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: Pittsburgh, PA, United States / Farmers Branch, TX, United States

Job Type: PART_TIME

Category: Software Engineering / Capital Markets Technology

Date Posted: 2026-05-20

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This Principal Software Engineer role focuses on enhancing PNC's Capital Markets technology organization, specifically within the Broker Dealer platform for Fixed Income operations.

• You will be instrumental in designing and implementing scalable application architectures leveraging microservices, MVC, and CQRS patterns to drive automation and regulatory compliance.

• The position offers opportunities to work with modern technologies, explore agentic AI development, and contribute to internal hackathons.

• This role requires a strong foundation in SOLID principles, object-oriented design, and robust unit testing practices to ensure high code quality and system resilience.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Software Engineer Principal", the description clearly indicates a focus on Capital Markets technology and the Broker Dealer platform, suggesting a specialized role within financial services technology rather than a general software engineering principal. The "PART_TIME" employment type is unusual for a Principal-level role and should be clarified by the applicant.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define, design, and implement robust application architectures using microservices, MVC, and CQRS patterns to ensure scalability, maintainability, and high performance for critical financial systems.

• Act as a subject matter expert, providing technical leadership, mentoring development teams on best practices, design principles, and the adoption of emerging technologies within the Capital Markets domain.

• Develop, test, and deploy software solutions in alignment with PNC’s technology stack, adhering to CI/CD standards and ensuring seamless integration into production environments.

• Actively participate in all Agile ceremonies, collaborating effectively as an integral member of the development team to deliver high-quality software iteratively.

• Implement necessary enhancements, reports, and data extracts to meet evolving regulatory requirements and ensure compliance within the financial industry.

• Build new technology capabilities and features to support and advance Capital Markets Fixed Income operations, driving innovation and efficiency.

• Uphold stringent adherence to SOLID principles, maintain exceptional code quality through rigorous code reviews, and ensure comprehensive unit testing coverage for all developed solutions.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including business analysts, product managers, and other engineering teams, to deliver scalable, secure, and resilient solutions that meet complex business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize architectural design, technical leadership, and direct contribution to a specialized financial platform (Broker Dealer, Fixed Income). This suggests a role that requires not only strong technical acumen but also an understanding of financial services operations and regulatory environments.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of industry-relevant experience in software engineering, with a strong focus on developing complex, scalable applications.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience designing and implementing application architectures using microservices, MVC frameworks, and CQRS for distributed systems.

• Deep understanding of SOLID principles and object-oriented design (OOD) methodologies.

• Proficiency in modern programming languages such as Angular, React, Java, or Python.

• Strong expertise in SQL and relational database concepts, including query optimization and schema design.

• Experience with unit testing frameworks and implementing comprehensive unit testing strategies.

• Familiarity with Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and CI/CD pipelines for efficient software delivery.

• Experience in defining and implementing software solutions to address complex business needs.

Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience in financial services, particularly in Capital Markets or Broker Dealer operations.

• Familiarity with agentic AI development concepts and applications.

• Experience with internal hackathons and innovation initiatives.

• Knowledge of Enterprise Risk Management principles as they apply to software development.

• Experience with application design, architecture, and packaged application integration.

• Proficiency in product and vendor evaluation for technology solutions.

• Understanding of Software Process Improvement (SPI) and System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) best practices.

• Demonstrated ability in technical troubleshooting and user experience (UX) design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Preferred Skills" section highlights valuable domain-specific knowledge (financial services, capital markets) and exposure to emerging technologies (agentic AI, hackathons), which can significantly differentiate candidates. "Application Development," "Business Management," "Customer Solutions," and "Release Management" are listed as preferred skills, indicating a need for broader business acumen alongside technical expertise.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase examples of designing and implementing scalable application architectures, particularly those involving microservices, MVC, or CQRS patterns.

• Present case studies demonstrating your ability to automate manual processes, highlighting the efficiency gains and ROI achieved.

• Include documentation or descriptions of systems you've contributed to that support financial operations or regulatory compliance.

• Provide evidence of your contribution to building new technology capabilities, emphasizing the problem solved and the impact on business operations.

Process Documentation:

• Document your approach to defining and implementing software solutions, detailing the stages from requirements gathering to deployment.

• Illustrate your experience with Agile methodologies, including participation in ceremonies and contributions to sprint planning and execution.

• Showcase your understanding of CI/CD pipelines, including the tools and processes you've utilized for automated builds, testing, and deployments.

