Why This Role Matters Principal Software Engineers define 'how we build' at Bluestaq for entire classes of systems. Your architectural decisions, reference implementations, and technical strategies become the patterns that dozens of engineers follow across multiple products and programs. You translate mission requirements and business strategy into durable technical direction, and you ensure that the most complex, high-stakes technical problems receive the depth of thinking they deserve. The work you do at this level has a shelf life measured in years, not sprints.
Key Responsibilities
Own technical strategy for large segments of the Bluestaq product and platform or for major mission-critical system areas
Define reference architectures and engineering patterns that multiple teams adopt (standardized microservice patterns, shared UI frameworks, cross-cutting data contracts, API standards)
Tackle the company's most complex technical problems: tricky scalability challenges, deep interoperability issues between systems, and highly complex distributed workflows
Evaluate and guide adoption of major technologies, frameworks, and architectural approaches with long-term implications for the platform
Ensure technical decisions support reliability, security, and performance at scale across the full product portfolio
Partner closely with senior engineering leadership, product management, and program management to shape roadmaps and align technical investment with mission priorities
Operate with strategic autonomy within your domain: set technical direction rather than executing it, while remaining grounded in delivery realities
Delegate implementation details to Staff and Senior Staff engineers while staying sufficiently engaged to keep designs sound and on track
Take ownership of the long-term health and evolution of key architectural components and platform foundations
Mentor Staff and Senior Staff engineers into broader-scope technical leaders capable of owning major domains independently
Translate mission and business requirements into technical strategies, architecture principles, and engineering investment priorities
Lead trade studies and technical decisions on new technologies, frameworks, and architectural strategies with cross-team impact
Required Qualifications
Master-level technical expertise in one or more major software engineering domains (e.g., distributed systems, data-intensive applications, real-time systems, complex UI architectures) with strong breadth across adjacent areas
Demonstrated ability to define technical strategy and reference architectures that are successfully adopted across multiple engineering teams over multiple years
Extensive experience leading the technical direction of large, complex software systems from initial concept through multi-year operation and evolution
Strong background in evaluating and adopting new technologies, frameworks, and architectural approaches at organizational scale—including build vs. buy and platform investment decisions
Proven ability to translate business and mission requirements into durable technical decisions, engineering principles, and architectural standards
Track record of successfully mentoring and developing Staff and Senior Staff engineers into broader technical leaders
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills: ability to present technical strategy clearly to engineering leadership, program management, and non-technical executive stakeholders
Experience designing systems that meet strict reliability, security, and compliance requirements in production environments
Preferred Qualifications
History of defining company-wide engineering standards, reference architectures, or platform strategies that persist across product generations and leadership transitions
Experience leading technology evaluations, major architectural transitions, or build-vs-buy decisions at enterprise scale
Deep knowledge of DoD or national security software requirements, security frameworks (RMF, FedRAMP, NIST 800-53, STIG), and classified system development practices
Background in systems-of-systems integration, multi-program technical alignment, or cross-organizational engineering governance
Published technical work, patents, or recognized external contributions in relevant software engineering domains
Experience advising senior leadership on technology investment priorities, platform strategy, or engineering organization design
History of building high-performing engineering cultures through strategic hiring, talent development, and technical community investment
Required Experience and Education:
PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field and 10+ years of software engineering or related experience, OR
Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field and 12+ years of software engineering or related experience, OR
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field and 14+ years of software engineering or related experience, OR
Associate degree in a related field and 16+ years of software engineering or related experience, OR
High School Diploma/GED and 18+ years of software engineering or related experience.
Location Requirement Colorado Springs, CO · Washington, DC · Dallas, TX · Salt Lake City, UT
Colorado Springs is our HQ with an established office — 3–4 days on-site per week.
DC, Dallas, and Salt Lake City-based roles will be remote until offices are established there, and then will require 3–4 days on-site.
You use modern AI tools with judgment: integrating them into workflows where they're impactful, reviewing their outputs, and handling proprietary or sensitive data responsibly. Salary Range (CO) $165,000 — $230,000 USD Clearance Requirement: This position may require an active TS/SCI Clearance. Current clearance holders are strongly encouraged to apply. If you don't currently hold one, Bluestaq will sponsor eligible candidates through the clearance process based on program needs.
Relocation: Relocation assistance is available for full-time positions.
About Bluestaq At Bluestaq, we build secure data platforms that matter for space missions, national defense, healthcare systems, and commercial innovation. Founded in 2018, we've become a leader in enterprise software and secure data management by staying focused on what counts: modern architecture, operational excellence, and mission impact.
We're engineers, problem-solvers, and builders who take the mission seriously, but not ourselves. We automate the repeatable, question the status quo, and design systems that are as reliable as they are scalable. Whether we're supporting space, defense systems, or healthcare advancements, we build with the same principles: cloud-native solutions, security by design, and relentless simplicity.
What We Offer: For full-time positions
100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision for you and your dependents
Up to 6% match to 401(k) contributions with additional discretionary 4% profit share on day one. Roth options available; no vesting period.
Every role is eligible for an annual performance bonus
$200,000 employer-paid life insurance, plus short- and long-term disability coverage
$5,000 annual professional development budget per employee
20 days PTO, plus 8 paid holidays
Pet insurance, onsite gym, and flexible schedule
Bluestaq is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis age 40 and over, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by state or local law.
Bluestaq will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities and employees whose work requirements interfere with a religious belief unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to Bluestaq or a direct threat. Employees needing such accommodation are instructed to contact Human Resources immediately at contact.us@bluestaq.com . Applications will be accepted for 60 days beyond the posting date, or until the position is filled, whichever comes first.