Principal Software Engineer - Software Architect (hands on)

Principal Software Engineer

Employment Type: Full-time Location Type: 100% Remote (May require onsite interviews)

Position Overview

Join Cars Commerce and be instrumental in shaping the future of Automotive Commerce. Our Enterprise Architecture Team is undergoing a significant transformation, building innovative services to redefine how we deliver value. As a Principal Software Engineer, you will lead the Software Architecture domain at Cars Commerce, presenting an exceptional opportunity to influence our platforms and drive meaningful change at scale to impact the industry.

About the Role

The Enterprise Architecture Team is the driving force behind Cars Commerce’s technological evolution, connecting strategic vision with daily execution. We establish the architectural foundation that fuels innovation, speeds up delivery, and guarantees operational excellence. Through clear standards, expert hands-on guidance, and the promotion of open knowledge sharing, we empower engineering teams across the company to build scalable, high-quality solutions.

Approximately half of our time is spent embedded with engineering teams on mission-critical projects, offering hands-on technical contributions and close partnership to guide architectural and design decisions. The remaining time is dedicated to elevating technical excellence: standardizing technology stacks, promoting best practices, enhancing operational efficiency, and facilitating design reviews to foster collaboration, identify risks early, and document key decisions.

This is a unique opportunity for a highly skilled, hands-on Principal Software Engineer to influence the future of our platform and lead impactful change at scale. You will collaborate with diverse teams across Cars Commerce, shaping our technological direction.

About Cars Commerce

Cars Commerce delivers innovative solutions that transform how automotive dealerships, manufacturers, and consumers buy and sell vehicles. From our industry-leading marketplace, Cars.com, to cutting-edge products like Dealer Inspire and AccuTrade, we provide a unified platform that simplifies the entire automotive commerce experience. Proudly recognized as a U.S. News & World Report Best Company to Work For in 2024, we're dedicated to delivering the best experience for our employees.

Company Culture

At Cars Commerce, we are fanatical about simplifying everything about car buying and selling. We prioritize our customers and consumers, connecting the industry with simplified and tierless technology to enhance, measure, and drive local automotive retail. Our core values are collaboration, openness, challenging the status quo, taking ownership, and integrity. We believe in putting people at the center of everything we do and fostering an environment where growth is unavoidable. As a U.S. News & World Report Best Company to Work For in 2024, we are obsessive about the employee experience, ranking in the top 20% for employee well-being factors like pay, benefits, and work-life balance.

Shared Values:

• Rise Together: Putting people at the center.
• Open to All: Encouraging open-minded communication and diverse thinking.
• Caring to Challenge & Taking Ownership: Fueling a competitive spirit in a respectful environment.
• Doing the Right Thing: Maintaining integrity, even when it's difficult.