Principal Software Engineer

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 Platform Infrastructure team at ServiceNow is a globally-distributed organization responsible for building and maintaining cloud automation software products used to manage ServiceNow's cloud deployment and infrastructure at high scale, with high reliability, across our geographically-distributed site architecture. Our cloud automation technology is used to perform thousands of highly-reliable lifecycle operations daily, across a global cloud footprint, in support of customer-initiated requests and internal maintenance functions.
The team is also responsible for the Kubernetes architecture and core services that enable domain service teams to build and deploy Kubernetes workloads across clusters to meet their business needs.
Please Note: This position will include supporting our US Federal customers.
"This position requires passing a ServiceNow background screening, USFedPASS (US Federal Personnel Authorization Screening Standards). This includes a credit check, criminal/misdemeanor check and taking a drug test. Any employment is contingent upon passing the screening. Due to Federal requirements, only US citizens, US naturalized citizens or US Permanent Residents, holding a green card, will be considered.
What you get to do in this role:
As a Principal Engineer, you'll be at the forefront of ServiceNow's most ambitious infrastructure transformation to date. We're fundamentally reimagining how we deploy, manage, and operate our platform across a multi-cloud world-moving from our current architecture to next-generation orchestration and management layers that will define ServiceNow's infrastructure strategy for the next decade.

• Strategic Impact: You'll architect the foundational systems that enable ServiceNow's transition from traditional deployment models to a cloud-native, multi-cloud platform serving millions of enterprise customers. This isn't maintenance-it's building the future infrastructure that will support 10x scale while dramatically improving reliability and operational efficiency.
• Innovation at Scale: This role offers rare greenfield opportunities to design novel control planes and automation frameworks from the ground up. You'll solve complex distributed systems challenges that few companies face: orchestrating thousands of daily operations across geographically distributed clouds while maintaining the high availability that enterprise customers depend on. Your architectural decisions will influence how hundreds of engineers build and deploy services.
• Unique Technical Leadership: Unlike similar roles focused on maintaining existing systems, you'll be the technical visionary leading ServiceNow's infrastructure evolution. You'll drive the design of proprietary orchestration technologies, define new operational paradigms for multi-cloud management, and create the automation frameworks that will become the backbone of our global platform. This is your opportunity to build systems that will be studied and emulated across the industry.

The ideal candidate will serve as both technical visionary and hands-on leader, delivering code while mentoring the next generation of engineers and collaborating directly with senior leadership to achieve business-critical outcomes
Qualifications
To be successful in this role you have:

• Experience with Kubernetes, software containers (e.g., Docker, Podman), and public cloud architectures
• Typically requires a minimum of 12 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 8 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 5 years experience; or equivalent experience.
• 12+ years of experience in software engineering, with deep expertise in infrastructure and distributed systems.
• Proven leadership in architecting scalable, resilient systems.
• Advanced proficiency in a language such as GoLang or Java.
• Experience with Kubernetes, cloud platforms, and automation frameworks.
• Strong communication and mentorship skills.
• Experience integrating AI into work processes, decision-making, or problem-solving.
• Due to the nature of this role and its alignment with U.S. Federal customer requirements, only candidates who are U.S. Citizens, U.S. Naturalized Citizens, or U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) will be considered. This position also requires successful completion of the USFedPASS (U.S. Federal Personnel Authorization Screening Standards) process, which includes:
  • A credit check
  • A criminal/misdemeanor background check
  • A drug screening
  • Verification of U.S. work authorization
  • These requirements are in accordance with applicable U.S. laws and federal contract obligations.

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.
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