• Prepare to discuss your methods for ensuring adherence to SOLID principles and maintaining high code quality throughout the development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Principal engineer role, a portfolio demonstrating architectural thinking, leadership in process improvement, and tangible outcomes in complex environments (like finance) is crucial. The emphasis on automation, regulatory compliance, and building new capabilities suggests a need to showcase strategic technical contributions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is a Principal-level role within a major financial institution, a competitive salary is expected. For a Part-Time role with 5-10 years of experience in Pittsburgh, PA or Farmers Branch, TX, a typical range could be estimated between $100,000 - $150,000 annually (pro-rated for part-time). This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Principal Software Engineers in major metropolitan areas, considering the financial services sector's compensation structure.

Benefits:

• Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, and Vision Insurance.

• Health Savings Account (HSA) option available.

• Employee Life Insurance.

• 401(k) with PNC match and Pension Plan.

• Stock Purchase Plan.

• Back-up Child and Elder Care services.

• Adoption, Surrogacy, and Doula Reimbursement.

• Educational Assistance, including fully paid select programs.

• Robust Wellness Program with financial incentives.

• Paid Time Off: Parental leave, up to 11 paid holidays annually, 7 occasional absence days annually.

• Vacation time accrual based on hours worked for part-time employees, usable after 90 days of service.

Working Hours: The role is listed as PART_TIME, with a standard expectation of 40 hours per week for full-time roles, implying a reduced schedule for this position. Specific daily hours and flexibility should be discussed with the hiring manager.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits list is comprehensive and typical for a large financial institution. The "PART_TIME" designation for a Principal role is unusual and will significantly impact the actual salary and potentially the scope of benefits. Salary estimation is based on a full-time equivalent and would need to be pro-rated. Applicants should confirm the exact expected hours and compensation structure.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services, Banking, and Technology. PNC is a diversified financial services company, offering a wide range of banking, investment, and lending products and services. The Capital Markets technology organization specifically supports the firm's investment banking and trading operations.

Company Size: PNC is a large enterprise, employing tens of thousands of individuals globally, indicating a structured corporate environment with established processes and significant resources. This size offers both stability and opportunities for specialized roles.

Founded: PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. was founded in 1852, signifying a long history and deep-rooted presence in the financial industry, suggesting a culture that values stability, tradition, and long-term strategic planning, while also adapting to technological advancements.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Capital Markets technology organization, supporting the Broker Dealer platform. This team likely comprises specialized engineers, business analysts, and potentially QA professionals focused on financial trading systems.

• Reporting structure is typical of a large corporation, with the Principal Engineer likely reporting to a Technology Manager or Director, and leading technical efforts within their specific domain.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on applying modern principles, methodologies, and tools to advance business initiatives, suggesting a commitment to innovation within a structured framework.

• Agile methodologies are explicitly mentioned, indicating iterative development, sprint planning, and continuous feedback loops.

• A strong focus on SOLID principles and unit testing points to a culture that values code quality, maintainability, and robust system design.

• The mention of CI/CD standards highlights an investment in automated deployment and release management processes.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: PNC's long history suggests a stable work environment, but the mention of agentic AI and hackathons indicates a forward-looking approach to technology within its financial services domain. The Principal Engineer role is positioned to influence architectural decisions and mentor others, reflecting a senior technical leadership track.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Principal Software Engineer role, signifying a senior individual contributor position. It denotes a high level of technical expertise, architectural design capability, and the ability to lead complex technical initiatives. At this level, individuals are expected to influence technical direction, mentor junior engineers, and solve the most challenging technical problems. In the context of Capital Markets technology, this role is critical for ensuring the reliability, scalability, and compliance of trading platforms.

Reporting Structure: The Principal Software Engineer will likely report to a manager or director within the Capital Markets technology group. They will collaborate closely with product managers, business analysts, and other senior engineers across different functional areas (UI, microservices, data) to deliver integrated solutions.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is significant, directly contributing to the efficiency, automation, and regulatory compliance of the Broker Dealer platform, specifically for Fixed Income operations. By building new capabilities and automating manual processes, this role will drive operational efficiency, reduce risk, and potentially enhance revenue-generating activities within Capital Markets.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in microservices, distributed systems, and specific financial technologies within Capital Markets. Opportunities to lead architectural reviews and define future technology roadmaps for the platform.

• Leadership Development: Transition into management roles (e.g., Engineering Manager, Director) or pursue a principal/architectural track focusing on enterprise-level technical strategy and innovation.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain broader understanding of the financial services industry by working on different platforms or initiatives, potentially including agentic AI development and internal hackathons.

• Mentorship and Training: Formal and informal opportunities to mentor junior engineers, conduct technical training sessions, and represent the team in broader technology forums.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Principal level implies a significant impact on technical strategy and operational efficiency. Growth opportunities are geared towards deepening technical mastery, moving into leadership, or broadening financial domain expertise. The "PART_TIME" status might influence the pace of these growth opportunities.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: PNC is described as an "in-office company," indicating a traditional office-based work environment. This suggests a workplace designed for in-person collaboration, team meetings, and centralized access to resources and infrastructure.

