern development practices including TDD, CI/CD, and AI-assisted tooling to boost developer productivity and software quality.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• Deep expertise in Java and modern application frameworks.
• Strong experience with Azure cloud services and cloud-native development.
• Solid understanding of Test-Driven Development (TDD) and contract-first development.
• CI/CD and DevOps practices, including automation and tooling.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; proven leadership by influence.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and hands-on development across cloud-native initiatives.
• Design, develop, and review high-quality, production-ready software in Java.
• Lead cloud architecture decisions and implement Azure-based solutions.
• Drive adoption of AI-assisted development capabilities to improve productivity and code quality.
• Collaborate with architects and engineers to enforce standards for scalability, security, and performance.
• Mentor engineers and promote a culture of high engineering standards and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams including Product, QA, and Platform across multiple regions.

Skills

Java

Azure

Cloud-native

TDD

CI/CD

DevOps

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Job description

Northern Trust is seeking a highly experienced Principal Software Engineer to provide technical leadership and hands-on execution across complex cloud-native initiatives. You will mentor teams, influence architecture, and collaborate with global partners to deliver scalable software.

The role emphasizes strong Java expertise, Azure cloud proficiency, and modern development practices including TDD, CI/CD, and AI-assisted tooling to boost developer productivity and software quality.