Principal Software Engineer

Nametag is building the future of secure digital identity. Our mission is to make it easy for people and organizations to prove who they are online - safely and seamlessly. We’re pioneering next-generation identity verification and account protection so that users can control their own identity, and companies can build trust without friction.

Nametag is seeking its first Principal Software Engineer to define the technical direction of our platform and push the boundaries of digital identity and security.

As our most senior individual contributor, you will report directly to the CTO and partner closely with the Director of Engineering. You’ll drive technical excellence, scalability, and innovation across the organization - influencing everything from architecture and infrastructure to how we protect users from AI-driven threats.

This is a hands-on leadership role that blends deep technical design with broad strategic impact. You’ll shape architecture, guide senior engineers, and represent Nametag’s technical voice externally through patents, publications, or conference talks.

If you thrive at the intersection of technical depth, innovation, and influence, this is an opportunity to make a defining impact on Nametag’s future.

Architect & Scale Core Systems

• Design the next generation of Nametag’s identity verification and account protection platform.
• Own architectural strategy for distributed, highly available systems that handle real-time authentication at scale.
• Evaluate and integrate emerging technologies in cryptography, AI threat detection, and identity standards.
• Define company-wide patterns for reliability, observability, and secure software delivery.
  

Technical Leadership & Mentorship

• Lead major cross-functional technical initiatives that span multiple product lines and services.
• Set and enforce high engineering standards for performance, security, and maintainability.
• Partner with the CTO to translate technical vision into actionable roadmaps.
• Mentor senior and mid-level engineers to grow technical depth across the team.
  

Innovation & Thought Leadership

• Contribute to patents and open standards that advance identity security and authentication technology.
• Represent Nametag in the broader technical community through conferences, panels, or publications.
• Help shape how the world thinks about secure identity in an era of deepfakes and AI threats.

We know that no candidate will perfectly match every requirement - and that’s okay. If you’re passionate about what we’re building and have most of the skills below, we’d love to hear from you.

• Experience: 10+ years in software engineering, including experience at Staff, Principal, or Architect level driving company-scale initiatives.
• Technical Depth: Proven expertise in distributed systems, identity and access management, and authentication protocols (OAuth, SAML, FIDO, OpenID).
• Languages & Tools: Advanced proficiency in Go, Node.js, or Python, with cloud infrastructure experience (AWS preferred).
• Security Mindset: Deep understanding of security models, cryptographic systems, and data protection at scale.
• Influence & Communication: Exceptional ability to communicate complex ideas, drive alignment across teams, and influence without authority.
• Industry Presence (Preferred): Patents, open-source contributions, publications, or speaking engagements in identity, security, or related domains.

• Intellectual horsepower – quickly grasping complex technical and business concepts.
• Kindness and integrity – earning trust is central to how we build relationships with customers and colleagues.
• Bias for action – we move quickly to deliver impact and protect our customers against fast-moving threats.

The base salary range for this full-time position is $185,000 - $235,000 plus equity and benefits.

Nametag is a founding member of the Open Imperative, publicly committed to pay equity in the technology industry. Every offer is benchmarked against market data to ensure fairness and consistency.

At Nametag, we believe trust starts with how we treat each other. We’re a remote-first team that values autonomy, inclusivity, and collaboration - with regular in-person time to stay connected and innovate together.

• Remote-first: Work from anywhere in the US. Our team spans Seattle, San Francisco, Ann Arbor, Denver, Virginia, and beyond.
• Quarterly off-sites: We bring the team together once per quarter for in-person collaboration - often off-site in new places.
• Flexible schedules: Work in your own time zone; we align key meetings across a shared window.

• Competitive salary
• Meaningful equity ownership
• Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• Flexible paid time off
• Quarterly team off-sites and travel support
• New computer hardware and equipment
• An inclusive environment where your voice has impact and your work drives change