Principal Software Engineer

Grand Rapids, MI
Full Time
Experienced

At Bindplane, we’re building the first observability pipeline purpose-built for OpenTelemetry, empowering engineering teams to take control of their telemetry data, optimize costs, and scale observability with confidence. Our platform is trusted by Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startups to bring order to the chaos of metrics, logs, and traces.

We're looking for a Principal Software Engineer to take a technical leadership role in shaping the future of our platform. This is more than just a senior coding role—you'll help architect solutions, lead complex initiatives, and mentor a high-performing team, all while staying hands-on with a world-class engineering stack.

What You’ll Do

As a Principal Engineer at Bindplane, you'll serve as a strategic technical leader, architect, and hands-on contributor. You’ll guide the design and development of complex systems and services across our cloud and agent-based products. Your impact will be felt across all layers of the stack—from backend microservices and infrastructure orchestration to front-end delivery and developer workflows.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead architecture and implementation of major product features and system enhancements that impact the scale, reliability, and performance of the Bindplane platform.
  • Design and build backend services and distributed systems in Go, Node.js, and TypeScript, orchestrated via Kubernetes on Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
  • Contribute to and guide full-stack development, including front-end work with React to support critical product features.
  • Set engineering standards and drive excellence in code quality, testing, CI/CD, and performance.
  • Mentor and coach engineers, helping them grow technically and professionally through code reviews, pairing sessions, and strategic project assignments.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, DevOps, Design, and Customer Success to translate business needs into scalable technical solutions.
  • Evaluate and introduce new technologies where appropriate, keeping the platform modern and competitive.
  • Represent engineering in strategic discussions, providing input into product direction and long-term technical vision.

Our Tech Stack

You’ll be working in a modern cloud-native environment with a strong emphasis on performance, observability, and rapid delivery.

  • Languages: Go, Node.js (TypeScript), Python
  • Frameworks: React
  • Cloud: Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform
  • Databases: PostgreSQL, Redis, Elasticsearch
  • CI/CD: GitHub Actions, ArgoCD, Helm
  • OS Environments: Linux (Ubuntu, Debian), Windows Server, macOS

What We're Looking For

Required:

  • Proven success in a Principal, Staff, or Senior Engineering role, with deep backend engineering experience.
  • Expertise in modern system architecture and experience designing reliable, scalable microservices.
  • Proficiency with Go, Node.js/TypeScript, and modern cloud-native technologies.
  • Experience with cloud platforms, ideally GCP, and deploying production-grade systems using Kubernetes.
  • Deep understanding of distributed systems, telemetry pipelines, and infrastructure observability.
  • Strong leadership and mentoring skills—you enjoy helping others grow and succeed.
  • Exceptional problem-solving ability and communication skills.
  • A proactive, hands-on approach with a strong sense of ownership.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent real-world experience.

Preferred:

  • Experience with observability tools such as OpenTelemetry, Prometheus, or FluentBit.
  • Background in building or contributing to open-source software.
  • Familiarity with high-scale environments, multi-cloud infrastructure, and enterprise integrations.
  • Prior experience building developer platforms or SaaS tools used by engineering teams.
 

Why Join Us in Grand Rapids?

Located in the heart of West Michigan, Grand Rapids is quickly becoming a tech hub with the charm of a close-knit community and the innovation of a major city. At Bindplane, you’ll find:

  • A collaborative, startup culture with room to grow
  • Opportunities to work on industry-shaping technology
  • A chance to be part of something big, right here at home
  • Flexibility with hybrid work options and a commitment to work-life balance

Benefits

  • 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer matching
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Life insurance coverage
  • Employee assistance program for personal and professional support
  • Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays
  • Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning
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