Principal Software Engineer

Our Purpose
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we're helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
Title and Summary
Principal Software Engineer
As a Principal Engineer in the AI & Data Platform Engineering organization, you will apply deep architectural expertise to deliver enterprise scale capabilities for the next generation Decision Management Platform. The Principal Software Engineer will provide technical and strategic leadership for Fraud Rules for DMP NextGen, including modernization. This role is accountable for end-to-end architecture, delivery, and operational excellence across highly scalable, secure platforms built on Java, Spring, AWS/PCF cloud native architectures, along with usage of AI with deep expertise in Fraud Rules practices.
You will work closely with senior leaders and engineering teams to develop solutions aligned with the AI & DPE technology roadmap. The ideal candidate brings experience in modernizations and large scale migrations, Fraud Rules Engines, multiple programming languages, and AI expertise-ensuring high quality, compliant, and resilient solutions in a complex financial services environment.
Role Responsibilities:• Lead the architecture and design of highly scalable, resilient/fault tolerant, and performant software systems and applications.• Lead the modernization of platforms, especially related to Fraud Rule Engines, with proven experience in large-scale migrations.• Collaborate, influence, and work with cross-functional teams to understand requirements, identify solutions, and provide technical thought leadership.• Ensure project implementations comply with architectural patterns, standards, policies, and best practices.• Guide the solution architecture unit to ensure timely project completion.• Align architectural designs with business needs, infrastructure capabilities, and security and compliance requirements.• Drive a culture of engineering excellence, including leading early-stage software development efforts (PoC, Pilot).• Assist with project scoping, sizing, prioritizing, planning, and estimation.• Mentor development teams on industry best practices.• Demonstrate familiarity with AI technologies like Gen AI and LLMs relevant to Fraud Rule Engines.• Apply hands-on expertise with design patterns and multiple programming languages.• Build and operate scalable global platforms with high throughput, low latency, and 5 9's availability.• Lead major initiatives and deliver high-quality software solutions in a timely and cost-effective manner.• Research and evaluate alternative technical solutions to meet evolving business needs.• Ensure team activities meet SLAs, operational standards, and compliance requirements while guiding architectural strategy across product areas.
All About You:• Extensive hands-on software development experience; experience in software and micro-services architecture; familiarity with DevOps and IT Operations best practices.• Strategic Leader with expertise in Fraud Rule Engines and proven experience in large-scale migrations.• A bar raiser with experience across multiple languages and frameworks; enjoys declarative paradigms and functional programming.• Hands-on technical leader who demonstrates leadership, builds trust, focuses on talent development, and inspires teams.• High-energy, detail-oriented, proactive, and able to function independently under pressure.• Passion for continuous learning and challenging opportunities.• Strong verbal and written communication, relationship-building, collaboration, and organizational skills.• Strong commitment to timely delivery, with effective decision-making and continuous improvement through retrospection.• Expert-level knowledge of software development processes and Application Lifecycle Management tools.• Current understanding of best practices for application and system security.• Proven success producing high-quality project design deliverables and documentation.• Extensive experience with relational and NoSQL databases.• Understanding of loosely coupled and stateless systems.• Demonstrated experience with highly scalable, distributed systems.• Familiarity with performance tuning, designing for failure, and automation.• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology or Computer Science (or extensive equivalent experience).
Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.
Corporate Security Responsibility
All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard's security policies and practices;
• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard's guidelines.

In line with Mastercard's total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations.
Pay Ranges
O'Fallon, Missouri: $170,000 - $281,000 USD