Software Engineer Principal UI/ Microservices/ SQL/ Unit Testing/ SOLID Principles

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Software Engineer Principal (UI/Microservices/SQL/Unit Testing/SOLID Principles)

Company: PNC

Location: Dallas, TX; Pittsburgh, PA

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Software Engineering / Technology

Date Posted: March 16, 2026

Experience Level: 5+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This Principal Software Engineer role focuses on enhancing a critical Broker Dealer platform within PNC's Capital Markets technology organization.

• The position involves significant application architecture design and implementation, leveraging microservices, MVC, and CQRS patterns for scalable and resilient solutions.

• A key aspect of this role is contributing to the automation of manual processes and the implementation of regulatory-driven modifications in the Fixed Income space.

• Candidates will be expected to mentor development teams, drive best practices, and engage with emerging technologies, including agentic AI development and internal hackathons.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core title is "Software Engineer Principal," the emphasis on UI, Microservices, SQL, Unit Testing, and SOLID Principles, coupled with the context of enhancing a financial platform, strongly suggests a role with significant backend and architectural responsibilities, with potential for some frontend integration, aligning with a GTM (Go-To-Market) technology enablement or core platform engineering function. The mention of "Capital Markets technology organization" and "Broker Dealer platform" indicates a focus on financial trading systems and regulatory compliance.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and implement robust application architectures utilizing microservices, Model-View-Controller (MVC), and Command Query Responsibility Segregation (CQRS) patterns to ensure high scalability, maintainability, and performance.

• Act as a subject matter expert, providing technical leadership and mentoring to development teams on software design principles, best practices, and the adoption of new and emerging technologies.

• Design, develop, test, and deploy high-quality software solutions, adhering to PNC’s established technology stack standards and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) best practices.

• Actively participate in all Agile ceremonies, functioning as an integral and collaborative member of the cross-functional development team to deliver incremental value.

• Implement critical enhancements, generate necessary reports, and develop data extracts to meet stringent regulatory body requirements and ensure compliance.

• Build and deliver new technology capabilities specifically designed to support and optimize Capital Markets Fixed Income operations and trading strategies.

• Champion adherence to SOLID design principles, maintain exceptionally high code quality, and conduct thorough, effective unit testing for all developed software components.

• Collaborate closely with business stakeholders, product managers, and other engineering teams to ensure the delivery of scalable, secure, and business-aligned solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a senior engineering role focused on platform enhancement, regulatory compliance, and innovation within a financial services context. The emphasis on microservices, MVC, CQRS, SOLID principles, and CI/CD aligns with modern software development practices for complex, high-throughput systems. The mention of "Capital Markets Fixed Income operations" and "regulatory bodies" highlights a specialized domain.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of industry-relevant experience in software development, with a strong focus on backend systems and architectural design.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated experience with microservices architecture, including design, implementation, and deployment strategies.

• Proven expertise in MVC frameworks and CQRS patterns for building distributed and scalable systems.

• Strong understanding and practical application of SOLID principles (Single Responsibility, Open/Closed, Liskov Substitution, Interface Segregation, Dependency Inversion) in object-oriented design.

• Proficiency in modern programming languages such as Java, Python, or C#.

• Expertise in SQL for complex database querying, relational database concepts, and data modeling.

• Hands-on experience with unit testing frameworks (e.g., JUnit, NUnit, Pytest) and a commitment to test-driven development (TDD) or behavior-driven development (BDD).

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with modern JavaScript frameworks such as Angular or React for potential UI integration or understanding.

• Prior experience in the financial services sector, specifically within Capital Markets, Broker Dealer operations, or Fixed Income trading environments.

• Knowledge of agentic AI development concepts and their potential application in financial platforms.

• Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).

• Familiarity with message queuing systems (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ) for asynchronous communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills are highly specific to robust backend and architectural engineering. The preferred skills add value by suggesting areas of growth and specialization relevant to the financial industry and modern development trends. The mention of Angular and React as preferred skills suggests that while this is primarily a backend/architecture role, some understanding or interaction with frontend technologies might be beneficial.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate through past projects how you have designed and implemented scalable microservices architectures, highlighting decision-making processes and trade-offs.

• Provide examples of complex SQL queries or database designs that solved significant business problems or improved data retrieval efficiency.

• Showcase contributions to CI/CD pipelines, including automation scripts, build processes, and deployment strategies that improved release velocity and stability.

Process Documentation:

• Document a significant process improvement you led, detailing the initial state, the implemented solution (e.g., new microservice, automation script), and the quantifiable outcomes achieved.

