Job Title: Principal Software Architect & Lead Engineer Company Name: Zelody Job Url: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/search/?currentJobId=4371170711&f_AL=true&f_TPR=r86400&f_WT=2&keywords=software%20engineer&origin=JOB_SEARCH_PAGE_JOB_FILTER&start=575 Job Description: Principal Software Architect Zelody · Portland, OR (Remote) Easy Apply Save Save Principal Software Architect at Zelody Show more options Your profile is missing required qualifications Show match details Help me update my profile BETA Is this information helpful? Get personalized tips to stand out to hirers Find jobs where you’re a top applicant and tailor your resume with the help of AI. Try Premium for PKR0 About the job Principal Software Architect & Lead Engineer Location: Remote, US (Portland or SF preferred) Compensation: $170k–$200k + Equity Reports to: CTO The Mission Banking integrations are traditionally rigid, brittle, and human-heavy. At Zelody, we aren’t just "mapping APIs"—we are building an agentic orchestration backbone that treats financial data as a living, self-correcting ecosystem. We are looking for a visionary Architect who codes. You aren’t here to maintain a roadmap; you are here to challenge the very premise of how money moves. You will design the "AI-First" patterns that replace legacy middleware, moving us from static ETL to autonomous, intent-driven data flows. The Role This is a high-leverage position combining system design, hands-on execution, and technical mentorship. As our first Principal-level hire, you will: Design the "AI-Native" Blueprint: Move beyond wrappers. You will architect a system where LLMs and Agentic frameworks aren't just features, but the core logic of the orchestration layer. Code the Foundation: Spend 60–70% of your time in the IDE, building the high-stakes components of our event-driven architecture (TypeScript/Node/Python). Lead & Scale: Act as a player-coach. You will oversee a lean team of engineers, conducting deep code reviews and setting the standard for "Zelody-grade" engineering. Deconstruct Legacy Constraints: Analyze how core banking systems (FIS, Fiserv, Jack Henry) communicate and design "agentic bridges" that make integration feel like magic to the end user. What You Bring (The "AI Mindset") Architecture over Implementation: You don't just know how to build; you know what to build to make traditional workflows obsolete. 7+ Years of Engineering Excellence: You’ve scaled distributed systems in high-stakes environments (Fintech, Payments, or Defense). AI as a First Principle: You have a track record of building with LLMs/Agents where the AI handles the "uncertainty" of data mapping and decisioning. The "0 to 1" Scar Tissue: You’ve been in the trenches of a pre-seed/seed startup and know when to build for "right now" vs. "forever." Leadership Maturity: Experience managing or supervising small, high-output teams. You know how to unblock others without micro-managing. Technical Stack & Requirements Languages: Deep expertise in TypeScript/Node.js and Python (for AI/Data orchestration). Infrastructure: AWS-native, event-driven architectures, and modern workflow engines (Temporal, etc.). Compliance: You treat SOC2, PCI, and GDPR as architectural constraints, not afterthoughts. Data: Familiarity with the "alphabet soup" of finance (ISO 20022, NACHA) is a plus, but the ability to automate their translation is the requirement.