Principal Software Engineer at ServiceNow

Santa Clara, California, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

09 Apr, 26

Salary

380700.0

Posted On

09 Jan, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Java, JavaScript, SQL, Relational Database Technologies, Caching Strategies, Distributed Systems, Event-Driven Architectures, RESTful APIs, Cloud Platforms, Containerization, CI/CD Pipelines, Automated Testing, Mentoring, Problem Solving, Software Development, Technical Leadership

Industry

Software Development

Description

Company Description It all started in sunny San Diego, California in 2004 when a visionary engineer, Fred Luddy, saw the potential to transform how we work. Fast forward to today — ServiceNow stands as a global market leader, bringing innovative AI-enhanced technology to over 8,100 customers, including 85% of the Fortune 500®. Our intelligent cloud-based platform seamlessly connects people, systems, and processes to empower organizations to find smarter, faster, and better ways to work. But this is just the beginning of our journey. Join us as we pursue our purpose to make the world work better for everyone. Job Description About the Team: The intelligent Developer Ops team builds tools used by ServiceNow’s customers for developing, testing and deploying code to their ServiceNow environments. We’re a team focused on bringing modern solutions for development to ServiceNow’s enterprise customer base. We are looking for a seasoned Principal Backend Engineer to architect, develop, and optimize backend systems (Enterprise Platform) that power critical application lifecycle and customer-facing SDLC systems at ServiceNow. This role demands deep expertise in Java and JavaScript, strong architectural vision, and leadership in building scalable, secure, and high-performance services. What you’ll do: Participate in all technical aspects of team deliverables including quality, performance, maintainability, and scalability Participate in design and code reviews ensuring best practices in performance, maintainability, and testability. Partner with product, design, and engineering leaders to craft solutions that balance innovation, performance, and business impact Explore and experiment with new patterns and advocate for approaches that improve system resilience and performance at scale Design and implement comprehensive solutions by deeply understanding customer challenges, anticipating future needs, and aligning with product goals Design and develop scalable, maintainable, and reusable software components with a strong emphasis on performance and reliability. Integrate automated testing into development workflows to ensure consistent quality across releases. Develop comprehensive test strategies covering functional, regression, integration and performance aspects Mentor and guide other engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and innovation. Champion engineering best practices, including code quality, testing, and system reliability. Foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement by sharing best practices in engineering and quality Promote a culture of engineering craftsmanship, knowledge-sharing, and thoughtful quality practices across the team. To be successful in this role you have: Proficiency with SQL and relational database technologies such as MariaDB or PostgreSQL Strong understanding of caching strategies and their trade-offs Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to lead large-scale technical initiatives Strong knowledge of distributed systems, event-driven architectures, and RESTful APIs Experience with declarative, metadata driven, frameworks for enterprise applications Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, modern DevOps practices, and automated testing frameworks Proficiency with mentoring both junior and senior engineers Strong written and verbal communication skills and an aptitude for learning new technologies Passion for software development, problem solving, coaching, and mentoring other software engineers Proven track record of leading major, cross-functional technical projects from conception to launch. A strong sense of ownership and a relentless customer focus, with a passion for creating exceptional user experiences. A growth mindset and a passion for staying on top of new technologies and industry trends. Excellent communication skills and the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. Qualifications Experience in leveraging or critical thinking about how to integrate AI into work processes, decision-making, or problem-solving. This may include using AI-powered tools, automating workflows, analyzing AI-driven insights, or exploring AI's potential impact on the function or industry. Experience In using AI Productivity tools such as Windsurf, Cursor, etc is a plus or nice to have. 8+ years of experience in designing & implementing complex architectures 10+ years of experience with Java, JavaScript, or another language Strong knowledge of data structures, algorithms, object-oriented design, design patterns, and performance optimization Familiarity with automated testing frameworks (e.g., JUnit, Selenium, TestNG) and integrating tests into CI/CD pipelines Understanding software quality principles including reliability, observability, and production readiness. Ability to troubleshoot complex systems and optimize performance across the stack. Comfort with development tools such as IDEs, debuggers, profilers, source control, and Unix-based systems JV21 For positions in this location, we offer a base pay of $217,500 - $380,700, plus equity (when applicable), variable/incentive compensation and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the base pay shown is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location. We also offer health plans, including flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, matching donations, a flexible time away plan and family leave programs. Compensation is based on the geographic location in which the role is located and is subject to change based on work location. Additional Information Work Personas We approach our distributed world of work with flexibility and trust. Work personas (flexible, remote, or required in office) are categories that are assigned to ServiceNow employees depending on the nature of their work and their assigned work location. Learn more here. To determine eligibility for a work persona, ServiceNow may confirm the distance between your primary residence and the closest ServiceNow office using a third-party service. Equal Opportunity Employer ServiceNow is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or nationality, ancestry, age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other category protected by law. In addition, all qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with legal requirements. Accommodations We strive to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are unable to use this online application and need an alternative method to apply, please contact [email protected] for assistance. Export Control Regulations For positions requiring access to controlled technology subject to export control regulations, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), ServiceNow may be required to obtain export control approval from government authorities for certain individuals. All employment is contingent upon ServiceNow obtaining any export license or other approval that may be required by relevant export control authorities. From Fortune. ©2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license. Employee Type: Fixed Term - Employee (Fixed Term) Region: AMS - North America and Canada Work Persona: Flexible

Responsibilities

The Principal Software Engineer will architect, develop, and optimize backend systems for application lifecycle and customer-facing SDLC systems. They will also mentor other engineers and champion engineering best practices.