• Prepare to discuss your approach to unit testing, including test case design, code coverage strategies, and how you integrate testing into the development lifecycle.

• Outline your experience with Agile methodologies, including participation in ceremonies, sprint planning, and backlog refinement, and how you contribute to team process improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Principal level role, a portfolio demonstrating architectural leadership, complex problem-solving, and practical application of advanced design principles is crucial. This section emphasizes showcasing not just the what but the how and why behind technical decisions, particularly in a regulated environment.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Principal Software Engineers in major metropolitan areas like Dallas and Pittsburgh, with 5+ years of experience in specialized financial technology, a competitive annual salary range is estimated between $130,000 - $180,000. This range can vary based on specific experience, qualifications, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, prescription drug coverage (including HSA options), dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Life insurance coverage for employees, spouses, and children.

• Robust short-term and long-term disability protection plans.

• Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan with a company match and pension plan.

• Employee Stock Purchase Plans to foster ownership and long-term investment.

• Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts and back-up child/elder care services.

• Support for family growth including adoption, surrogacy, and doula reimbursement.

• Educational assistance, with opportunities for fully paid programs, and a comprehensive wellness program with financial incentives.

• Paid Time Off (PTO) including up to 11 paid holidays, 9 occasional absence days, and 15-25 vacation days annually, increasing with years of service.

• Maternity and/or parental leave.

Working Hours: Standard full-time work hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, flexibility may be discussed with the hiring manager regarding specific daily schedules once established in the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on industry data for similar roles in the specified locations and experience level. Benefits are detailed as provided in the job description, emphasizing comprehensiveness for full-time employees. The working hours are standard, with a note on potential on-site flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services, Banking, Technology. PNC operates within the highly regulated and dynamic financial services sector, requiring a strong emphasis on security, compliance, and innovation.

Company Size: Large (10,000+ employees). As a large financial institution, PNC offers stability, extensive resources, and opportunities for career advancement across various departments and locations.

Founded: 1852. With a long history, PNC has established itself as a major financial institution, known for its commitment to customer service, community involvement, and technological advancement.

Team Structure:

• The role is within PNC's Capital Markets technology organization, likely comprising specialized teams focused on specific financial instruments, platforms, or regulatory functions.

• This Principal Engineer will likely report to a Technology Manager or Director, with direct interaction and mentorship responsibilities for mid-level and junior engineers.

Methodology:

• PNC emphasizes a data-driven approach to decision-making, leveraging analytics to understand customer behavior, market trends, and operational efficiency.

• The organization follows structured workflow planning and optimization strategies to enhance its technology platforms and business processes, particularly within regulated environments.

• A focus on automation and efficiency practices is evident, especially in areas like CI/CD, process automation, and regulatory compliance, to drive agility and reduce operational risk.

Company Website: https://www.pnc.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context highlights PNC as a large, established financial institution with a focus on technology and innovation. The team structure suggests a potentially matrixed environment where collaboration across functions is key. The methodology points towards a structured, data-informed, and efficiency-oriented approach to operations and technology development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Principal Software Engineer signifies a senior individual contributor role. This level is characterized by deep technical expertise, architectural vision, and the ability to mentor others. The scope includes leading complex technical initiatives, solving challenging problems, and influencing technical direction within the Capital Markets technology group.

Reporting Structure: The role typically reports to a manager or director within the Capital Markets technology division. This position will involve mentoring and guiding other software engineers, fostering a collaborative and learning-oriented team environment.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts the efficiency, scalability, and regulatory compliance of critical financial platforms. By automating processes, implementing regulatory changes, and building new capabilities, the engineer contributes to the smooth functioning of Capital Markets operations, risk mitigation, and the company's ability to serve its clients effectively in the Fixed Income space.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in microservices, agentic AI, cloud-native architectures, or specific financial technologies within Capital Markets.

• Architectural Leadership: Progress towards roles like Senior Principal Engineer, Staff Engineer, or Solutions Architect, taking on broader architectural responsibilities.

• Management Track: Transition into a management role, leading engineering teams, managing projects, and focusing on people development and strategic planning.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain exposure to other areas of Capital Markets technology or broader PNC technology divisions through internal mobility programs or project involvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Principal level denotes significant responsibility and potential for growth, both technically and managerially. The emphasis on impact in a regulated financial environment means that contributions are highly visible and critical to business operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: PNC is an "in-office company" that fosters a supportive culture. This indicates a predominantly on-site work environment designed to promote collaboration, team cohesion, and direct interaction among colleagues.

