Principal Engineer, Identity & Engagement

About the Role

Day-to-day, this role involves partnering closely with engineering leaders, product, design, security, and infrastructure teams to modernize systems, improve reliability and developer velocity, and unlock smarter user experiences. The future of work is being built on strong Identity & Engagement, and Dropbox is committed to platform investments that accelerate AI-driven innovation and deeper customer value.

As a Principal Engineer, you will lead the architectural evolution of these systems, mentor engineers across the organization, and deliver foundational improvements that help Dropbox move faster and smarter.

What You Will Do

• Define and drive the technical roadmap for identity and engagement platform services, including APIs, service boundaries, data models, and reliability goals.
• Lead multi-quarter modernization efforts, such as reducing legacy dependencies, improving scalability, simplifying integrations, with a focus on cohesion, observability, and operational excellence.
• Design and improve authentication, authorization, account integrity, and identity lifecycle services with strong security and privacy posture.
• Build and evolve the systems that power engagement signals, experimentation hooks, telemetry/analytics pipelines, and usage insights to support product iteration and growth.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the successful integration of new technologies and services.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation to ensure knowledge sharing across the engineering teams.
• Participate in the hiring process to help build a strong and diverse team of engineers.
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies to continuously improve Dropbox's products and services.
• Foster a culture of innovation, experimentation, and continuous learning within the team.

What We Are Looking For

• 10+ years of experience in software development with a focus on distributed systems, scalability, and reliability.
• Strong technical leadership skills, with experience in guiding the technical direction of large-scale projects.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Java, Python, or C++.
• Experience with cloud-based platforms, preferably AWS or Azure.
• Strong understanding of identity and access management principles, including authentication, authorization, and identity lifecycle management.
• Experience with modern software development methodologies, including Agile and Scrum.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex technical issues and develop creative solutions.
• Experience with data modeling and database design.

Nice to Have

• Experience with AI-driven technologies and their applications in software development.
• Knowledge of security and privacy best practices, with experience in implementing secure coding practices.
• Familiarity with DevOps practices and tools, including Jenkins, Docker, and Kubernetes.
• Experience with Excel for data analysis and reporting.

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and equity package.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible PTO and holiday policy.
• Remote work stipend and support for home office setup.
• Professional development opportunities, including conference sponsorships and training programs.
• Access to the latest technologies and tools.
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment with a team of experienced professionals.
• Opportunity to work on high-impact projects that contribute to the company's mission and vision.

• Emphasize your technical leadership experience, highlighting instances where you've successfully led the technical direction of large-scale projects and driven teams towards achieving complex goals.
• Showcase your proficiency in programming languages and experience with cloud-based platforms, as these are crucial for the role.
• Prepare to talk about your approach to identity and access management, including how you've handled security and privacy concerns in previous roles.
• Highlight your experience with modern software development methodologies, such as Agile and Scrum, and how you've adapted to changing project requirements.
• Demonstrate your understanding of data modeling and database design and how you've applied this knowledge in previous roles to improve data integrity and performance.
• Be ready to discuss your experience with AI-driven technologies and how you see them impacting the future of software development and identity management.
• Show enthusiasm for Dropbox's mission and vision, and explain how your skills and experience align with the company's goals for innovation and customer value.