Standard Template Labs is a stealth-mode, AI-native startup reimagining the future of IT Service and Configuration Management. Backed by leading investors, we're leveraging AI, graph-based architecture, and exceptional design to transform how enterprises manage and engage with their technology ecosystems.
About the Role
We're seeking an experienced Principal Software Engineers to help drive the technical vision, architecture, and execution across our core platform. This role is ideal for someone who combines deep technical expertise with a strategic mindset and a passion for building high-quality, scalable systems.
As a Principal Engineer, you will not only build foundational components yourself, but also shape the engineering culture, mentor peers, and influence product and infrastructure decisions. You’ll be a key partner to leadership in scaling our platform and team from the ground up.
Responsibilities
Architectural & Strategic Leadership
Own the architecture of critical systems — defining technical direction, aligning it with product strategy, and ensuring long-term scalability and maintainability
Make high-impact technical decisions that influence the roadmap across engineering, data, and infrastructure teams
Serve as a key engineering stakeholder in cross-functional planning, partnering with product, design, and business leads to identify opportunities and tradeoffs
Technical Execution & Hands-On Development
AI-native product development: integrate AI/LLM capabilities into workflows to make ITSM smarter and more efficient
Design and build complex, distributed systems that are performant, secure, and fault-tolerant
Write clean, efficient, and well-tested code — leading by example in software craftsmanship
Champion and evolve our engineering standards, processes, and tooling
Guide adoption of modern technologies, patterns, and AI-based development practices, including code generation tools
Mentorship & Influence
Mentor and support engineers across multiple teams, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement
Lead architectural reviews, design discussions, and technical deep-dives with the broader engineering team
Help grow and recruit top-tier technical talent as we scale
Qualifications
10+ years of professional software engineering experience, with a track record of delivering large-scale, high-impact systems
Proven success in owning architecture and technical direction across multiple teams or domains
Extensive experience mentoring engineers and shaping engineering culture and best practices
Strong knowledge of distributed systems, cloud-native infrastructure, system design, and performance optimization
Expertise in at least one modern programming language (e.g., Go, Rust, Java, Python, C++) and a strong grasp of software architecture principles
Deep understanding of scalable data systems, relational and NoSQL databases, and caching strategies
Familiarity with CI/CD, observability tools, and modern operational practices.
Personal or professional experience with AI-assisted development (e.g., Claude, Cursor, Windsurf) is a plus — our development process is AI-native
Nice to Have
Experience designing or scaling event-driven and microservices architectures
Familiarity with containerization and orchestration tools (Docker, Kubernetes)
Prior experience in high-throughput, low-latency, or real-time systems
Open-source contributions or a strong portfolio of publicly visible work
What We Offer
The opportunity to architect foundational features for an AI-first enterprise platform.
The opportunity to take ownership of critical systems that scale to millions of users
A culture that values craftsmanship, autonomy, and technical excellence
Competitive compensation, equity, and benefits package
Work from our Midtown Manhattan office alongside the founding team in a focused, collaborative environment. We're in-office five days a week, moving quickly and building together—with easy access to public transportation
As an equal opportunity employer, we don’t tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind. Whether that’s based on race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, citizenship, religion, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state or local laws.
Top Skills
What We Do
We’re on a mission to reinvent IT Service Management from the ground up. In an industry dominated by outdated, bloated tools, we believe it’s time for a clean slate — modern, efficient, and built with the end-user in mind. Our goal is to create software that teams actually want to use — tools that accelerate productivity instead of slowing it down.
With deep product expertise, strong backing, and a bold vision, we’re building a next-generation ITSM platform designed for the way companies work today and tomorrow. No legacy baggage. No compromises. Just smart, scalable, high-performance software that redefines what IT service can be.
Why Work With Us
Backed by leading investors, we're leveraging AI, graph-based architecture, and exceptional design to transform how enterprises manage and engage with their technology ecosystems.
Standard Template Labs Offices
OnSite Workspace
Work from our Midtown Manhattan office alongside the founding team in a focused, collaborative environment. We're in-office five days a week, moving quickly and building together—with easy access to public transportation.