Principal Software Engineer - AI

About the Role

NetDocuments is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to lead the design and development of AI-powered solutions that enhance how legal professionals work. This hands-on role combines deep technical expertise with mentorship and strategic influence, shaping the direction of AI-driven development across the platform. You will serve as a technical leader, driving architecture, guiding engineering teams, and partnering closely with Product and Design to deliver scalable, high-quality applications.

What You’ll Do

• Lead Technical Strategy & Architecture
  • Define and drive the technical direction for AI-enabled products and platform capabilities.
  • Design scalable, high-performance architectures and document solutions through clear diagrams and technical specifications.
  • Break down complex systems into simple, maintainable components while ensuring long-term scalability and reliability.
  • Partner with Principal and Distinguished Engineers to design and build robust, distributed systems.
• Build & Deliver High-Quality Solutions
  • Contribute directly to the codebase (approximately 70% hands-on), building and delivering full-stack applications in a production environment.
  • Develop and integrate AI-driven capabilities using leading AI providers.
  • Ensure systems meet performance, reliability, and quality standards through testing, monitoring, and optimization.
  • Implement and maintain APIs using REST and GraphQL.
• Drive Innovation & Technical Excellence
  • Research, evaluate, and prototype new technologies, tools, and approaches through proof-of-concepts.
  • Stay current with emerging development practices, particularly in AI and cloud-native technologies.
  • Continuously improve system performance, observability, and operational health through logging, telemetry, and proactive monitoring.
• Mentor & Collaborate
  • Mentor and guide engineers, supporting their technical growth and ensuring successful project delivery.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Design, and Engineering teams to align on priorities and execution.
  • Lead by example in fostering a culture of quality, ownership, and continuous improvement.

What You’ll Need to be Successful

• 8+ years of software engineering experience, including building and delivering production-grade applications.
• 3+ years of experience in a technical leadership role.
• Strong expertise in full-stack development, with experience in technologies such as C#, .NET, React, Java, or Angular (C# and React preferred).
• Experience working with AI platforms or providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, or similar.
• Deep understanding of system design, architecture, and distributed systems.
• Experience building and consuming APIs using REST and/or GraphQL.
• Experience with cloud-native technologies, including AWS and/or Azure.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to decompose complex challenges into practical solutions.
• Excellent collaboration, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and lead initiatives with minimal oversight.

What Will Make You Stand Out

• Experience with distributed systems and event-driven architectures.
• Deep experience with AWS or other cloud platforms.
• Familiarity with modern frontend architectures such as Module Federation.
• Experience in legal technology or other regulated industries.
• Proven ability to lead large, cross-functional technical initiatives.