Sr Principal Software Engineer, AI Security Platform

001 The Northern Trust Company; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 165,000 - 288,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

retirement benefits

discretionary bonus program

Job summary

The Northern Trust Company in Chicago is seeking a highly experienced Senior Principal Software Engineer to drive the AI-powered Code Security Scanner platform. You will own platform evolution, mentor engineers, and deliver scalable cloud-native solutions across front-end, back-end, and AI components.

The role requires 15+ years in software engineering, 5+ years in a lead role, and proven success delivering enterprise-scale, regulated-environment applications.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• 5+ years in a lead, principal, or senior engineering role.
• Experience supporting enterprise-scale applications in regulated environments.

Responsibilities

• Platform Ownership: Lead technical development of the AI Code Scanner platform, modernization, and mentorship of juniors.
• Front-End Development: Improve UX, dashboards, workflow management, and secure auth patterns.
• Backend & AI Engineering: Maintain orchestration and scanning services; expand LLM integrations and automated analysis workflows.

Skills

React

SPA

REST APIs

Python

API design

Automation

Test automation

LLMs

Agent-based workflows

Application security

Job description

About Northern Trust As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions. Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide. With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Principal Software Engineer to support technical development of our AI-powered Code Security Scanner platform. This platform leverages frontier AI models and advanced security automation to identify, validate, and report software vulnerabilities across enterprise codebases. This role will be responsible for ongoing development, architectural evolution, and long-term enhancement of the platform. The successful candidate must be equally comfortable designing user-facing applications, building automation, integrating AI services, and securing cloud-native solutions.

Platform Ownership

Serve as a lead technical developer for the AI Code Scanner platform. Implement modernization, enhancements, and scalability initiatives. Mentor junior team members.

Front-End Development

Improve user experience, reporting dashboards, workflow management, and administrative capabilities. Implement secure authentication and authorization patterns.

Backend & AI Engineering

Maintain and extend orchestration and scanning services. Expand and manage integrations with LLM-based security analysis capabilities. Enhance automated vulnerability analysis, reporting, and verification workflows.

Experience

• 15+ years of professional software engineering experience
• 5+ years in a lead, principal, or senior engineering role
• Experience supporting enterprise-scale applications in regulated environments

Technical Skills

• Expert-level React development
• Modern SPA architecture
• REST APIs and authentication integrations
• Expert-level Python development
• API design and integration
• Automation and orchestration frameworks
• Test automation and quality engineering
• Experience integrating Large Language Models (LLMs)
• Agent-based workflows and automation frameworks
• Application security and vulnerability management

Salary Range

Salary Range: $164,600 - 288,000 USD. Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay.

Benefits

• retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits.
• discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).

Working with Us

As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve. Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities.

Reasonable Accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [e-mail], or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.

Looking for greater? You found it.

A global financial leader with more than 22,000 employees in 23 locations worldwide, Northern Trust empowers our employees to achieve more than just business goals. Our focus on work-life balance, career mobility and unique opportunities are just a few of the reasons we’ve been named one of the world’s most admired companies.

Terms and Conditions

Candidate Privacy Notice California Applicant Privacy Notice Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision (U.S) Transparency in Coverage Disclosure – North America

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center or call 1-800-807-0302 (North America), [phone] (Asia Pacific), 1800-425-0333 (India), [phone] (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

APAC/INDIA EEO STATEMENT

It is the policy and practice of Northern Trust to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. Northern Trust does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion or belief, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or age. All employment decisions will be made in a non-discriminatory manner in accordance with our obligations under the law and codes of practice. This includes human resources’ decisions relating to recruitment, terms and conditions of employment, transfers, promotions and access to learning and development.

Canada EEO STATEMENT

Northern Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Hiring and other employment decisions at Northern Trust are made without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, ethnic origin, age, disability, citizenship, veteran status, sexual orientation, record of offences, family status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.

EMEA EEO STATEMENT

It is the policy and practice of Northern Trust to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. Northern Trust does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion or belief, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or age. All employment decisions will be made in a non-discriminatory manner in accordance with our obligations under the law and codes of practice. This includes human resources’ decisions relating to recruitment, terms and conditions of employment, transfers, promotions and access to learning and development.

USA EEO STATEMENT

It is the policy of The Northern Trust Company to afford equal opportunity in all phases of employment without regard to an individual's age, race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic tests and information, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.

EEO Know Your Rights (U.S.)

EEO Know Your Rights (U.S.)