Principal Software Engineer
About this role
FusionAuth, the developer-first customer identity (CIAM) platform, is hiring a Principal Software Engineer. This is a senior technical-leadership role on a Java-based, self-hosted identity product: you drive architecture, push AI-native development practices (the company is standardizing on tools like Claude Code), and shape decisions around security and compliance (SOC 2, FedRAMP, GDPR — data residency, encryption, audit logging) plus database scale (PostgreSQL/MySQL schema evolution and tuning). The expected base salary is $225k–$270k. Denver-metro hybrid (1–2 days/week on-site) is preferred, but FusionAuth is open to US candidates willing to travel to Denver headquarters about once per quarter.
Posted on October 22, 2026, this opening appears in our IT & Software Jobs listings. The role follows a hybrid pattern, splitting time between the workplace and working from home. The advertised pay for the position is $225,000 – $270,000/yr, as published by the employer. The sections below summarise the role in our own words: what you would be doing, what the employer expects, what is offered in return, and exactly how to apply.
Job snapshot
| Employer | FusionAuth |
|---|---|
| Job title | Principal Software Engineer |
| Location | Denver, CO (Hybrid; remote US considered with quarterly travel) |
| Workplace | Hybrid |
| Job type | Full-time |
| Category | IT & Software Jobs |
| Salary | $225,000 – $270,000/yr |
| Posted | October 22, 2026 |
| Listing source | HN 'Who is hiring?' Oct 2026 (via Jooble listing) |
What you will do day to day
The employer's listing highlights the following as the main responsibilities of the role:
- Own architecture for identity-platform features from design through release
- Lead the team’s transition to AI-native development workflows
- Design for data residency, encryption, and audit logging under SOC 2/FedRAMP/GDPR
- Evolve PostgreSQL/MySQL schemas at scale: migrations, indexing, query tuning
- Mentor engineers and hold a high bar on code quality
- Write clear, thorough documentation for shipped features
What you will need
- 8–10 years of professional software development experience
- Advanced Java skills, including threading, concurrency, and performance profiling
- Strong object-oriented design and implementation skills
- Solid grasp of web fundamentals (HTTP, TCP/IP, REST)
- Real relational-database depth: query optimization and schema design beyond ORM abstractions
- Preferred: CIAM/identity product experience, open-source or security background, AI-native tooling fluency
This role suits a candidate who enjoys problem-solving, keeps their technical skills current, and can explain technical decisions to non-technical colleagues.
Pay and benefits
The advertised salary range for this position is $225,000 – $270,000/yr, as published by FusionAuth. Final offers in US hiring typically depend on experience, qualifications, and location, and the official listing remains the authoritative source for pay details. Alongside pay, weigh the benefits below — health cover, paid leave, and retirement contributions can add significant value on top of the base figure.
Benefits listed by the employer
- $225,000–$270,000 expected base salary
- Genuine technical ownership at principal level
- Modern Denver campus: fitness studio, café, stocked kitchen, bike storage
- Shape company-wide AI-native engineering practices
- Quarterly-travel remote option for non-Denver candidates
How to apply
- Read the requirements above carefully and check you meet the essentials — US employers screen against them closely.
- Update your résumé so the skills named in this listing are easy to find, using the same wording where it honestly matches your experience.
- Click the Apply button on this page. It takes you to the official listing (HN 'Who is hiring?' Oct 2026 (via Jooble listing)), where applications are submitted directly to FusionAuth.
- Complete every field of the official application and double-check your contact details before submitting.
- Keep a note of the posting date and job title so you can follow up politely if you have not heard back within two weeks.
Tips to strengthen your application
- Mirror the exact tools and languages from the requirements in your résumé — screening is often automated.
- Link to a portfolio, GitHub, or project write-up that proves the skills you claim.
- Prepare for a technical screen by practising the core topics named in the listing.
- Quantify past work (systems scaled, tickets resolved, uptime improved) wherever you can.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to live in Denver?
It is preferred (hybrid 1–2 days/week), but remote US candidates willing to travel to HQ roughly quarterly are welcome.
What is the core stack?
A Java-based application with PostgreSQL/MySQL, built as a self-hosted identity product.
How do I apply for the Principal Software Engineer position?
Use the Apply button on this page — it opens the official listing on HN 'Who is hiring?' Oct 2026 (via Jooble listing), where you submit your application directly to FusionAuth. US Jobs Hub never charges job seekers and does not collect applications itself.
What is the salary for this Principal Software Engineer role?
The advertised range is $225,000 – $270,000/yr, as published by the employer. The final offer depends on experience, qualifications, and location, so confirm the current figure on the official listing before you apply.
Where is this job located?
This position is listed for Denver, CO (Hybrid; remote US considered with quarterly travel) and is a Hybrid role. Confirm the exact workplace address on the official listing.