Office Location(s): The role is based at the Dallas Innovation Center on Luna Road (TX270) or in Pittsburgh, PA. These locations are established technology hubs for PNC, likely offering modern facilities and a collaborative workspace.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed to encourage collaboration, with an expectation of in-person interaction for brainstorming, problem-solving, and team building.

• As a technology role, access to standard engineering tools, development environments, and necessary hardware/software will be provided.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with peers, architects, product managers, and potentially business stakeholders will be frequent, facilitating knowledge sharing and efficient communication.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is full-time, likely aligning with typical business hours (e.g., 9 AM to 5 PM) within the respective time zones (Central for Dallas, Eastern for Pittsburgh). While the role is on-site, discussions regarding minor flexibility in daily start/end times may be possible with the hiring manager, provided business needs and team collaboration are maintained.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "in-office" requirement is a key differentiator. Candidates should expect a traditional office environment focused on in-person collaboration. The Dallas and Pittsburgh locations are significant technology centers for PNC, suggesting well-equipped environments.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

Be prepared to discuss your background and interest in the role.

• Technical Interviews: Expect multiple rounds of technical interviews. These will likely include:

  • Coding Challenges: Live coding exercises focusing on algorithms, data structures, and potentially SQL query optimization.
  • System Design: Scenario-based questions requiring you to design scalable, resilient systems using microservices, MVC, CQRS, and SOLID principles.
  • Behavioral Questions: Questions assessing your experience with Agile, teamwork, problem-solving, and mentoring.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session may be allocated for you to present a selected project from your portfolio, detailing the architecture, challenges, solutions, and impact.

• Final Round: This may involve an interview with senior leadership or a panel to assess overall fit and strategic thinking.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Select High-Impact Projects: Choose projects that best demonstrate your expertise in microservices, SQL, SOLID principles, and system design in complex environments.

• Focus on Architecture and Design: For each project, clearly articulate the architectural decisions made, the rationale behind them, and how they addressed specific business or technical challenges.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work (e.g., performance improvements, cost savings, reduction in errors, increased throughput, successful regulatory compliance).

• Highlight Collaboration and Mentorship: Showcase instances where you collaborated effectively with cross-functional teams or mentored junior engineers.

• Prepare for Technical Deep Dives: Be ready to discuss the technical intricacies of your chosen projects, including specific technologies, design patterns, and trade-offs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Practice Coding: Sharpen your skills in Java, Python, or other relevant languages, focusing on common algorithms and data structures. Practice writing efficient SQL queries.

• Study Design Patterns: Refresh your knowledge of microservices patterns, MVC, CQRS, and SOLID principles. Practice applying them to hypothetical scenarios.

• Review Financial Concepts: If possible, familiarize yourself with basic Capital Markets concepts, particularly in Fixed Income, and understand the importance of regulatory compliance in financial technology.

• Develop Your Narrative: Prepare concise explanations for your experience and how it aligns with the job requirements. Practice walking through your portfolio projects clearly and engagingly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is expected to be rigorous, typical for a Principal Engineer role in a large financial institution. Emphasis will be placed on both technical depth and the ability to apply principles in a complex, regulated domain. A well-prepared portfolio is key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Programming Languages: Java, Python (as primary languages), potentially C#.

• Frontend Frameworks (if applicable): Angular, React (for UI components or understanding).

• Microservices Frameworks: Spring Boot (for Java), Flask/Django (for Python), or similar.

• Databases: SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, or other relational databases.

• Testing Frameworks: JUnit, Mockito (for Java), Pytest, Unittest (for Python), NUnit (for C#).

Analytics & Reporting:

• SQL Clients: Tools like SQL Developer, DBeaver, or SSMS for database interaction and query development.

• Reporting Tools: Potentially tools supporting regulatory reporting or internal business intelligence dashboards.

• CI/CD Tools: Jenkins, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps, or similar for build, test, and deployment automation.

CRM & Automation:

• Version Control: Git (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket).

• Containerization: Docker, Kubernetes (for microservices deployment and orchestration).

• Messaging Queues: Kafka, RabbitMQ, ActiveMQ (for asynchronous communication between microservices).

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is typical for modern, large-scale enterprise applications, with a strong emphasis on Java/Python, microservices, SQL databases, and robust CI/CD practices. Familiarity with cloud environments and containerization is highly advantageous.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focused: Prioritizing client needs and satisfaction as paramount in all design and development decisions, ensuring solutions meet business objectives and regulatory obligations.

