Senior Principal Software Engineer, Networking

Docker, Inc.; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 219,000 - 352,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first

Flexible schedule

Generous PTO

Home office support

Tech stipend

Learning stipend

Parental leave

Equity for all

Comprehensive benefits

Docker swag

Job summary

Docker, Inc. is seeking a Senior Principal Software Engineer to shape the technical landscape and guide a scalable, secure platform. You will lead architecture decisions, mentor engineers, and drive initiatives across IaC, CI/CD, and modern tooling.

Responsibilities include guiding security practices, collaborating with product teams, and ensuring high performance as Docker scales. This remote-first role opens opportunities to influence a global engineering culture.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of software engineering experience across multiple domains.
• Extensive software engineering experience designing large-scale distributed systems.
• Deep technical expertise in multiple programming languages and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Demonstrated leadership, shaping architectural roadmaps.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the overarching technical vision for the platform.
• Evaluate and select tools, frameworks, and architectures to maintain state-of-the-art stack.
• Leadership and mentorship of engineering teams and setting standards.
• Innovate by researching new technologies and leading prototypes.
• Ensure high performance, scalability, and reliability of systems.
• Design fault-tolerant architectures with continuous improvement in mind.
• Implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC), CI/CD, and automation.
• Collaborate with product managers and stakeholders to align roadmaps.
• Tackle complex architectural issues and provide clear direction.
• Uphold coding standards and maintainable code with proper documentation.

Skills

12+ years exp

Distributed systems

Cloud platforms

Programming languages

Leadership

Architectural vision

Security best practices

Communication skills

CI/CD

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Kubernetes

CI/CD pipelines

Job description

About Docker

Docker has been one of the most loved brands in developer tooling, trusted by more than 20 million monthly users and over 20 billion container image pulls. From solo founders to the world's largest companies, developers rely on Docker to build, share, and run their applications across our suite of products including Docker Desktop, Docker Hub, and Docker Scout. We are a globally distributed, remote-first team building the tools that define how software gets built and delivered. As AI agents redefine software development, Docker is at the center of that shift, providing the sandboxed environments, verified images, and secure infrastructure that make autonomous workflows trustworthy by default.

The Senior Principal Software Engineer is responsible for shaping and evolving the company’s technical landscape. In addition to designing, developing, and maintaining core systems, the Senior Principal Software Engineer provides strategic guidance to align technology initiatives with business goals. This role is vital in ensuring that the platform is secure, scalable, and performant—capable of supporting rapid growth and driving innovation.

Responsibilities

Technical Strategy & Architecture

• Define and drive the overarching technical vision, ensuring the platform meets current and future scalability, performance, and security needs
• Evaluate and select tools, frameworks, and architectures to maintain a state-of-the-art technology stack

Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to the engineering organization, setting best practices and standards.
• Coach and mentor engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and collaboration

Innovation & Research

• Investigate emerging technologies, frameworks, and best practices
• Lead prototyping initiatives and proof-of-concepts that can transform the platform’s capabilities

Scalability & Performance

• Ensure the platform is designed for high performance and can seamlessly handle increasing user loads
• Oversee performance optimization, load balancing, and capacity planning strategies

Reliability & Availability

• Design fault-tolerant, highly available systems that minimize downtime and deliver a seamless user experience

Infrastructure Automation

• Advocate for and implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles, CI/CD pipelines, and automation best practices
• Continuously refine deployment, testing, and operations processes to improve efficiency

Security & Compliance

• Collaborate with security experts to ensure platform integrity, compliance with industry standards, and protection of sensitive data
• Proactively address security vulnerabilities and champion secure coding practices

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with product managers, designers, and other stakeholders to ensure technical initiatives support business objectives
• Drive alignment between engineering roadmaps and product strategies

Technical Problem-Solving

• Tackle complex architectural and technical issues, providing clear direction and innovative solutions
• Serve as an escalation point for critical system challenges

Code Quality & Reviews

• Uphold coding standards through thorough code reviews, ensuring high-quality, maintainable codebases
• Establish and enforce best practices around testing, documentation, and version control

Documentation & Knowledge Sharing

• Produce comprehensive technical documentation, including architectural diagrams, design guidelines, and operational runbooks
• Promote a transparent engineering culture by sharing insights and successes across the organization

Qualifications

• 12+ years of software engineering experience with demonstrated expertise across multiple domains (SDLC, AI engineering, corporate systems, etc)
• Extensive software engineering experience, with a track record in designing and implementing large-scale, distributed systems
• Deep technical expertise: Proficiency in multiple programming languages, cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP), and modern development frameworks
• Leadership acumen: Demonstrated ability to lead diverse engineering teams, inspire innovation, and drive successful outcomes
• Architectural vision: Proven skill in defining and driving architectural roadmaps that align with evolving business needs.
• Problem-solving ability: Expertise in diagnosing complex system issues and designing robust, scalable solutions
• Communication skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of influencing both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Security conscious: Solid understanding of security best practices, compliance standards, and data protection
• Continuous improvement mindset: Passion for optimizing processes, toolchains, and workflows
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience

As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, you will not only architect innovative solutions but also shape the technical culture. Your leadership and expertise will be pivotal in building a resilient, cutting‑edge platform that supports rapid growth and drives long‑term success.

Docker considers visa sponsorship on a case‑by‑case basis based on business needs.

Compensation & Equity

United States: $219K – $352K + equity

Posting Information

• Open vacancy: This posting is for an existing open role.

• AI in hiring: Docker may use AI-assisted tools during our recruiting process.

• Interview recordings: Candidates will be invited to opt in to interview recordings to support interviewer calibration and consistent evaluations. Recordings are optional and require explicit consent.

Perks & Benefits

• Remote-first by design – Work from your home, with offices in Seattle and Paris for connection and collaboration.

• Flexibility that fits your life – We trust you to manage your schedule while delivering great work.

• Time to recharge – Generous PTO, designated quarterly Whaleness Days, and a designated end-of-year Whaleness break.

• Home office support – Set up your workspace for comfort and success.

• Technology stipend – Equivalent to US$100 net per month to help support your work.

• Learning & development – Annual stipend for conferences, courses, certifications, and continued learning.

• Parental leave – 16 weeks of paid parental leave after six months of employment.

• Equity for all full-time employees – Share in Docker's long-term success as we continue to grow.

• Comprehensive benefits – Medical, retirement, and paid holidays vary by country.

• Docker swag – Because representing the whale never gets old.

Docker is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that reflects a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe diverse teams build better products, make better decisions, and better serve our global community.