Principal Software Engineer

About Objective:

At Objective, we create software that makes a difference. With over 400 people and five development labs spread across Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom, Objective is a leading developer of SaaS solutions for the government.

Our role:

We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer to join our Sydney team. This is a senior, full-stack technical leadership role, operating at a strategic and organisational level.

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will shape the long-term technical vision for our software products and systems, tackle the most complex and ambiguous technical challenges, Influence and guide technical direction across multiple teams and set a high bar for engineering excellence and best practices across the organisation.

This role reports to the Development Manager and is an individual contributor position—ideal for a hands-on technical leader who thrives on solving big problems and driving innovation without direct people management responsibilities.

• Define and drive the technical vision and long-term strategy for major systems or an entire product line.
• Architect and design highly scalable, resilient, and secure solutions that address key business needs.
• Identify and lead high-leverage technical initiatives that have a significant impact on the business and engineering organisation.
• Proactively identify and mitigate risks, including security, performance, and reliability issues.
• Influence and mentor senior engineers and technical leads across different teams.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to align technical strategy with business objectives and product roadmaps.
• Conduct technical due diligence and champion the adoption of new technologies and best practices.
• Serve as a key technical consultant and troubleshooter for critical system issues.

• 8–10+ years of progressive experience in commercial software development, with a strong focus on large-scale, distributed systems.
• Deep expertise in software engineering principles and design patterns, with a proven ability to architect, build, and scale complex systems.
• Advanced knowledge of cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, or GCP), including designing cost-efficient, reliable, and maintainable cloud-based solutions.
• Outstanding problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound decisions and drive progress in highly ambiguous situations.
• Demonstrated success in leading technical initiatives that span multiple teams and functions.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of engaging audiences from junior engineers to senior executives.
• Strong commitment to mentoring and knowledge sharing, with a track record of uplifting the technical capability of colleagues and teams.

• Hybrid work arrangements to support work-life balance.
• Access to EAP for confidential counselling.
• Extensive learning resources to develop your skills.
• Regular social events to promote team bonding.
• We are recognized as an endorsed employer for women. Learn more about our benefits on WORK180.

If you do not tick every box, do not let that stop you. We value potential, learning agility, and diverse perspectives just as much as experience, and we encourage you to apply.

At Objective, we recognise and celebrate our diverse team as pivotal to our strong employee engagement and our high-performing culture, underpinned by Our Values.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on any protected characteristics or on any other basis prohibited by applicable laws in the regions where we operate.

To ensure a positive experience, please inform our Talent Team of any adjustments or accommodations you may require during the recruitment process, so we can support you effectively.