• Managing Risk: Demonstrating a strong commitment to understanding and mitigating risks associated with software development and deployment, adhering strictly to PNC's Enterprise Risk Management Framework.

• Innovation: Encouraging a proactive and innovative approach to applying modern principles, methodologies, and tools to advance business initiatives and technological capabilities.

• Collaboration: Fostering a team-oriented environment where open communication, knowledge sharing, and collective problem-solving are encouraged to achieve shared goals.

• Integrity: Upholding the highest ethical standards and ensuring all work contributes to PNC's reputation for trustworthiness and reliability.

Collaboration Style:

• Expect a collaborative environment with a strong emphasis on cross-functional teamwork. Engineers will work closely with business analysts, product managers, QA, and potentially other engineering teams.

• A culture of constructive feedback and continuous improvement is likely, encouraging open discussion of technical challenges and process enhancements.

• Knowledge sharing is vital, particularly in a Principal role, involving mentoring, code reviews, and sharing best practices across teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The stated company values of "Customer Focused" and "Managing Risk" are particularly critical in the financial services industry. The emphasis on innovation and collaboration aligns with modern tech team dynamics.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Regulatory Landscape: Adapting to and implementing changes driven by complex and evolving financial regulations (e.g., SEC, FINRA requirements) within the Broker Dealer platform.

• Legacy System Integration: Potentially integrating new microservices with existing legacy systems, requiring careful design and robust APIs.

• High Availability and Performance: Ensuring the platform meets stringent uptime requirements and handles high transaction volumes, especially during peak market activity.

• Security Implementation: Designing and implementing secure solutions that protect sensitive financial data against sophisticated cyber threats.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Agentic AI Exploration: Opportunities to research and potentially implement agentic AI solutions to automate complex financial processes or enhance decision-making.

• Specialized Training: Access to internal and external training programs focusing on advanced microservices, cloud technologies, cybersecurity, and financial market technologies.

• Industry Conferences: Potential to attend relevant technology and financial services conferences to stay abreast of industry trends and network with peers.

• Mentorship Programs: Participation in or leading mentorship initiatives to develop leadership and coaching skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the nature of financial technology and regulatory environments. The growth opportunities highlight PNC's commitment to innovation and employee development, particularly in emerging fields like AI.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex system you architected using microservices. What were the key challenges, and how did you ensure scalability and resilience?" (Focus: Microservices Architecture, Scalability, Resilience)

• "Walk me through a time you had to implement a significant regulatory change in a software system. What was your approach, and what were the outcomes?" (Focus: Regulatory Compliance, Problem Solving, Impact)

• "How do you approach mentoring junior engineers? Provide an example of how you've helped a team member grow their technical skills." (Focus: Mentorship, Leadership, Team Development)

• "Discuss your experience with SOLID principles. How have you applied them to improve code quality or maintainability in a past project?" (Focus: SOLID Principles, Code Quality, Maintainability)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about PNC and this specific role within Capital Markets technology?" (Focus: Motivation, Company Research, Role Alignment)

• "How do you stay updated on emerging technologies like agentic AI?" (Focus: Continuous Learning, Innovation)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a high-level overview of the project, its business context, and the problem it solved. Then, dive into the technical architecture, highlighting your specific contributions and design decisions. Conclude with the results and impact, using metrics.

• Technical Depth: Be prepared to explain the "why" behind your design choices – why microservices, why specific database choices, why certain SOLID principles were critical.

• Visual Aids: Use diagrams (e.g., architecture diagrams, sequence diagrams) to illustrate complex concepts.

• Conciseness: Practice delivering your presentation within a set timeframe (likely 15-20 minutes), leaving ample time for Q&A.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating technical leadership, architectural thinking, and a deep understanding of financial technology principles, including regulatory considerations. The portfolio presentation is a critical component for a Principal Engineer.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal Software Engineer position:

• Submit your application through the PNC careers portal using the provided link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize your experience with microservices architecture, SQL, unit testing, SOLID principles, MVC, CQRS, and any relevant financial services or Capital Markets domain knowledge. Quantify your achievements with metrics wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Select 1-2 key projects that best showcase your architectural design skills, problem-solving abilities, and impact. Be ready to present these in detail, focusing on technical decisions and outcomes.

• Research PNC: Understand PNC's business, its role in Capital Markets, and its commitment to technology and innovation. Familiarize yourself with their stated values.

• Practice Technical Scenarios: Review common coding interview questions, system design principles, and scenarios related to financial technology and regulatory environments.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.