The Principal Software Engineer will lead technical initiatives, define architecture, prototype ideas, and foster an innovative engineering culture, working cross-functionally to turn visions into execution.
Role Description
We’re looking for a Principal Software Engineer to shape the future of Dropbox through bold new ideas and technical leadership. You’ll help define the vision, architecture, and execution for our most forward-looking products — building the foundation for what comes next at Dropbox.
This role sits at the heart of innovation, blending hands-on engineering with strategic thinking. You’ll explore new product spaces, prototype ideas that don’t yet have a home, and guide how we integrate new technologies — whether we build them or bring them in. Along the way, you’ll help foster a strong, collaborative engineering culture and partner closely with product, design, and strategy to turn high-potential ideas into real impact.
Responsibilities- Build and foster a strong engineering culture focused on excellence, velocity, and innovation
- Define the architecture and integration strategy for new initiatives, including both internally developed and acquired products
- Conduct technical due diligence on potential M&A targets to assess scalability, quality, and strategic fit
- Rapidly prototype new product ideas and validate emerging opportunities that fall outside existing teams
- Partner cross-functionally with product, design, and strategy teams to translate vision into technical execution
- Maintain a high technical bar and guide the team through complex architectural decisions
- Contribute to shaping Dropbox’s long-term innovation roadmap through technical insight and experimentation
- 10+ years of full-stack engineering experience, including 3+ years in a technical leadership role
- Proven success operating at both startup and enterprise scale—building early MVPs and scaling to millions of users
- Deep understanding of product architecture evolution and trade-offs between speed and scalability
- Experience with technical diligence and evaluating software systems for integration or acquisition
- Some experience in engineering management preferred
- Strong bias toward experimentation and comfort navigating high-ambiguity problem spaces
- Experience leading 0→1 product development or founding early-stage startup teams
- Demonstrated success incubating and scaling new technologies or products within a larger organization
- Strong background in distributed systems design, data-intensive applications, or cloud infrastructure
- Familiarity with modern AI/ML technologies, developer platforms, or productivity tools
US Zone 1
This role is not available in Zone 1
US Zone 2
$248,600—$336,400 USD
US Zone 3
$221,000—$299,000 USD
Top Skills
AI
Cloud Infrastructure
Distributed Systems Design
Full-Stack Engineering
Ml
Dropbox Colorado, USA Office
CO, United States
Similar Jobs at Dropbox
Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • Consumer Web • Productivity • Software • App development • Data Privacy
The Senior iOS Engineer will enhance the design system by building reusable iOS components, collaborating with cross-platform teams, and ensuring accessibility, performance, and documentation standards are met.
Top Skills:
SwiftSwiftuiUikit
Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • Consumer Web • Productivity • Software • App development • Data Privacy
The Technical Solutions PMM crafts technical marketing content and demos for IT decision-makers, collaborating with teams and leveraging customer insights.
Top Skills:
AIAPIsJavaScriptPythonSaaS
Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • Consumer Web • Productivity • Software • App development • Data Privacy
The Director of Marketing Technology will architect and drive Dropbox's marketing tech strategy, focusing on AI innovations, data integration, and operational excellence to enhance customer engagement and drive measurable business outcomes.
Top Skills:
Ai/MlAPIsCdpCloud PlatformsCRMData ArchitectureHightouchIterableMapMarketoSalesforceSystem IntegrationTableau
What you need to know about the Colorado Tech Scene
With a business-friendly climate and research universities like CU Boulder and Colorado State, Colorado has made a name for itself as a startup ecosystem. The state boasts a skilled workforce and high quality of life thanks to its affordable housing, vibrant cultural scene and unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation. Colorado is also home to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, helping cement its status as a hub for renewable energy innovation.
Key Facts About Colorado Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 260,000; 8.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Lockheed Martin, Century Link, Comcast, BAE Systems, Level 3
- Key Industries: Software, artificial intelligence, aerospace, e-commerce, fintech, healthtech
- Funding Landscape: $4.9 billion in VC funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Access Venture Partners, Ridgeline Ventures, Techstars, Blackhorn Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Denver, Colorado State University, Mesa Laboratory, Space Science Institute, National Center for Atmospheric Research, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Gottlieb Institute