Office Location(s): The role is available in Pittsburgh, PA (Two PNC Plaza) and Farmers Branch, TX. These are major corporate hubs for PNC, implying well-equipped office facilities with standard amenities.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely be a collaborative office environment where team members are co-located, facilitating spontaneous discussions, whiteboarding sessions, and real-time problem-solving.

• Access to standard corporate IT infrastructure, development tools, and potentially specialized financial trading software will be provided.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with colleagues, including other engineers, business stakeholders, and management, are inherent to an on-site role.

Work Schedule: The job is listed as PART_TIME. While the description mentions a standard 40-hour expectation for full-time roles, this position will operate on a reduced schedule. The specific daily and weekly hours, as well as any flexibility, should be confirmed with the hiring manager. This part-time nature might impact the ability to fully engage in all team activities or take on extensive project responsibilities compared to a full-time counterpart.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement and "PART_TIME" status are key environmental factors. Candidates should consider how they will integrate into an in-office team structure while working reduced hours, and how this might affect their ability to fully leverage the collaborative aspects of the workspace.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, interest, and fit for the role and company culture.

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

  • Coding Challenges: Live coding exercises focusing on algorithms, data structures, and problem-solving in languages like Java, Python, Angular, or React.
  • System Design/Architecture Discussions: In-depth discussions about designing scalable systems, microservices, MVC, CQRS, and applying SOLID principles. You will be asked to explain your architectural choices and trade-offs.
  • Behavioral and Situational Questions: Questions to assess your experience with Agile, CI/CD, mentoring, leadership, and handling complex technical challenges.

• Portfolio Review: Be prepared to present and discuss specific projects from your portfolio, highlighting your contributions, technical decisions, challenges faced, and outcomes achieved, especially those related to microservices, automation, and financial systems.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interviews: Conversations with the hiring manager and potential team members to evaluate cultural fit, team collaboration, and overall suitability for the Principal Engineer role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Core Skills: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating expertise in microservices, MVC, CQRS, SOLID principles, SQL, and unit testing.

• Focus on Impact: For each project, articulate the business problem, your specific role and contributions, the technical solutions implemented, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., improved performance, reduced costs, enhanced compliance, automation achieved).

• Showcase Architectural Thinking: For complex projects, be ready to walk through the architectural design, explain the rationale behind key decisions, and discuss trade-offs considered.

• Demonstrate Leadership: Include examples where you mentored junior engineers, led technical discussions, or influenced technical direction.

• Tailor to Finance: If you have relevant financial services or Capital Markets experience, emphasize these projects to demonstrate domain knowledge.

Challenge Preparation:

• Practice Coding: Regularly practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, focusing on algorithms, data structures, and object-oriented programming.

• System Design Scenarios: Study common system design patterns and be prepared to whiteboard solutions for scenarios relevant to financial platforms (e.g., trading systems, real-time data processing, secure transaction handling).

• SOLID Principles Application: Be ready to explain each SOLID principle with real-world code examples and discuss how they improve software design.

• Agile & CI/CD: Prepare to discuss your experience with Agile ceremonies, sprint planning, and your understanding of CI/CD workflows and tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the Principal level and the financial services context, expect a rigorous interview process that heavily emphasizes architectural design, problem-solving skills, and the ability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly. A well-curated portfolio that showcases tangible results and technical leadership is essential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Programming Languages: Angular, React (for UI), Java, Python (for microservices and backend logic).

• Database Technologies: SQL (proficiency required), relational database concepts.

• Architecture Patterns: Microservices, MVC, CQRS.

• Development Practices: SOLID principles, Object-Oriented Design (OOD).

• Testing: Unit testing frameworks (specifics will depend on language, e.g., JUnit for Java, Pytest for Python, Jest for JavaScript).

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how software integrates with broader enterprise systems is important. Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automation tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI, Docker, Kubernetes) will be essential for deployment and operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technology stack is clearly defined: modern front-end frameworks, popular backend languages, SQL databases, and established architectural patterns. Familiarity with CI/CD and a strong grasp of SOLID principles are critical. The mention of "agentic AI" suggests potential exposure to related tools or frameworks in that domain.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focused: This value emphasizes understanding and prioritizing the needs of internal (e.g., traders, compliance officers) and external customers. For this role, it means building solutions that are reliable, efficient, and meet the specific requirements of Capital Markets operations.

• Managing Risk: A paramount value in financial services. This translates to a culture of meticulousness, thorough testing, adherence to security protocols, and building resilient systems that minimize operational and financial risks.

