Principal Software Architect

About the role

The Principal Software Architect is the most senior individual contributor on Cooper’s software engineering team, responsible for the architectural integrity of the systems Cooper builds, integrates, and operates. This role sets the technical direction for how Cooper’s enterprise applications, custom-built software, integration platforms, and AI capabilities fit together.

Responsibilities

• Own the architectural vision and reference standards for Cooper’s software engineering landscape, spanning enterprise applications, custom-built software, integration platforms, and AI capabilities.
• Design, govern, and evolve Cooper’s API and integration strategy, including API gateway patterns, versioning, security, and lifecycle management across internal and external interfaces.
• Lead architectural reviews across SAP, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Microsoft Fabric, and Azure-based applications, ensuring decisions are coherent, defensible, and built for scale.
• Establish and enforce engineering standards for code quality, source control, CI/CD, observability, testing, and operational readiness across all software development at Cooper.
• Lead and mentor engineering teams through technical decisions, code reviews, design documents, and architectural deep dives that raise the technical capability of the broader team.
• Drive technical due diligence and integration architecture for acquisitions, working alongside enterprise applications and infrastructure leaders on M&A IT integration.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, vendors, and platforms; deliver defensible build-versus-buy recommendations to senior IT leadership.
• Translate ambiguous business requirements into clear, executable architecture; remove technical ambiguity for engineering teams downstream.
• Partner with security and infrastructure leadership to ensure software architecture decisions support Cooper’s pre-IPO security posture, audit readiness, and regulatory obligations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 12+ years of progressive software engineering experience, including 5+ years in a Principal, Staff, or Lead Architect role.
• Deep expertise across software engineering fundamentals, including distributed systems, service design, design patterns, source control, CI/CD, and modern engineering operating practices.
• Proven track record designing and operating production-grade integration architectures across packaged enterprise systems and custom-built applications.
• Strong hands-on experience with API design and API management, including REST, GraphQL, event-driven patterns, and API gateway and lifecycle tooling.
• Experience developing full stack applications in multiple frameworks, including .NET/C#, React.js or similar.
• Strong grasp of relational databases, SQL, data structures and design patterns.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams directly or in a matrixed capacity, setting technical direction for groups of ten or more engineers.
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure, including Azure App Services, Azure Functions, API Management, Service Bus, and Entra ID.
• Experience integrating ERP and CRM systems such as SAP, Microsoft Dynamics 365, or equivalents into broader enterprise application landscapes.
• Experience architecting software solutions that incorporate modern AI capabilities, including large language models, agent-based patterns, and AI-augmented workflows.