Principal Software Engineer Platform Engineering Workflow Automation

About the team

We build the workflow and automation engines that power how work gets done across the ServiceNow Platform. Our engines process billions of workflow transactions every month across enterprise customers and were now extending that foundation to support AI-native agentic workflows.

This is a team that cares about getting the architecture right not just shipping features. We spend real time on performance reliability and making sure the platform holds up as customers push more volume and more complexity through it.

What youll do

As a Principal Software Engineer youll take on hard architecture problems across our workflow and automation stack including how we evolve it toward agentic AI-driven execution at scale.

• Lead architecture and technical direction for problem areas across the portfolio working with product and engineering leads to figure out whats blocking progress and where the real opportunities are.
• Get hands-on. Build the prototypes and reference implementations that prove out an architectural idea before a whole team commits to it.
• Test ideas with real experiments and real data not just design docs. Use what you learn to shape the direction.
• Help move existing workflow capabilities toward AI-native patterns: agentic execution better use of context and data more autonomous flows and connect that to concrete engineering work.
• Dig into cases where an agentic feature exists but isnt delivering the value it should. Figure out if its the architecture the data the UX or the cost model and drive the fix.
• Write down the patterns and tradeoffs that work so other teams dont have to rediscover them.
• Sit in on design reviews and tough calls across teams. Push back with data when something looks risky and help teams weigh shipping speed against long-term durability.
• Work across engineering teams to share whats working and help good patterns spread faster.

What were looking for

• 15 years of engineering experience or equivalent.
• Real experience building and running large-scale distributed systems: workflow engines integration platforms data-heavy products or cloud infrastructure.
• Solid grasp of system design for scale reliability observability and production readiness including database architecture at high transaction volume.
• Strong depth in Java Python or a comparable language.
• A track record of setting technical direction and influencing architecture across teams even without a formal reporting line.
• Comfortable leading through credibility and collaboration rather than title.
• Good judgment on when to invest in long-term architecture versus when to just ship.
• Experience mentoring senior engineers and building patterns that other teams actually reuse.
• Experience with AI-powered products agentic systems or workflow automation platforms is a strong plus.
• Comfortable reasoning about AI-assisted workflows: data quality correctness evaluation safety and where a human needs to stay in the loop.
• Bonus if youve worked on large-scale enterprise customers or led complex platform migrations.

Why this role

Youd be shaping how our workflow and automation engines move into an agentic future on a platform that already runs at serious scale. Youd work with teams that care about doing this well not just doing it fast.

Qualifications :

To be successful in this role you have:

• 15 years of related engineering experience or equivalent practical experience.
• Strong experience building and operating large-scale distributed systems workflow engines integration frameworks or cloud-scale infrastructure handling high transaction volume.
• Deep understanding of system design for scale reliability observability fault tolerance data quality security and production readiness.
• Strong technical depth in Java Python or similar programming languages.
• Proven ability to define technical direction influence architecture across teams and translate ambiguous product strategy into executable engineering plans.
• Ability to operate as a Principal IC by leading through technical credibility collaboration and influence rather than formal authority.
• Strong judgment in balancing long-term architecture with pragmatic execution customer impact engineering velocity and business priorities.
• Experience mentoring senior engineers raising engineering standards and building reusable patterns that create leverage across teams.
• Experience with AI-powered products automation platforms AI-assisted workflows or agentic systems is strongly preferred.
• Ability to reason about AI-assisted enterprise workflows including data quality workflow correctness evaluation observability safety controls and human-in-the-loop review.
• Experience with workflow automation business process management low-code/no-code platforms or process/task orchestration at scale is a strong plus.
• Experience working with large-scale enterprise customers production systems and complex migration or modernization efforts is a plus.

For positions in this location we offer a base pay of $221200 - $387100 plus equity (when applicable) variable/incentive compensation and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the base pay shown is a guideline and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications skill level competencies and work location. We also offer health plans including flexible spending accounts a 401(k) Plan with company match ESPP matching donations a flexible time away plan and family leave programs. Compensation is based on the geographic location in which the role is located and is subject to change based on work location.

Additional Information :

Work Personas

We approach our distributed world of work with flexibility and trust. Work personas (flexible remote or required in office) are categories that are assigned to ServiceNow employees depending on the nature of their work and their assigned work location. Learn more here. To determine eligibility for a work persona ServiceNow may confirm the distance between your primary residence and the closest ServiceNow office using a third-party service.

Equal Opportunity Employer

ServiceNow is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation national origin age disability gender identity  veteran status or any other category protected by addition all qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with legal requirements. 

Accommodations

We strive to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are unable to use this online application and need an alternative method to apply please contact for assistance. 

Export Control Regulations

For positions requiring access to controlled technology subject to export control regulations including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR) ServiceNow may be required to obtain export control approval from government authorities for certain individuals. All employment is contingent upon ServiceNow obtaining any export license or other approval that may be required by relevant export control authorities. 

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Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time