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Diligent Corporation

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Principal Software Engineer

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Role Overview

We’re looking for a Principal Software Engineer to help shape the next generation of our enterprise SaaS platform.

You’ll combine deep hands-on engineering with technical leadership, helping teams design scalable systems, modernize our platform and solve complex engineering challenges.

You’ll work across backend, frontend, cloud and AI technologies while defining technical direction and staying close to the engineering work.

A key part of this role will be driving the adoption of AI-native software engineering practices, including AI-PDLC (AI-enabled Product Development Lifecycle) and Spec-Driven Development, using tools such as Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot and other AI coding and agentic development tools.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys solving complex problems, designing systems at scale, influencing architecture, establishing modern engineering practices and mentoring experienced engineers.

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll do

  • Define and evolve the technical architecture of our SaaS platform and create high-level and low-level designs (HLD/LLD) for complex systems.

  • Translate business and product requirements into scalable technical designs, implementation plans and engineering deliverables.

  • Establish and drive Spec-Driven Development, using structured requirements, architecture specifications, API contracts, data models and acceptance criteria to guide development.

  • Drive adoption of AI-PDLC, integrating AI across requirements, architecture, implementation, testing, code review, deployment and operations.

  • Establish AI-assisted development workflows using Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot and similar AI coding agents, while maintaining engineering quality, security and architectural consistency.

  • Design secure, scalable and reliable distributed, microservices and event-driven systems.

  • Build and evolve backend services and APIs primarily using Node.js/TypeScript and Python, while remaining open to other modern technology stacks.

  • Contribute to frontend architecture and applications using React, Angular or similar technologies.

  • Design cloud-native solutions across AWS, Azure, GCP or other major cloud platforms.

  • Lead platform modernization initiatives and improve scalability, performance, reliability and maintainability.

  • Use Infrastructure as Code such as Terraform, CloudFormation, CDK or similar technologies to manage cloud infrastructure.

  • Promote strong engineering practices around CI/CD, testing, observability, security and automation.

  • Establish practices for AI-assisted code generation, automated testing, AI-assisted code review, code quality validation and continuous evaluation of AI-generated implementations.

  • Define appropriate guardrails, engineering standards and human-in-the-loop practices for the responsible use of AI coding agents.

  • Help integrate AI capabilities into our products while considering security, observability, governance and responsible use.

  • Mentor senior engineers and influence technical decisions across multiple teams.

What You’ll Bring

  • 12+ years of experience building and delivering production software.

  • Strong experience designing and building large-scale SaaS or cloud-based applications.

  • Strong hands-on backend experience with Node.js/TypeScript and/or Python, with the ability to work across other technology stacks when required.

  • Strong experience with system design, including both HLD and LLD, and the ability to translate business requirements into scalable technical solutions.

  • Strong understanding of distributed systems, microservices, event-driven architecture, scalability and reliability.

  • Experience designing and building APIs, backend services and data-intensive applications.

  • Experience building modern frontend applications using React, Angular or similar frameworks.

  • Strong experience with at least one major cloud platform such as AWS, Azure or GCP.

  • Experience with Infrastructure as Code, such as Terraform, CloudFormation, CDK or similar technologies.

  • Strong understanding of databases, SQL and performance optimization.

  • Experience with Docker, CI/CD, observability and modern software engineering practices.

  • Hands-on experience with AI-assisted software development tools such as Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot or equivalent AI coding agents.

  • Experience applying Spec-Driven Development or similar specification-first engineering approaches, using structured requirements, architecture specifications, implementation plans and acceptance criteria to drive development.

  • Understanding of AI-PDLC and experience integrating AI into multiple stages of the software development lifecycle.

  • Experience building or integrating AI-powered applications, with an understanding of AI security, observability or governance.

  • A track record of making architectural decisions, influencing engineering teams and solving complex technical problems.

  • Strong communication, collaboration and mentoring skills.

It Would Be Great If You Have

  • Experience building enterprise SaaS, multi-tenant or highly distributed platforms.

  • Experience working across multiple cloud platforms or leading cloud modernization initiatives.

  • Experience with serverless and event-driven architectures.

  • Experience working with LLMs, RAG or other AI application patterns.

  • Experience scaling AI-native engineering practices, including AI-PDLC, Spec-Driven Development and AI-assisted development workflows across teams.

  • Experience working in security, compliance or regulated environments.

About Us

Diligent is the AI leader in governance, risk and compliance (GRC) SaaS solutions, helping more than 1 million users and 700,000 board members to clarify risk and elevate governance. The Diligent One Platform gives practitioners, the C-Suite and the board a consolidated view of their entire GRC practice so they can more effectively manage risk, build greater resilience and make better decisions, faster.

At Diligent, we're building the future with people who think boldly and move fast. Whether you're designing systems that leverage large language models or part of a team reimaging workflows with AI, you'll help us unlock entirely new ways of working and thinking. Curiosity is in our DNA, we look for individuals willing to ask the big questions and experiment fearlessly - those who embrace change not as a challenge, but as an opportunity. The future belongs to those who keep learning, and we are building it together. At Diligent, you’re not just building the future - you’re an agent of positive change, joining a global community on a mission to make an impact.

Learn more at diligent.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook

What Diligent Offers You

  • Creativity is ingrained in our culture. We are innovative collaborators by nature. We thrive in exploring how things can be differently both in our internal processes and to help our clients
  • We care about our people. Diligent offers a flexible work environment, global days of service, comprehensive health benefits, meeting free days, generous time off policy and wellness programs to name a few
  • We have teams all over the world. We may be headquartered in New York City, but we have office hubs in Washington D.C., Vancouver, London, Galway, Budapest, Munich, Bengaluru, Singapore, and Sydney.
  • Diversity is important to us. Growing, maintaining and promoting a diverse team is a top priority for us. We foster and encourage diversity through our Employee Resource Groups and provide access to resources and education to support the education of our team, facilitate dialogue, and foster understanding.

Diligent created the modern governance movement. Our world-changing idea is to empower leaders with the technology, insights and connections they need to drive greater impact and accountability – to lead with purpose. Our employees are passionate, smart, and creative people who not only want to help build the software company of the future, but who want to make the world a more sustainable, equitable and better place.

Headquartered in New York, Diligent has offices in Washington D.C., London, Galway, Budapest, Vancouver, Bengaluru, Munich, Singapore and Sydney. To foster strong collaboration and connection, this role will follow a hybrid work model. If you are within a commuting distance to one of our Diligent office locations, you will be expected to work onsite at least 50% of the time. We believe that in-person engagement helps drive innovation, teamwork, and a strong sense of community.

Diligent is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, physical disability, mental disability, age, military status, protected veteran status, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including, but not limited to, cancer related or HIV/AIDS related), genetic information, or sexual orientation in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. See also Diligent's EEO Policy and US EEOC’s Know Your Rights. We are a drug free workplace.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at recruitment@diligent.com.

To support a fair and consistent hiring process, we use AI and digital automated tools to assist our recruitment team in organizing candidate data, surfacing relevant applications, coordinating interview scheduling and summarizing interview notes. All final screening, evaluation, and hiring decisions are made by humans on our team. To learn more about how we collect, protect, and process your information, please review our Candidate Privacy Policy.
At Diligent, we recognize the value of a diverse global workforce. Visa sponsorship may be available for select positions based on business needs and specific role requirements. Sponsorship decisions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and eligibility should not be assumed for all opportunities.
Recruitment agencies: Diligent does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Diligent employees or any other organization location. Diligent is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes

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