We’re looking for a Principal Software Engineer who wants to stay deeply hands‑on while stepping into a light technical leadership role. You’ll work on a production platform that powers large‑scalelogistics operations around the world, solving real problems at meaningful scale.
This role blends senior individual‑contributor work with leading a small team of engineers and helping guide what gets built and when. You’ll lead technical execution, manage and shape the team backlog, and work closely with US‑based partners to turn priorities into deliverable outcomes. Formal people‑management experience is welcome but not required
What You’ll Be Doing
Act as the technical lead for a small team of two Intermediate / Senior Software Engineers.
Design and implement robust systems for a mission‑critical platform intended to operate reliably over long lifetimes.
Own and manage the team backlog, working with stakeholders to refine, prioritise, and sequence work.
Help guide delivery planning, scope trade‑offs, and execution to achieve predictable outcomes.
Influence architecture, design, and implementation decisions through strong technical judgement and example.
Mentor engineers through code reviews, pairing, and day‑to‑day technical leadership.
Improve platform reliability, maintainability, and confidence in releases.
Lead investigation and resolution of complex production issues and escalations.
Collaborate closely with engineers and stakeholders based in the US to align on priorities, roadmap, and delivery.
Balance hands‑on engineering with light leadership, planning, and coordination responsibilities.
What We’re Looking For
Typically 8+ years of professional software engineering experience, or equivalent demonstrated impact.
Strong experience with .NET in long‑running, production systems.
Intermediate working knowledge of Python.
Experience with Angular or similar frontend frameworks.
Comfortable working in Linux / Ubuntu environments.
Proven ability to debug and resolve complex technical problems.
Experience influencing technical direction beyond individual features.
Experience contributing to planning, backlog management, or delivery coordination.
A collaborative mindset and an interest in helping teams execute effectively.
Nice to Have
Experience leading or mentoring engineers without formal line management.
Experience shaping or owning team backlogs or delivery plans.
Background in logistics, supply chain, or other operationally complex domains.
Experience working on distributed systems or evolving large platforms.
Experience with Rust, or a strong interest in using it where it makes sense.
Involvement in reliability, quality, or operational improvement initiatives.
Ways of Working
You’ll work closely with a small local team and a larger US‑based engineering group.
Some flexibility in working hours is expected to support cross‑time‑zone collaboration.
Our customers operate globally, so occasional responsiveness during escalations is part of the role.
While you’ll support production systems, this is not a constant on‑call or support‑heavy position.
Location
For over 40 years, Cognex has been making advanced machine vision easy, paving the way for manufacturing and distribution companies to get faster, smarter, and more efficient through automation.
Innovative technology in our vision sensors and systems solves critical manufacturing and distribution challenges, providing unparalleled performance for industries from automotive to consumer electronics to packaged goods.
Cognex makes these tools more capable and easier to deploy thanks to a longstanding focus on AI, helping factories and warehouses improve quality and maximize efficiency without needing highly technical expertise.
We are headquartered near Boston, USA, with locations in over 30 countries and more than 30,000 customers worldwide. Learn more at cognex.com.
