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Principal Software Engineer (Cloud and AI Platforms)
Principal Software Engineer (Cloud and AI Platforms)Blueflag Llp • Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Principal Software Engineer (Cloud and AI Platforms)

Principal Software Engineer (Cloud and AI Platforms)

Blueflag Llp • Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
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BlueFlag is seeking a principal-level software engineer to lead the design and delivery of cloud-native applications, services, and data platform capabilities. This opportunity is remote. In this role, you will be a hands-on technical leader who can build production software end-to-end—while also owning the cloud, Kubernetes, and data engineering patterns required to run secure, enterprise-grade platforms.

This is not a platform-only role. We need a leader who can matrix across initiatives that are software-engineering-centric (APIs, backend services, full stack web applications), and also lead teams in deploying and operating the underlying cloud / data tooling that those applications depend on (e.g., Databricks, Synapse, Starburst, Immuta, Collibra). You will also help shape how we enable AI-powered applications, including agent-based workflows, on top of governed data and reliable infrastructure.

What You'll Do

Software Engineering Leadership

  • Architect, build, and maintain production-grade software (services, APIs, and web applications) with strong engineering discipline : code quality, testing, observability, and operational readiness.
  • Lead design reviews, establish engineering standards, and mentor engineers across multiple projects—especially software-heavy initiatives.
  • Build integration layers and service patterns that connect applications to data platforms, identity systems, and enterprise tooling.
  • Drive modern SDLC practices : trunk-based development or equivalent, strong code review culture, automated testing, and predictable release workflows.

Cloud, Kubernetes, and Platform Enablement

  • Design and operate Kubernetes-based application platforms, including deployment standards, networking / ingress, upgrades, reliability, and day-2 operations.
  • Implement and mature CI / CD pipelines and release automation for both applications and infrastructure (including GitOps patterns where appropriate).
  • Build and maintain infrastructure-as-code (e.g., Terraform) and automated environment provisioning in Azure or AWS.
  • Lead engineers in deploying and maintaining enterprise platform tools such as Starburst, Immuta, Collibra, Databricks, Synapse, and related services.
  • Develop plans for cloud migrations and deployments and execute modernization strategies for application and data workloads.
  • Data Engineering + AI Enablement

  • Build and maintain data pipelines and supporting services that enable analytics, ML, and AI-enabled applications.
  • Partner with stakeholders to shape practical approaches to AI agents, AI infrastructure, and AI application enablement (e.g., orchestration patterns, retrieval / knowledge integration, evaluation and monitoring) in a secure environment.
  • Why Join BlueFlag

    At BlueFlag, we build mission-driven software and platforms for large, complex environments. You will have meaningful technical ownership and the ability to set direction—while still staying hands-on in the code. If you want to build excellent software, lead engineers, and operate in the real-world constraints of cloud security, data governance, and enterprise scale, this role offers both impact and growth.

    Software Engineering

  • Principal-level experience building and leading delivery of production software (backend services and / or full stack applications) with strong design and implementation depth.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead engineering across multiple efforts (mentorship, design leadership, code reviews, technical standards).
  • Strong proficiency in at least one backend language commonly used for enterprise software (e.g., C# / .NET, Java, Python, Go, or similar) and comfort working across the stack as needed.
  • Strong understanding of API design, distributed systems fundamentals, performance, and operational reliability.
  • Cloud / Kubernetes / DevOps

  • Strong Kubernetes experience operating production workloads (not just deploying to someone else’s cluster).
  • Hands-on experience engineering and operating solutions on Azure or AWS (networking, identity, security, and operations).
  • Experience with CI / CD, automation, and infrastructure-as-code (e.g., Terraform).
  • Experience with observability (monitoring, logging, tracing), incident response, and root-cause remediation.
  • AI

  • Demonstrated interest in AI agents, AI infrastructure, or AI-enabled applications (professional work, personal projects, research, or equivalent).
  • Other

  • US Citizen : Must be a citizen of the United States
  • Security Clearance : Must be able to obtain a public trust clearance.  Must be eligible to work in the United States.
  • Desired

  • Experience with enterprise data / platform tools such as Databricks, Synapse, Starburst, Immuta, Collibra
  • Experience building secure integration patterns across identity, entitlements, and data governance (auditability, policy enforcement).
  • Experience with lakehouse patterns and data formats (e.g., Delta Lake, Parquet) and production data lifecycle management.
  • Experience enabling AI systems in production (e.g., retrieval patterns, vector search, orchestration frameworks, evaluation / monitoring, model serving), in regulated environments.
  • Experience supporting MLOps pipelines
  • Competitive salary
  • Generous annual leave and paid holidays
  • Comprehensive group health and dental plans
  • 401(k) with company match
  • Life insurance and AD&D coverage
  • Ongoing training and professional development opportunities
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    Principal Software Engineer Cloud and AI Platforms • Raleigh, North Carolina, United States