Principal Software Engineer - Application Development

The Principal Software Engineer - Application Development at Terminal is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining scalable, secure applications that utilize the computer vision engine. You will work closely with product managers, designers, and data scientists to gather requirements and translate them into high-quality code. Implementation of features across the full stack and adherence to best practices in software development are essential parts of the role, ensuring the reliability and efficiency of applications.

To apply for the Principal Software Engineer - Application Development position at Terminal, you should have a Bachelor’s or higher degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, along with at least 12 years of experience as a full-stack engineer. Proficiency in Golang, AWS, and event-driven technologies, along with experience in automated testing methodologies, is required. A commitment to operational excellence and a strong understanding of containerization and CI/CD processes will also set you apart.

Terminal utilizes machine learning to digitize and index yard operations, optimizing the use of critical assets, including trucks and containers. By developing advanced analytics and insights into operational data, machine learning serves as the backbone of our platform, enabling warehouse operators to make data-driven decisions that enhance efficiency, compliance, and productivity across logistics operations.

As a Principal Software Engineer - Application Development at Terminal, familiarity with technologies such as Golang for backend development, AWS services like ECS, Lambda, DynamoDB, and event-driven systems including Kafka, SQS, or Kinesis is crucial. Additionally, you should have experience with automated testing practices, CI/CD pipelines, and a strong understanding of containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration with Kubernetes.

The work culture at Terminal is dynamic and innovative, where collaboration and technological advancement are highly valued. As a Principal Software Engineer - Application Development, you will be part of a team of dedicated professionals who are passionate about operational excellence and transforming the logistics industry. The environment promotes continuous learning, encourages sharing best practices, and supports your professional growth.

When answering this question, it's important to highlight specific AWS services you've worked with, such as ECS or Lambda. Discuss how you utilized these services to build scalable applications and share any challenges you faced and how you overcame them. Emphasize your understanding of AWS architecture and security best practices.

Explain your approach to software quality by discussing the importance of automated testing at various levels, such as unit and integration testing. Share your experience with robust testing frameworks, and elaborate on how best practices like code reviews and continuous integration contribute to overall reliability and maintainability of your applications.

Discuss your organizational skills, such as using project management tools or methodologies like Agile to prioritize tasks. Emphasize your ability to assess the urgency and impact of each task and how you communicate with your team to align on priorities while ensuring timely delivery of quality work.

In your response, elaborate on how you've designed or worked with event-driven systems, mentioning specific technologies such as Kafka or SQS. Describe the advantages of using event-driven architectures in improving system responsiveness and scalability, as well as any challenges you faced and how you addressed them.

Share a specific example that showcases your leadership abilities. Discuss the project's objectives, the technical challenges encountered, your approach to solving them, and how you motivated your team. It's important to highlight the outcome and any lessons learned during the process.

Outline your strategies for keeping up with industry trends, such as following tech blogs, attending conferences, participating in webinars, and engaging with online communities. Discuss the importance of continuous learning in the fast-evolving tech landscape and how you apply new knowledge to enhance your work at Terminal.

When discussing production issue management, focus on the importance of observability practices, such as monitoring logs and metrics. Share your approach to incident response, including thorough documentation, rapid communication with stakeholders, and post-mortem analyses to prevent similar issues in the future.

Talk about specific projects where you employed Docker and Kubernetes, explaining how these tools simplified your deployment processes and improved scalability. Highlight your understanding of container lifecycle management and any challenges you resolved while working with these technologies in production settings.

When answering this question, discuss the architectural considerations you would assess, including assessing bottlenecks, optimizing backend services, and implementing load balancing strategies. It's also beneficial to mention your experience with horizontal vs. vertical scaling and how you leverage cloud services to accommodate increased demand effectively.

Highlight the importance of clear communication and empathy in collaborating with product managers, designers, and data scientists. Discuss your experience working in agile environments, emphasizing how you ensure everyone's voice is heard while aligning on shared goals and delivering exceptional user experiences.