We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer II (Vice President)in Java who recognized technical authority and senior individual contributor within Charles River Development (a State Street company). This role operates with broad autonomy and significant influence, driving architecture, technical strategy, and engineering excellence across one or more major platforms, domains, or cross‑cutting initiatives.
This position blends deep hands‑on engineering with enterprise‑level technical leadership. The Principal Software Engineer II is responsible not only for delivering complex, mission‑critical software, but also for shaping how software is designed, built, tested, and operated at scale.
What you will be responsible for
Technical Leadership & Architecture
Serve as a principal technical authority for one or more key initiatives or core modules within Charles River platforms
Define and evolve system architecture, design standards, and engineering best practices across teams
Provide long‑term technical strategy and thought leadership to senior engineering leaders and executive stakeholders
Drive adoption of modern cloud architecture, frameworks, and emerging technologies where they deliver clear business value
Lead resolution of high-risk, complex, or business‑critical challenges
Software Design & Development
Analyze, design, develop, test, debug, and implement large‑scale, multi‑tier, mission‑critical enterprise systems
Lead complex enhancements that span multiple components and teams
Set a high bar for code quality, performance, scalability, security, reliability, and maintainability
Make informed trade‑offs between short‑term delivery and long‑term platform health
Remain hands‑on for the most complex or ambiguous technical problems
Engineering Excellence & Governance
Establish and enforce design review, code review, and technical governance practices
Identify systemic technical debt and lead cross‑team efforts to remediate it
Champion automated testing, CI/CD, observability, and operational excellence
Write and review unit, integration, and automation tests to ensure high‑quality deliverables
Influence engineering roadmaps to align technology investments with business strategy
Cross‑Team & Executive Collaboration
Partner closely with Product Management, Architecture, Client Support and Operations
Lead and coordinate cross‑team technical initiatives spanning multiple scrum teams
Translate complex technical concepts into clear recommendations for senior management and non‑technical stakeholders
Advise senior management on technical risk, platform direction, and investment priorities
Mentorship & Talent Development
Serve as a technical mentor and role model for engineers at all levels
Raise the overall technical bar through coaching, design reviews, and knowledge sharing
Influence hiring, onboarding, and technical talent development strategies
Client & Production Support
Provide expert‑level troubleshooting for large, complex, and high‑visibility client deployments
Act as an escalation point for critical production or client issues
Help design durable, long‑term solutions to recurring operational or client‑impacting problems
What we value
Demonstrated ability to operate as a principal-level individual contributor with broad organization-wide impact
Extensive experience designing, building and evolving largescale, cloud native enterprise platforms
Exceptional problem‑solving and system-thinking skills, with deep understanding of performance, scalability, reliability, and resilience
Expert-level proficiency in object‑oriented design using Java, C++, or C#
Strong database and data modeling skills with experience in Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and/or data warehouse platforms
Experience with compiler design, optimizers, solvers, code generation, or semantic analysis a strong plus
Exposure to Machine Learning, AI, or cognitive Computing is a plus
Strong background in financial services (e.g., Portfolio Management, Trading, Compliance, IBOR, or Wealth Management) strongly preferred
Education & Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, or related field; Master’s degree preferred
10-15+ years of commercial software development experience, including senior or principal‑level roles
Deep understanding of cloud-based and distributed systems
Demonstrated track record of delivering high‑performance, production‑quality systems at scale
Ability to work independently, manage ambiguity, and lead through influence rather than authority
Strong balance of deep technical execution with strategic, long-term thinking
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive‑level communication
Demonstrated leadership in developing and supporting commercial enterprise software used by non‑technical customers
Significant experience working in Agile/Scrum environments, shaping—not just following—process
Comfortable operating in a highly regulated, mission‑critical financial services environment
Salary Range:
$120,000 - $202,500 Annual
The range quoted above applies to the role in the primary location specified. If the candidate would ultimately work outside of the primary location above, the applicable range could differ.
Employees are eligible to participate in State Street’s comprehensive benefits program, which includes: our retirement savings plan (401K) with company match; insurance coverage including basic life, medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, and other optional additional coverages; paid-time off including vacation, sick leave, short term disability, and family care responsibilities; access to our Employee Assistance Program; incentive compensation including eligibility for annual performance-based awards (excluding certain sales roles subject to sales incentive plans); and, eligibility for certain tax advantaged savings plans.
Across the globe, institutional investors rely on us to help them manage risk, respond to challenges, and drive performance and profitability. We keep our clients at the heart of everything we do, and smart, engaged employees are essential to our continued success.
We are committed to fostering an environment where every employee feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. As an essential partner in our shared success, you’ll benefit from inclusive development opportunities, flexible work-life support, paid volunteer days, and vibrant employee networks that keep you connected to what matters most. Join us in shaping the future.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we consider all qualified applicants for all positions without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, marital status, domestic partnership or civil union status, familial status, military and veteran status, and other characteristics protected by applicable law.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
