Principal Software Engineer/Developer

Pyramid Systems, Inc.; Fairfax, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Pyramid Systems, Inc. seeks a Principal Software Engineer/Developer to define and drive enterprise-wide architecture strategies across cloud, modernization, and secure distributed systems.

This senior leader advises executives and aligns technology with business objectives while mentoring teams and setting architectural standards. Responsibilities include leading Azure-based solutions, integration efforts, and secure application development, with hands-on coding in .NET and related tech.

Qualifications

• US Citizenship required (implied by federal/regulatory environment)
• Bachelor’s degree in CS/Engineering/IT; Master’s preferred
• 12–15 years in solutions architecture, cloud engineering, platform design
• 5+ years in cloud architecture, modernization, migrations
• 7+ years full-stack/.NET development with modern front-end tech
• 3+ years designing solutions in Microsoft Azure environments

Responsibilities

• Define and lead enterprise architecture strategy across cloud, apps, and infrastructure
• Develop multi-year technology roadmaps aligned with objectives
• Establish architecture standards, reference models, and governance
• Advise executive leadership on technologies, risks, and investments
• Architect and oversee Azure solutions including AKS, App Services, Functions
• Lead cloud adoption, migration, modernization strategies
• Design and deploy secure, scalable Azure-based enterprise apps
• Hands-on contribution to design and development using .NET
• Perform code reviews, prototyping, and implementation activities
• Develop IaC using Terraform and Azure Bicep for automated deployments
• Ensure performance, scalability, resilience, and cost efficiency
• Lead large-scale modernization initiatives
• Define microservices, API-first, and event-driven architectures
• Guide teams in full-stack and cloud-native development
• Embed security-by-design principles
• Align with NIST/Zero Trust and federal frameworks
• Partner with cybersecurity teams and cross-functional groups
• Drive DevSecOps and automation
• Serve as trusted advisor to customers
• Redesign data architectures for scalability and integrity
• Map data across systems and ensure data flow
• Translate complex concepts into business-friendly terms
• Present options with risks and trade-offs for decision-making
• Develop LOE estimates, timelines, and assumptions
• Lead enterprise-scale transformation initiatives

Skills

Enterprise architecture

Cloud architecture

Azure

Full-stack development

Leadership

Security by design

DevSecOps

IaC (Terraform/Azure Bicep)

Communication with executives

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/Engineering/IT

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Azure Kubernetes Service

Azure App Services

Azure Functions

Terraform

Azure Bicep

Job description

The Principal Software Engineer/Developer is a highly experienced technical leader and recognized authority responsible for defining and driving enterprise-wide architecture strategies across cloud, application modernization, and secure distributed systems. This role operates at a senior leadership level, influencing technology direction, advising executive stakeholders, and ensuring alignment between enterprise architecture, business objectives, and federal or regulated requirements. The Software Engineer/Developer leads highly complex initiatives involving cloud transformation, Azure-based solutions, systems integration, and secure application development, while mentoring technical teams and establishing architectural standards across the organization.

Requirements

• Define and lead enterprise architecture strategy across cloud, applications, and infrastructure?
• Develop multi-year technology roadmaps aligned with organizational and client objectives?
• Establish architecture standards, reference models, and governance frameworks?
• Advise?executive leadership on emerging technologies, risks, and investment priorities?
• Architect and oversee complex Microsoft Azure solutions, including hybrid and multi-cloud environments?
• Lead enterprise cloud adoption, migration, and modernization strategies?
• Design and deploy cloud solutions on Microsoft Azure leveraging tools and services including Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure App Services, Azure Functions (Serverless), networking, security, and advanced Data & AI capabilities to build secure, high-performance, scalable, and resilient enterprise applications
• Serve as a hands-on technical leader by actively contributing to application design and development efforts using the Microsoft .NET framework and related technologies.
• Perform hands-on coding, code reviews, prototyping, and technical implementation activities to ensure architectural standards and solution quality are achieved.
• Develop and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions using Terraform and Azure Bicep to support automated, repeatable, and compliant cloud deployments.
• Ensure optimization for performance, scalability, resilience, and cost efficiency?
• Lead large-scale application modernization initiatives?
• Establish best practices for microservices, API-first, and event-driven architectures?
• Guide development teams in full-stack and cloud-native development?
• Ensure security-by-design principles?
• Oversee alignment with federal frameworks (e.g., NIST, Zero Trust)?
• Partner with cybersecurity teams?
• Lead cross-functional teams?
• Drive DevSecOps and automation?
• Serve as trusted advisor?
• Redesign data structures to support modern, scalable, and efficient data architectures?
• Plan and execute comprehensive data mapping activities across systems, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and alignment with enterprise standards?
• Develop end-to-end solution designs that align business requirements with system capabilities, ensuring seamless integration and data flow?
• Leverage AI tools and technologies to enhance architectural design, productivity, and decision-making?
• Demonstrate hands-on experience implementing AI-driven solutions that improve business processes, efficiency, and insights?
• Communicate effectively across all levels of the organization, including technical teams, senior leadership, executives, and external customers?
• Serve as the primary technical interface to customers, ensuring clear, consistent, and professional communication of solutions and outcomes?
• Translate complex technical concepts, architectures, and trade-offs into concise, business-friendly language?
• Present solution options with clear pros/cons, risks, and trade-offs to support informed decision-making?
• Develop and communicate reasonable level-of-effort estimates, timelines, and solution assumptions?
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-scale transformation initiatives
• Experience in federal, regulated, or large-scale enterprise environments strongly preferred
• Preferred certifications in Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert and Microsoft Azure Developer Associate
• Optional/preferred certifications include CISSP, CCSP, CISM, TOGAF, or equivalent architecture, cloud, or security-related credentials. Candidates are not required to possess security certifications to be considered for this role.
• Hands-on experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions, including Terraform and Azure Bicep deployment frameworks for provisioning, automating, and managing cloud infrastructure

Qualifications

• US Citizenship Required
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or related field (Master’s preferred)
• 12–15 years of progressive experience in solutions architecture, cloud engineering and platform design and enterprise application development and modernization
• 5+ years of experience in cloud architecture, application modernization, cloud development, and migrations
• 7+ years of experience in full stack and .NET application development, including modern technologies like Angular, JavaScript, Node.js, React, Vue, etc.
• 3+ years designing and implementing solutions in Microsoft Azure environments