Principal Software Engineer, Ads Platform

SNAP/SNAP

Principal Software Engineer at Snap developing next-gen ads formats and backend infrastructure solutions. Collaborating across teams to innovate advertising products and ensuring operational excellence.

Posted 4/15/2026full-timePalo Alto • California, New York, Washington • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $276,000 - $414,000 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Distributed Systems

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Build the next generation ads formats and backend infrastructure and solutions to deliver more clicks and conversion and value for advertisers.
Work end-to-end across innovating new ads product, format ideas, or infrastructure ideas experimentation, analysis and optimization
Work across teams to understand product requirements, evaluate trade-offs, and deliver the solutions needed to build innovative products or services
Advocate for and apply best practices when it comes to availability, scalability, operational excellence, and cost management
Provide technical direction that influences the entire company
Technical influence that spans the entire company

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelors in technical field such as computer science, mathematics, statistics or equivalent years of experience
10+ years of post-Bachelor’s software development experience; or a Master’s degree in a technical field + 9+ year of post-grad software development experience; or a PhD in a related technical field + 6+ years of post-grad software development experience
2+ years of experience with technical leadership or acting as the domain-expert to a technical organization
Experience in technical leadership/ownership and setting technical direction for engineering projects
Experience architecting, designing, and developing distributed systems

Benefits

Comp & perks

paid parental leave
comprehensive medical coverage
emotional and mental health support programs
compensation packages that let you share in Snap’s long-term success

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

software developmentdistributed systemstechnical leadershipsystem architecturebackend infrastructureads product developmentdata analysisoptimizationscalabilityoperational excellence

Soft Skills

communicationcollaborationproblem-solvinginfluencingadvocacyinnovationevaluationtrade-off analysisdirection settingteamwork

Certifications

Bachelor's degreeMaster's degreePhD