Principal Drools / Java Software Engineer

Position: Principal Drools / Java Software EngineerLocation: Durham, NCDuration: 12 months+W2 positionH1 transfer acceptedSummary:We are seeking a Principal Drools and Java Engineer to lead the design, evolution, and operational excellence of our business rules and underwriting decisioning capabilities. This role sits at the intersection of software architecture, domain modeling, and business policy enablement, shaping how complex rules are authored, executed, governed, and scaled across the enterprise.As a Principal Engineer, you will act as a technical authority and trusted advisor, influencing architecture, standards, and long-term strategy while remaining hands-on with critical systems.Technical Experience & Depth10+ years of professional software engineering experience, with deep expertise in Java and enterprise application development.5+ years of hands-on experience building and operating Drools-based (or equivalent BRMS) solutions in production environments.Deep knowledge of object-oriented design, domain-driven design, and clean architecture principles.Strong understanding of:Stateless vs. stateful rule execution modelsDecision tables, DRL, and rule flowsRule performance tuning, conflict resolution, and lifecycle managementExperience using copilot (or AI in general) as part of engineering practicesArchitecture & Systems DesignProven ability to own and evolve rules engine architectures, including rule authoring patterns, execution strategies, versioning, and governance.Experience designing scalable, resilient Java services that integrate rules engines with distributed systems (RESTful APIs, messaging, event-driven architectures).Strong understanding of performance, memory management, and operational characteristics of rules-based systems.Leadership & InfluenceDemonstrated ability to lead technically without formal authority, influencing architecture and engineering decisions across teams.Experience leading technical design reviews and providing architectural guidance for complex systems.Strong mentorship mindset, with a track record of elevating senior and mid-level engineers.Collaboration & Business EnablementAbility to partner closely with product owners and domain experts to translate business policy into clear, executable decision logic.Experience supporting DevOps/SRE practices, including deployment strategy, monitoring, and observability for rules-driven services.Comfortable representing engineering perspectives in cross?organization architectural discussions and modernization initiatives.