Principal Software Engineer (Remote Eligible in Bulgaria)

Smartsheet; United States; Remote; USD 40,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

Smartsheet is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to lead the design of scalable, high-availability architecture for a global platform. This remote-eligible role is based in Bulgaria, reporting to an engineering leader in Bulgaria, and involves cross-functional collaboration with product management to balance business needs with technical constraints.

You will mentor senior engineers, drive deployment reviews, and champion operational excellence across multiple teams while ensuring security

Qualifications

• Expertise in system architecture for scalable, high-availability services across languages.
• Strong understanding of distributed systems, event-driven design, and microservices.
• Experience leading large-scale architectural transformations and guiding multiple teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of scalable architecture for Smartsheet's platform.
• Define architecture strategy and key technical decisions.
• Review designs and guide projects for resilience and scale.
• Own cross-functional initiatives and align teams with architectural goals.
• Mentor senior engineers and foment best practices across teams.
• Lead deployment reviews ensuring performance and security standards.
• Collaborate with product management to balance market needs with technical constraints.

Skills

Python

Go

Java

C/C++

SQL

Distributed systems

Mentoring

English communication

Tools

AWS

Docker

Kubernetes

Terraform

Job description

Principal Software Engineer (Remote Eligible in Bulgaria)

-REMOTE, BULGARIA-

For over 20 years, Smartsheet has empowered teams to manage work seamlessly and scale solutions smarter. Now, in our most ambitious chapter yet, we are uniting human teams with AI agents. By orchestrating the work agents do best, automating manual tasks and uncovering insights at scale, we create the space for people to focus on what truly matters: judgment, creativity, and big thinking. That is magic at work, and it’s what we show up for every day.

We are looking for a skilled and motivated Principal Software Engineer who is passionate about continuous learning and eager to grow along with us in a fast-paced, innovative environment.

You will work remotely from Bulgaria and will be reporting to an engineering leader located in Bulgaria.

You Will:

• Lead the design and implementation of Smartsheet's next-generation architecture, ensuring scalability, security, and performance for millions of global users.


• Define and drive architecture strategy, making key technical decisions that shape the future of the platform.


• Review and guide technical project designs, providing feedback during design review presentations to ensure system resilience and scalability.


• Take ownership of cross-functional technical initiatives, aligning teams around common architectural goals while driving large-scale projects to completion.


• Foster strong technical leadership, mentoring senior engineers and influencing best practices across multiple engineering teams.


• Lead deployment reviews for high-impact projects, ensuring they meet scalability, performance, and security requirements.


• Collaborate closely with product management and other business stakeholders to balance market needs with technical constraints, driving innovation while maintaining technical rigor.


• Advocate for quality and operational excellence, ensuring systems are monitored, tested, and maintained to meet the highest reliability standards.


• Perform other duties as assigned.

You Have:

• Proven experience in system architecture and the design of scalable, high-availability systems across multiple programming languages and frameworks (Python, Go, Java, C/C++, SQL).


• Deep understanding of distributed systems, event-driven architectures, and microservices.


• Strong experience in leading large-scale architectural transformations, with the ability to influence technical direction across multiple teams.


• Expertise in web application development, data structures, and object-oriented design.


• A track record of mentoring senior engineers, leading them through architectural challenges, and ensuring they grow into strong technical leaders.


• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, including senior executives.


• Experience with cloud architectures and infrastructure at scale, as well as database optimization for performance and scalability.


• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, driving initiatives forward while aligning with business objectives.


• Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies, driving engineering best practices across teams.


• Legally eligible to work in Bulgaria on an ongoing basis.


• Fluency in English is required.

Smartsheet provides a competitive base salary range for roles that may be hired in different geographic areas we are licensed to operate our business from. Actual compensation is determined by several factors including, but not limited to, level of professional, educational experience, skills, and specific candidate location. In addition, this role will be eligible for a market competitive incentive opportunity.

Get to Know Us:

At Smartsheet, your ideas are heard, your potential is supported, and your contributions have real impact. You’ll have the freedom to explore, push boundaries, and grow beyond your role. We welcome diverse perspectives and nontraditional paths—because we know that impact comes from individuals who care deeply and challenge thoughtfully. When you’re doing work that stretches you, excites you, and connects you to something bigger, that’s magic at work. Let’s build what’s next, together.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Smartsheet is an Equal Opportunity (EEO) employer committed to fostering an inclusive environment with the best employees. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants in accordance with applicable laws in the US, UK, Australia, Germany, Costa Rica, Japan, Bulgaria, India, and Singapore. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

If there are preparations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please let us know.