Cognex

Principal Software Engineer

Auckland, New Zealand Full time

Job Description

We’re looking for a Principal Software Engineer who wants to stay deeply handson while stepping into a light technical leadership role. You’ll work on a production platform that powers largescale logistics operations around the world, solving real problems at meaningful scale. 

This role blends senior individualcontributor 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 USbased partners to turn priorities into deliverable outcomes. Formal peoplemanagement 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 missioncritical 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 tradeoffs, 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 daytoday 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 handson 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 longrunning, production systems. 

  • Strong 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 USbased engineering group. 

  • Some flexibility in working hours is expected to support crosstimezone 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 oncall or supportheavy position. 

Location

  • 3/4D Pacific Rise Mt Wellington, Auckland 1060. New Zealand

Additional Job Description