Senior Principal Software Engineer

Company: Red Hat
Location: Raleigh
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

Job Summary The Red Hat Ecosystems Engineering group is seeking a Senior Principal Software Engineer to join our rapidly growing team. This is a game-changing opportunity to join an open-source AI platform that harnesses the power of hybrid cloud to drive innovation. In this role, you will work with a diverse team of highly talented engineers on designing, implementing, and productizing new AI solutions, with a focus on deep integration of the AI stack, hardware accelerators, and leading OEMs and Cloud Computing Service Providers (CCSPs). The Senior Principal Software Engineer is responsible for setting and achieving mid-term strategic objectives aligned to company business goals. The role exercises expert judgment and business acumen to work on and resolve highly complex issues that impact critical initiatives and key business processes. This role serves as a technical lead and mentor to other team members, providing expert guidance. This role may come into contact with confidential or sensitive customer information requiring special treatment in accordance with Red Hat policies and applicable privacy laws. At Red Hat, our commitment to open source innovation extends beyond our products - it’s embedded in how we work and grow. Red Hatters embrace change – especially in our fast-moving technological landscape – and have a strong growth mindset. That's why we encourage our teams to proactively, thoughtfully, and ethically use AI to simplify their workflows, cut complexity, and boost efficiency. This empowers our associates to focus on higher-impact work, creating smart, more innovative solutions that solve our customers' most pressing challenges. What you will do: Identify problems that need to be solved, set and achieve strategic technical objectives to solve those problems. Lead cross-functional teams to deliver software solutions that align with business objectives. Provide technical expertise and guidance on complex software and system issues. Serve as a technical lead for major software initiatives and lead the team to success. Mentor and coach engineering staff to develop their technical and leadership capabilities. Represent the team in technical discussions with senior leadership and stakeholders. Adhere and follow defined Software Development Lifecycle (SLDC) processes. Establish and maintain a visible leadership presence in the technical community. Coordinate activities of other team members, and potentially across teams, to ensure project goals are met. Proactively leverage AI technologies to streamline workflows, simplify processes, and enhance overall efficiency. Proactively utilize and experiment with AI-assisted tools and technologies, such as code generation, auto-completion, and intelligent suggestions, to accelerate development cycles, enhance code quality, and support test design, automation, and peer review throughout the development lifecycle. What you will bring: Strategic Technical Leadership: Guides the strategic direction of software development initiatives. Problem Solving: Solves highly complex technical issues that impact critical initiatives. Cross-Functional Influence: Influences decisions and direction across the organization. Mentoring: Provides high-level technical mentorship and career guidance. Stakeholder Management: Engages with senior leadership to communicate initiative status and goals. Agile Knowledge: An awareness or understanding of Agile principles and frameworks and their application in software development. Programming (examples: Python, Golang, Java, C, C++): Designs and maintains complex software using programming languages. Coordination: Plans, organizes, and oversees technical deliverables, tasks and milestones. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partners with product management, operations, and QE to deliver solutions. LI-JS1 AI-HIRING The salary range for this position is $168,150.00 - $277,350.00. Actual offer will be based on your qualifications. Pay Transparency Red Hat determines compensation based on several factors including but not limited to job location, experience, applicable skills and training, external market value, and internal pay equity. Annual salary is one component of Red Hat’s compensation package. This position may also be eligible for bonus, commission, and/or equity. For positions with Remote-US locations, the actual salary range for the position may differ based on location but will be commensurate with job duties and relevant work experience. About Red Hat Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of enterprise open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to deliver high-performing Linux, cloud, container, and Kubernetes technologies. Spread across 40 countries, our associates work flexibly across work environments, from in-office, to office-flex, to fully remote, depending on the requirements of their role. Red Hatters are encouraged to bring their best ideas, no matter their title or tenure. We're a leader in open source because of our open and inclusive environment. We hire creative, passionate people ready to contribute their ideas, help solve complex problems, and make an impact. Benefits ? Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage ? Flexible Spending Account - healthcare and dependent care ? Health Savings Account - high deductible medical plan ? Retirement 401(k) with employer match ? Paid time off and holidays ? Paid parental leave plans for all new parents ? Leave benefits including disability, paid family medical leave, and paid military leave ? Additional benefits including employee stock purchase plan, family planning reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, transportation expense account, employee assistance program, and more! Note: These benefits are only applicable to full time, permanent associates at Red Hat located in the United States. Inclusion at Red Hat Red Hat’s culture is built on the open source principles of transparency, collaboration, and inclusion, where the best ideas can come from anywhere and anyone. When this is realized, it empowers people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to come together to share ideas, challenge the status quo, and drive innovation. Our aspiration is that everyone experiences this culture with equal opportunity and access, and that all voices are not only heard but also celebrated. We hope you will join our celebration, and we welcome and encourage applicants from all the beautiful dimensions that compose our global village. Equal Opportunity Policy (EEO) Red Hat is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer. We review applications for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, veteran status, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Red Hat does not seek or accept unsolicited resumes or CVs from recruitment agencies. We are not responsible for, and will not pay, any fees, commissions, or any other payment related to unsolicited resumes or CVs except as required in a written contract between Red Hat and the recruitment agency or party requesting payment of a fee. Red Hat supports individuals with disabilities and provides reasonable accommodations to job applicants. If you need assistance completing our online job application, email application-assistance@redhat.com . General inquiries, such as those regarding the status of a job application, will not receive a reply.

Keywords: Red Hat, Raleigh , Senior Principal Software Engineer, IT / Software / Systems , Raleigh, North Carolina