Principal Software Engineer

About the role

We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to architect and scale the core systems that power Passage’s AI‑driven platform. In this senior technical leadership role you will design reliable, secure and globally‑scalable backend services while shaping the long‑term technical direction of the company. You will collaborate closely with product, data and operations teams to turn business needs into robust engineering solutions.

Key responsibilities

• Design and evolve the architecture of Passage’s core platform, ensuring reliability, security and global scalability.
• Build and maintain scalable backend services for admissions automation, financial systems and operational workflows.
• Lead complex technical initiatives, define architectural standards and guide multiple engineering teams through major decisions.
• Establish engineering best practices for system design, testing, performance and reliability.
• Partner with product, data and operations to translate requirements into technical solutions and communicate trade‑offs to leadership.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering or a related field.
• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience, with deep expertise in designing scalable backend systems.
• Strong system‑design and architectural thinking, including experience with distributed systems and cloud infrastructure.
• Proven ability to lead complex technical initiatives across multiple teams and make high‑impact decisions.
• Independent, fast‑moving work style with a focus on high‑quality, maintainable code.

Required skills

• Python
• TypeScript
• Go
• Django
• React
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• Database design and development
• Distributed systems

What we offer

• Competitive salary above C$200,000 per year.
• Equity participation.
• Full‑time onsite role in Toronto with a mission‑driven culture.