• Innovation & Modern Principles: The company encourages applying modern principles, methodologies, and tools, suggesting a culture that values forward-thinking solutions and continuous improvement, balanced with established risk management practices.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: The emphasis on Agile ceremonies and cross-functional collaboration highlights a team culture that values open communication, shared responsibility, and collective problem-solving.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile & Iterative: Expect a collaborative style that embraces iterative development, regular feedback loops, and adapting to changing requirements.

• Technical Mentorship: As a Principal Engineer, you'll be expected to foster a culture of knowledge sharing and provide technical guidance to team members.

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with business analysts, product owners, and other engineering disciplines to ensure that technical solutions are aligned with business objectives and operational needs.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: While not explicitly stated, the nature of financial operations implies that decisions will be informed by data analysis, performance metrics, and risk assessments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The dual emphasis on customer focus and risk management is characteristic of the financial industry. The Principal Engineer is expected to be a leader in both technical excellence and adherence to these core values.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Regulation: Integrating cutting-edge technologies like agentic AI or advanced microservices while adhering to strict financial regulations and maintaining robust security.

• Complexity of Capital Markets Systems: Navigating the intricate landscape of Fixed Income trading, regulatory reporting, and legacy system integrations within a large financial institution.

• Part-Time Role in a Principal Position: Effectively managing responsibilities and impact within a reduced work schedule, ensuring full integration and contribution to team goals.

• Technical Debt Management: Addressing and mitigating technical debt within existing systems while simultaneously developing new capabilities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Agentic AI Exploration: Engaging with new concepts and potential applications of agentic AI within financial services.

• Advanced Architecture: Deepening expertise in distributed systems, microservices, and modern architectural patterns through hands-on project work.

• Financial Domain Expertise: Gaining a comprehensive understanding of Capital Markets operations, Fixed Income products, and regulatory environments.

• Leadership and Mentorship: Developing leadership skills through mentoring junior engineers and influencing technical strategy.

• Internal Hackathons: Opportunities for creative problem-solving and exploring innovative solutions outside of the core project scope.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the inherent complexities of working in a regulated financial environment with advanced technology. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a blend of technical advancement, domain expertise, and leadership development, with specific avenues for exploring emerging AI technologies.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Architectural Design: "Describe a complex distributed system you've designed. What were the key challenges, your architectural choices (e.g., microservices, event-driven), and the trade-offs you made?" Be ready to discuss how you would apply microservices, MVC, and CQRS to a new Broker Dealer platform feature.

• SOLID Principles & Code Quality: "How do you ensure high code quality and maintainability? Explain the SOLID principles and provide specific examples of how you've applied them to solve design problems." Be prepared to discuss your unit testing strategy and its importance.

• Problem Solving & Automation: "Walk me through a time you automated a complex manual process. What was your approach, what tools did you use, and what was the impact on efficiency and risk?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• PNC's Values: "How do you embody 'Customer Focused' and 'Managing Risk' in your engineering work, especially within a financial services context?" Research PNC's mission and values.

• Team Collaboration: "Describe your experience working in Agile teams. How do you collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., business analysts, UI developers) to deliver software?"

• Technical Leadership: "How do you mentor junior engineers? How do you influence technical direction within a team or organization?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each portfolio piece, follow a STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) or similar framework. Clearly define the problem, your role, the actions you took (technical design, coding, testing), and the measurable results.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use numbers and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work (e.g., "reduced processing time by X%", "increased system uptime to Y%", "handled Z transactions per second").

• Focus on Technical Depth: Be prepared to dive deep into the technical details of your projects, explaining architectural decisions, technology choices, and problem-solving approaches.

• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly connect your portfolio examples to the required skills: microservices, SOLID, SQL, unit testing, Agile, etc.

• Engage and Discuss: Treat the portfolio review as a collaborative discussion rather than a presentation. Be open to questions and feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be rigorous, assessing both deep technical expertise and the ability to apply it within a regulated financial environment. Demonstrating leadership, problem-solving skills, and a strong understanding of architectural principles will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the PNC Workday job portal.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight your experience with microservices, MVC, CQRS, SOLID principles, SQL, and unit testing. Quantify achievements and responsibilities relevant to Capital Markets or financial services if applicable.

• Prepare your portfolio: Select 2-3 key projects that best showcase your skills in architectural design, complex problem-solving, automation, and adherence to best practices. Be ready to present these with a clear focus on impact and technical detail.

• Research PNC: Understand PNC's business, its role in Capital Markets, and its stated values (Customer Focused, Managing Risk). Familiarize yourself with their technology initiatives if possible.

• Practice interview questions: Rehearse answers to common technical, behavioral, and system design questions, particularly those related to the core technologies and principles listed in the job description.

⚠️ 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. The "PART_TIME" employment type for a Principal role is unusual and warrants clarification regarding expectations, compensation, and benefits.