Principal Software Engineer - Backend

Reposted 2 Months Ago
Easy Apply
Hiring Remotely in United States
Remote
225K-225K Annually
Expert/Leader
Security • Cybersecurity
Join a mission that can save the world.
The Role
Design and implement high-performance backend systems in Rust, optimize architectures, participate across the development lifecycle (debugging, testing, optimization), integrate third-party devices and data, incorporate AI tools, mentor senior engineers, and lead architectural and technical strategy across teams.
Summary Generated by Built In

At Dragos, the mission is personal. The systems we protect deliver the water you drink, power your home, and keep the hospitals your community depends on running. Those critical infrastructure systems that power our civilization around the world are under attack every day by adversaries. When those systems fail, people are immediately at risk. We are the global leader in xOT cybersecurity, combining technology, threat intelligence, and expert services. The people here chose this work because they understand what is at stake. Here, you will find a remote-first mission-driven team across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and APAC built on authenticity, transparency, and trust. If safeguarding the systems that protect your family, friends, and community is the kind of work that matters to you, you are in the right place. 

About The Role: 

Dragos is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join our team in building the leading xOT Security Platform. We work in a matrix style engineering organization which means in this role, you will be part of our Backend Community. To be successful at Dragos you will need to: 

  • Be passionate about your craft, minding the details while working quickly.
  • Have a strong product sense and care deeply about the customers and problems we are solving.
  • Be self-directed with a strong work ethic and ability to operate autonomously.
  • Have excellent communication skills for remote collaboration, working well across engineering disciplines. 

At Dragos, we don’t hire engineers whose only mission in life is to write code. We are looking for backend engineers who yearn to contribute to more than just a code base and who are willing to stretch themselves to accomplish the mission. 

Responsibilities: 

Our backend community is the heartbeat of the Dragos Platform, playing a pivotal role in the success of our customers’ ability to secure their OT environments. 

As a backend engineer you will:  

  • Design and implement robust, testable, high-performance systems and tools in Rust.
  • Optimize existing software architectures to enhance speed and efficiency.
  • Actively participate in all phases of the development lifecycle, including debugging and optimization, ensuring and elevating software quality. 
  • Stay informed about the latest advancements in Rust programming, security, and software design principles, helping to foster an environment of continuous learning and improvement. 
  • Give and receive peer feedback on a normal cadence as part of our review cycle 

Minimum Qualifications:

  • 10+ years of experience developing backend systems at scale in high-performance team environments 
  • 5+ years of experience in relational databases such as Postgres
  • 5+ years of experience with NoSQL databases such as Elasticsearch  
  • 5+ years of experience working in a microservices architecture
  • Rust proficiency – or the willingness and demonstrated ability to become proficient quickly
  • Experience integrating with third party devices and data providers
  • Experience incorporating AI tools, models, or services into development workflows
  • Proven track record of mentoring and developing senior engineers
  • Demonstrated ability to lead architectural decisions and influence technical strategy across multiple teams 
  • Experience working in cybersecurity, OT, or ICS environments

Additional Qualifications that Will Help You Succeed: 

  • Experience building and operating distributed systems at scale with a focus on reliability
  • Familiarity with Kubernetes and cloud‑native architectures
  • Experience with containerization (Docker)
  • Strong understanding of observability tooling (Prometheus, Grafana)
  • Experience building CI/CD pipelines and working with IaC tools (Terraform)
  • Experience building information security–focused products or applying secure coding practices
  • Experience with Kotlin, Go, or Python in production environments
  • Experience mentoring team members or leading technical initiatives 

Compensation: 

  • Salary:  $225,000
  • Competitive Equity Package  
  • Comprehensive Benefits Plan 

#LI-LF1 #LI-REMOTE   



Dragos is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other basis forbidden under federal, state, or local laws. All new hires must pass a background check as a condition of employment.

Skills Required

  • 10+ years developing backend systems at scale in high-performance, cybersecurity team environments
  • 3+ years experience in relational databases such as Postgres
  • 3+ years experience with NoSQL databases such as Elasticsearch
  • 3+ years experience working in a microservices architecture
  • Solid experience and understanding of Rust, with architectural understanding of language design tradeoffs
  • Experience integrating with third party devices and data providers
  • Experience incorporating AI tools, models, or services into development workflows
  • Proven track record of mentoring and developing senior engineers
  • Demonstrated ability to lead architectural decisions and influence technical strategy across multiple teams
  • Experience building and operating distributed systems at scale with a focus on reliability
  • Familiarity with Kubernetes and cloud-native architectures
  • Experience with containerization (Docker)
  • Strong understanding of observability tooling (Prometheus, Grafana)
  • Experience building CI/CD pipelines and working with IaC tools (Terraform)
  • Experience building information security-focused products or applying secure coding practices
  • Experience with Kotlin, Go, or Python in production environments
  • Experience mentoring team members or leading technical initiatives

Dragos Compensation & Benefits Highlights

  • Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Remote-first flexibility and work-from-home options are consistently highlighted as standout aspects of the package, and feedback suggests the remote setup is particularly well regarded. Flexible scheduling further supports day-to-day work-life balance.
  • Leave & Time Off Breadth — Flexible/unlimited PTO, paid holidays, and other time-off offerings are described as broad and competitive. Feedback suggests the overall time-off menu compares well with tech-sector norms.
  • Fair & Transparent Compensation — Compensation ranges and the stated value of benefits (e.g., healthcare, 401(k), equity) are included in job postings, aiding apples-to-apples comparisons. Feedback suggests this transparency helps candidates understand total rewards upfront.

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The Company
HQ: Hanover, MD
730 Employees
Year Founded: 2016

What We Do

At Dragos, every role advances a mission that matters. Surrounded by people with deep expertise, you’re trusted to own your work, grow your impact and your craft, while safeguarding civilization. Dragos delivers xOT cybersecurity for industrial and critical infrastructure, backed by a decade of frontline incident response experience. The Dragos Platform provides asset visibility, continuous monitoring, vulnerability management, and real-time threat detection, all powered by industry-leading intelligence. Dragos protects OT environments globally, including electric, oil & gas, manufacturing, water, and transportation.

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Dragos Offices

Remote Workspace

Employees work remotely.

Typical time on-site:
HQDragos Maryland Headquarters
Dragos Australia Office
Dragos Dubai Office
Dragos Houston Office
Dragos Saudi Arabia Office
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