Principal Software Engineer

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) is a strategic and trusted insurance partner, providing commercial property, casualty, and specialty insurance coverages globally. Part of Berkshire Hathaway’s insurance operations, we combine a top-rated balance sheet with the expertise of our global team to deliver outstanding service. We are a values-based organization where respect, integrity, excellence, collaboration, and passion define our culture and operations. BHSI values diversity and fosters an inclusive environment where every team member can contribute and be recognized.

About the role

BHSI is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Technology professional to join its Enterprise Solutions (ES) team as a Principal Software Engineer based in Boston. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the strategic evolution of enterprise technology by leading the design and implementation of scalable, cloud-native solutions that support the dynamic needs of a fast-growing Surety business. The position demands a hands-on, solution-oriented mindset and a passion for delivering business value through technology. It provides the opportunity to influence architectural decisions, mentor engineering teams, and contribute to BHSI’s long-term digital transformation. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, bringing strong leadership, technical depth, and a commitment to engineering excellence.

Responsibilities

• Spearhead the design and development of scalable, cloud-native applications on Microsoft Azure, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture principles and evolving business needs.
• Lead front-end engineering efforts using Angular or React to craft responsive, accessible, and user-friendly interfaces across platforms.
• Design and fine-tune database architectures with a focus on performance, scalability, data integrity, and security, leveraging SQL Server and modern ORM tools.
• Operate within an empowered engineering environment supported by modern platforms and tooling, enabling focus on impactful problem-solving over process overhead.
• Partner with enterprise architects and product managers to convert business requirements and architectural blueprints into robust, high-quality software components.
• Partner with business stakeholders to understand needs and translate them into scalable, high-quality technical solutions that deliver measurable business value.
• Design and maintain automated CI/CD pipelines with clear quality gates and repeatable release workflows; champion DevOps principles and DevEx improvements that increase velocity, reliability, and maintainability at scale.
• Take ownership of the complete software development lifecycle, emphasizing test-driven development, secure coding, and long-term maintainability.
• Assess and adopt modern frameworks for DevEx and tools that enhance development velocity, system scalability, and operational resilience.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams, conduct code reviews, and champion best practices that foster a culture of excellence and continuous learning.
• Communicate architectural decisions and technical strategies to the Enterprise Architecture Review Board, ensuring alignment with organizational standards.
• Proactively identify and resolve system performance issues, architectural inefficiencies, and reliability concerns through targeted improvement initiatives.
• Develop and maintain detailed documentation covering system architecture, development workflows, and operational procedures to support scalability and onboarding.
• Uphold compliance with cybersecurity protocols, data governance standards, and regulatory requirements throughout the software delivery process.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive, hands-on experience in software engineering and system administration, with a strong track record of delivering enterprise-grade solutions.
• Proven success in a Principal Engineer or equivalent leadership role, with deep expertise in designing and building scalable applications and integrating third-party platforms to meet complex business needs.
• Extensive experience in API-first, cloud-native, event-driven architecture with a focus on designing resilient, distributed systems that support high availability and performance.
• Advanced proficiency in Java, C#, and the .NET ecosystem, including .NET Core and ASP.NET, with a commitment to writing clean, maintainable, and secure code.
• Strong front-end development experience using Angular (latest versions), with a focus on building responsive, accessible, and user-centric interfaces.
• Deep knowledge of relational databases, particularly SQL Server, including schema design, query optimization, stored procedures, and performance tuning using modern ORM frameworks.
• Hands-on expertise with Microsoft Azure services, including Azure Functions, App Services, Azure SQL, and Azure Storage, with a strong understanding of cloud-native development patterns.
• Comprehensive understanding of microservices architecture, including inter-service communication (REST, gRPC), message queues, and orchestration strategies.
• Strong foundation in system design and architectural patterns, with the ability to evaluate trade-offs and make informed decisions that balance scalability, maintainability, and performance.
• Technically versatile with a hands-on approach, capable of contributing across the full software development lifecycle—from architecture and design to implementation and support.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with a meticulous attention to detail and a proactive mindset toward identifying and resolving technical challenges.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, with experience collaborating across distributed teams, engaging with stakeholders, and working with external vendors.
• Business-oriented mindset, with a demonstrated ability to understand and align technical solutions with business objectives and operational goals.
• Self-motivated and collaborative, with a strong sense of ownership, adaptability, and a team-first mentality focused on delivering high-quality outcomes.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision benefits
• Disability Insurance (both short-term and long-term)
• Life Insurance (for you and your family)
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (for you and your family)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Reimbursement Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement Savings 401(k) Plan with Company Match
• Generous holiday and Paid Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Parental Leave

Pay

The base salary range for this position in Boston is $150,000 to $180,000, along with annual bonus eligibility. Total compensation is determined by relevant skills, location, and experience.