Principal Software Engineer
- Set the technical direction for platforms that detect and investigate financial crime.
- Shape domain-wide architecture while remaining close to engineering and code.
- Advance shared platforms, modern cloud engineering and responsible AI at CommBank.
Do work that matters
Join EC Technology, where our crews build the detection, investigation and data capabilities that help protect customers and keep financial crime out of the bank.
As a Principal Software Engineer, you’ll set the engineering direction across a technology domain rather than a single squad. You’ll shape architecture, platform investment and build-versus-reuse decisions, helping multiple teams move from fragmented systems towards shared, scalable capabilities.
This is an opportunity to influence technology that operates in a highly regulated environment. You’ll set patterns for resilience, security, observability and responsible AI, while remaining hands-on enough to turn technical direction into practical engineering outcomes.
Bring your ambition and help shape secure, future-ready engineering that delivers meaningful outcomes for customers and communities.
See yourself in our team
EC Technology brings together engineers, product professionals, data scientists and architects to strengthen the bank’s crime-detection, investigation and data platforms.
In this role, you will:
- Own the domain’s technical strategy, including architecture direction, platform choices and build-versus-reuse decisions.
- Drive consolidation and decommissioning, reducing system and pipeline duplication while establishing reusable golden paths.
- Scale platforms from minimum viable products into resilient, highly available and enterprise-ready services.
- Set engineering standards across continuous integration and delivery, testing, observability, operational readiness and security.
- Provide hands-on technical leadership across the stack, guiding the development of scalable services, well-designed APIs, backend-for-frontend layers and fit-for-purpose internal interfaces.
- Define reliable, observable and responsible approaches to AI and agentic systems, with appropriate human oversight.
- Embed regulatory, control, security and privacy considerations into engineering decisions from the outset.
- Mentor senior engineers and lift engineering capability through influence, technical leadership and hands-on contribution.
We’re interested in hearing from people who
You’re a foundations-strong engineering leader who can reason across technologies, connect strategy with delivery and create clarity in complex environments. You bring broad, full-stack software engineering experience and can influence teams without relying on formal authority.
You’ll bring:
- Strong computer-science foundations across algorithms, data structures, concurrency and distributed-system design.
- Proven experience owning technical outcomes across complete product or platform surfaces, with the judgement to move between breadth and depth.
- Experience designing and operating production services and APIs at scale using a modern typed language such as Python, Java, Kotlin or Go.
- Strong API, contract and integration-design capability, including experience with REST, OpenAPI, API gateways or equivalent technologies.
- Full-stack capability, including experience with React and TypeScript or equivalent technologies, as well as backend-for-frontend layers.
- A practical approach to frontend engineering. The role principally supports internal, systems-facing applications rather than consumer-grade interfaces, but you’ll be comfortable contributing across the stack when required.
- Cloud-native engineering experience involving technologies such as AWS, Kubernetes, Docker, GitHub Actions or ArgoCD, with a focus on high availability and operational excellence.
- Experience with platform strategy, reusable capabilities, legacy-system modernisation, event-driven integration, observability, security-first engineering, or reliable AI and agentic systems.
Working with us
At CommBank, we're committed to creating an accessible, inclusive and respectful workplace. If you require support or adjustments, please let us know.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, and we're particularly committed to making a positive difference for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples. For support, please contact 1800 989 696.
If this sounds like you, apply today.
If you're already part of the Commonwealth Bank Group (including Bankwest, x15ventures), you'll need to apply through Sidekick to submit a valid application. We’re keen to support you with the next step in your career.
We're aware of some accessibility issues on this site, particularly for screen reader users. We want to make finding your dream job as easy as possible, so if you require additional support please contact HR Direct on 1800 989 696.
Skills Required
- Strong computer science foundations in algorithms, data structures, concurrency, and distributed-system design
- Experience owning technical outcomes across complete product or platform surfaces
- Experience designing and operating production services and APIs at scale using Python, Java, Kotlin, Go, or another modern typed language
- Strong API, contract, and integration-design capabilities, including REST, OpenAPI, API gateways, or equivalent technologies
- Full-stack capability with React and TypeScript or equivalent technologies
- Ability to contribute to internal, systems-facing frontend applications
- Cloud-native engineering experience with AWS, Kubernetes, Docker, GitHub Actions, ArgoCD, or equivalent technologies
- Experience with platform strategy, reusable capabilities, legacy-system modernization, event-driven integration, observability, security-first engineering, or reliable AI and agentic systems
Commonwealth Bank Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Commonwealth Bank and has not been reviewed or approved by Commonwealth Bank.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — The bank offers additional Life Leave, the option to purchase up to four extra weeks, pet leave, and paid volunteering leave alongside flexible-working options. Public materials indicate these leave features compare well within Australian banking.
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Parental & Family Support — Permanent employees can access up to 18 weeks of paid parental leave, and superannuation is paid for up to 34 weeks of unpaid parental leave. These provisions extend support for new parents beyond standard settings.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Access includes CBHS Health Fund, Fitness Passport, a 24/7 wellbeing platform with telehealth, an Employee Assistance Program, and employer‑paid income protection for up to two years, alongside staff banking perks and share plans. This combination provides day‑to‑day value across health, protection, and financial perks.
Commonwealth Bank Insights
What We Do
Australia’s leading provider of financial services including retail, premium, business and institutional banking, funds management, superannuation, insurance, investment and sharebroking products and services. We are a business with more than 800,000 shareholders and over 52,000 employees. We offer a full range of financial services to help all Australians build and manage their finances.
