Principal Engineer (Scala)

Job DescriptionStrategic ImperativeWe are looking for a Principal Engineer (Scala) to help lead the architecture, modernization, and long-term technical direction of the PollFish platform and related services. This is a hands-on principal-level role for someone who can guide complex Scala/Java systems, raise engineering standards across teams, and help the organization evolve toward a more AI-first engineering model.This role will work closely with the Greece engineering hub, helping shape platform direction, support technical execution, and build strong cross-geo engineering alignment. It requires a blend of deep technical judgment, systems thinking, mentoring capability, and the ability to influence without direct authority.ProdegeA cutting-edge marketing and consumer insights platform, Prodege has charted a course of innovation in the evolving technology landscape by helping leading brands, marketers, and agencies uncover the answers to their business questions, acquire new customers, increase revenue, and drive brand loyalty & product adoption. Bolstered by a major investment by Blackstone in Q1 2026, Prodege looks forward to more growth and innovation to empower our partners to gather meaningful, rich insights and better market to their target audiences.As an organization, we go the extra mile to “Create Rewarding Moments” every day for our partners, consumers, and team. Come join us today!Primary ObjectivesOwn technical strategy and architecture for a core domainDrive cross-team delivery of high-impact initiativesRaise reliability, resiliency, and performance at scaleStandardize platform patterns, tooling, and engineering excellenceStrengthen security, governance, and operational maturityMentor and multiply engineering effectiveness across the organizationDrive adoption of AI-first engineering workflows where they provide meaningful leverage Qualifications - To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each job duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.Detailed Job Duties: (typical monthly, weekly, daily tasks which support the primary objectives)Own Technical Strategy and Architecture for a Core DomainDefine target architecture and reference patterns for Scala/Java services in a key domain (e.g., core APIs, monetization / yield services, identity / entitlements, data capture / streaming, experimentation)Create architectural decision records (ADRs), standards, and guidelines that enable teams to scale safelyEvaluate tradeoffs (build vs. buy, monolith vs. services, sync vs. async) and guide decisions with measurable outcomesPrioritize the right areas for modernization based on business impact, architectural constraints, and engineering leverageDrive Cross-Team Delivery of High-Impact InitiativesLead design and execution for complex initiatives spanning multiple teams and systems (roadmap alignment, technical sequencing, dependency management)Partner with Product and Engineering leadership to shape scope, timelines, and risk mitigation plansUnblock teams by resolving deep technical constraints and providing clear integration pathsWork closely with the Greece engineering hub and other global teams to ensure strong alignment and executionRaise Reliability, Resiliency, and Performance at ScaleIdentify systemic reliability risks and implement durable fixes (architecture changes, runtime safeguards, capacity strategies)Drive performance and scalability programs (SLOs / SLAs, load testing, latency budgets, capacity planning)Turn incident learnings into repeatable improvements (runbooks, automation, error budgets, resiliency patterns)Standardize Platform Patterns, Tooling, and Engineering ExcellenceCreate reusable frameworks, service templates, and libraries to reduce cognitive load and improve consistencyImprove engineering productivity by streamlining CI/CD, test strategy, and developer workflows in partnership with platform teamsSet code quality and review standards; raise the bar on observability and maintainability across teamsDrive an AI-first engineering mindset by identifying where AI can meaningfully improve coding, testing, debugging, documentation, and architecture explorationHelp teams adopt AI-assisted workflows with strong trust-but-verify discipline and engineering rigorStrengthen Security, Governance, and Operational MaturityEmbed secure-by-design principles into architecture and team practices (data handling, access patterns, secrets, dependency hygiene)Partner with Security / Compliance to meet governance needs with minimal delivery frictionEnsure operational readiness for critical changes (release strategies, rollback plans, monitoring / alerting completeness)Mentor and Multiply Engineering Effectiveness Across the OrgMentor Senior Engineers and Tech Leads through technical coaching, design reviews, and architecture forumsLead knowledge sharing through brown bags, documentation, best practices, and reference implementationsCoach engineers on effective use of AI tools and workflows so that AI improves leverage without compromising reliability, security, or maintainabilityInfluence engineering culture through pragmatic standards, clarity, and high ownershipCross-Functional CollaborationPartner with Product, Platform, Data, QA, Security, and Engineering leadership to ensure architecture aligns with business priorities and delivery realitiesParticipate in cross-functional and business-critical meetings, initiatives, and relationship-building activities, including occasional international travel of approximately 5%–10% as requiredMUST Haves: (ex: required skills, education, experience, certifications, licenses) Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience10+ years of software engineering experience with significant ownership of backend / distributed systemsDeep production experience building and evolving large-scale systems using Scala and Java, including service architecture, runtime behavior, and performance tuningProven architecture leadership across multiple services / systems and teamsStrong expertise in distributed systems, reliability engineering, observability, and performance optimizationDemonstrated ability to lead multi-team technical initiatives and influence roadmap / architecture decisions through strong technical judgmentStrong operational ownership, including incident response, postmortems, and long-term remediationAbility to influence without authority through technical clarity, collaboration, and strong communicationPractical experience using AI as an engineering force multiplier, including code generation, debugging, documentation, design exploration, and workflow acceleration, with strong validation disciplineExperience working effectively with distributed teams, especially in partnership with a global engineering hubMust be able to accommodate occasional international travel (approximately 5%–10%) in support of the roleNice to HavesExperience modernizing or decomposing monolithic systemsExperience with large-scale streaming / event systems and data pipelinesExperience building internal platforms or shared frameworks used by multiple teamsExperience with Kubernetes, service meshes, and cloud cost / performance optimizationBackground in AdTech, offer / rewards ecosystems, fraud / risk systems, or experimentation at scaleFamiliarity with AI-first / AI-assisted engineering workflows across software teamsPay TransparencyThe anticipated base salary range for this position is $240,000 to $275,000. The final salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include, but are not limited to; the type and length of experience within the job, type and length of experience within the industry, the type and length of knowledge and skills for the position, education, training, etc. Prodege is a multi-state employer and final compensation within this range could be impacted by work location. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits.Prodege BenefitsProdege offers a comprehensive benefits package to US Full-time employees including medical, dental, vision, STD, LTD and basic life insurance. Employees receive flexible PTO, as well as paid sick leave prorated based on hire date. US Employees have eight paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Employees receive an option to purchase shares of Company stock commensurate with their position, which vests over four years.Equal Employment Opportunity StatementAt Prodege, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. We are proud to be anEqual Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.FCIHOEmployers will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of FCIHO.