Senior Software Engineer (HR Leader)

Principal Financial Group; Raleigh, Charlotte, Des Moines (NC, NC, IA); Hybrid; USD 116,000 - 156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Time Off Program

Pension Eligible

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Principal Financial Group is seeking a Senior Software Engineering leader to guide Experience Solutions technology within Workplace Savings & Retirement Solutions. You’ll mentor engineers, collaborate with product managers, and drive customer-facing platforms.

This role emphasizes cloud-based development, modern front-end/ full-stack work, and a culture of innovation and data-driven decisions. Hybrid in-office work is available across multiple sites, with a strong focus on team leadership.

Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree (prefer CS/tech) and 6+ years work experience or equivalent.
• Formal leadership experience (e.g., managing a small team, tech lead or domain lead with direct reports).
• Experience conducting 1:1s, giving feedback, and supporting performance and growth.
• Comfort owning decisions and partnering with Product and peers.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Hands-on cloud experience (AWS, GCP, Azure).
• Experience with Typescript, React, Next.js in full-stack context.
• Track record of building team culture and product-minded thinking.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor software engineers supporting external customer experiences.
• Partner with Product and other tech teams to deliver first-class customer experiences.
• Promote collaboration and problem solving with peers and business partners.
• Foster ownership and stewardship of critical customer-facing experiences.
• Drive continuous improvement and data-driven decision making.
• Build and nurture high-performing teams with formal leadership responsibilities.

Skills

Formal leadership

1:1s & feedback

Decision ownership

Problem solving

Communication

Collaboration

Product mindset

AI coding tools

Cloud experience

Typescript React Next.js

Full-stack development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/tech field

Tools

GitHub Copilot

Job description

What You'll Do

We're looking for a Senior Software Engineering leader to join our Experience Solutions technology team within Workplace Savings & Retirement Solutions (WSRS). You'll lead and mentor software engineers supporting external customer experience for a variety of capabilities. We'll work together with product managers and other technology teams to continue building a first-class experience for our Participant and Employer customers.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Lead and empower high-performing teams with formal leadership responsibilities
• Enable new ownership and stewardship of critical customer-facing experiences
• Exercise continuous improvement mindset, push the envelope
• Promote collaboration and problem solving with peers and business partners
• Encourage innovation with experiments and better data driven understanding of customer actions

As Principal continues to modernize its systems, this role will offer you an exciting opportunity to build solutions that will directly impact our long-term strategy.

Operating at the intersection of financial services and technology, Principal builds financial tools that help our customers live better lives. We take pride in being a purpose-led firm, motivated by our mission to make financial security accessible to all. Our mission, integrity, and customer focus have made us a trusted leader for more than 140 years.

Who You Are

• Associate or bachelor’s degree (preference in a computer science, technology, engineering or math-related field or equivalent experience) and 6+ years work experience or equivalent experience.
• Formal leadership experience (e.g., managing a small team, acting as a tech lead or domain lead with direct reports)
• Experience conducting 1:1s, giving feedback, and supporting performance and growth.
• Comfort owning decisions and partnering with Product and peers.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Skills That Will Help You Stand Out

• Hands-on experience working in the cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure)
• Hands-on experience working with Typescript, React, and Next.js
• Background in full-stack development, able to traverse from front end to database.
• Track record of building team culture.
• Demonstrating a product mindset.
• Using AI coding assistants, GitHub Copilot, etc.

Salary Range Information

Salary ranges below reflect targeted base salaries. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation for all roles will be based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.

Salary Range (Non-Exempt expressed as hourly; Exempt expressed as yearly)

$116000 - $156000 / year

Time Off Program

Flexible Time Off (FTO) is provided to salaried (exempt) employees and provides the opportunity to take time away from the office with pay for vacation, personal or short-term illness. Employees don’t accrue a bank of time off under FTO and there is no set number of days provided.

Pension Eligible

Yes

Work Environments

This role offers an in-office and hybrid (blending at least three office days in a typical workweek) work arrangement in Des Moines, IA, Charlotte, NC, or Raleigh, NC.

Work Authorization/Sponsorship

At this time, we're not considering applicants that need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but IS NOT LIMITED TO: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For additional information around work authorization needs please use the following links.

Nonimmigrant Workers and Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants

Investment Code of Ethics

For Principal Asset Management positions, you’ll need to follow an Investment Code of Ethics related to personal and business conduct as well as personal trading activities for you and members of your household. These same requirements may also apply to other positions across the organization.

Experience Principal

At Principal, we value connecting on both a personal and professional level. Together, we’re imagining a more purpose-led future for financial services – and that starts with you. Our success depends on the unique experiences, backgrounds, and talents of our employees. And we support our employees the same way we support our customers: with comprehensive, competitive benefit offerings crafted to protect their physical, financial, and social well-being. Check out our careers site to learn more about our purpose, values and benefits.

Principal is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Posting Window

We will accept applications for 3 full days following the Original Posting Date, after which the posting may remain open or be removed based upon applications received. If we choose to post the job again, we will accept additional applications for at least 1 full day following the Most Recently Posted Date. Please submit applications in a timely manner as there is no guarantee the posting will be available beyond the applicable deadline.

Original Posting Date

8/10/2026

Most Recently Posted Date

8/10/2026

Principal uses artificial intelligence tools to assist in reviewing and evaluating job applications, fraud prevention, and candidate matching and comparisons. These AI tools support our human recruiters in the initial review process but do not make final hiring decisions without human involvement. By submitting your application, you acknowledge this use of AI in our recruitment process. Please review ourWorkforce (U.S.) Privacy Noticefor more details on our practices and your data privacy rights.

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