Principal Software Engineer

We have an exciting opportunity for a Principal Software Engineer at Fire Safety Research Institute a UL Research Institutes.

The Principal Software Engineer leads the technical direction and overall software development strategy. The Principal Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains complex software systems, and provides technical guidance and mentorship to other engineers to drive innovation, ensuring high-quality software solutions, and maximizing the overall efficiency and performance of the development team.

Underwriters Laboratories

At UL Research Institutes (UL), we wake up every day with a common purpose: to make the world a safer, more secure and sustainable place. Science is in our DNA; we are endlessly curious and passionate about seeking and speaking the truth. We take delight in knowing that our work makes a meaningful contribution to society, and we are proud that our culture is centered on integrity, collaboration, inclusion and excellence. UL stands at the forefront of technological advancement, and we are continually challenged to find new ways to foster innovation and positive change. Satisfying? Yes. Exciting? Absolutely!

Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI)

UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) advances fire safety knowledge to address the world’s unresolved fire safety risks and emerging dangers. As part of UL Research Institutes, we are committed to sharing our fire safety insights with everyone to advance UL’s public safety mission of providing safe living and working environments for people everywhere. Through advanced fire science, rigorous research, extensive outreach and education in collaboration with our international network of partners, we impart stakeholders with the information, tools and resources that enable them to make better, more fire-safe decisions that ultimately save lives and property. To learn more, visit FSRI.org.

As the Principal Software Engineer, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you:

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to a team of software engineers, ensuring best practices, architectural integrity, and high-quality code.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and architect software systems that meet the business requirements, scalability, and performance goals.
• Write clean, efficient, and maintainable code for complex software applications, leverage expertise in programming languages, frameworks, and software development methodologies.
• Perform code reviews and provide constructive feedback to ensure adherence to coding standards, best practices, and quality guidelines.
• Mentor and coach junior engineers, helping them grow in their technical skills and professional development.
• Define the technical roadmap, identify areas for improvement, and recommend new technologies, tools, and processes to enhance the software development lifecycle.
• Collaborate with product managers, architects, and other stakeholders to define software requirements, prioritize features, and ensure timely and successful delivery of projects.
• Analyze and resolve complex technical issues, providing solutions and guidance to the development team.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, including architectural diagrams, design documents, and development guidelines.
• Stay current with the latest industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in software engineering, and promote a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the team.
• Contribute to and/or lead other department specific and cross-functional initiatives.

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

• Strong proficiency in multiple programming languages (such as Java, C++, Python, or JavaScript) and frameworks.
• In-depth understanding of software development principles, design patterns, and software architecture.
• Expert in working with spatial/GIS data.
• Expert knowledge of working with/building APIs .
• Expert in building interactive web-based dashboards such as ELK, Shiny, and Dash.
• Expert level knowledge in working with public safety data.
• Proficiency in building and managing databases from unique data sets, application security and statistical methods.
• Proven experience in leading and mentoring software engineering teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to analyze and resolve complex technical issues.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to effectively interact with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Experience with agile software development methodologies and tools.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud) and containerization technologies (such as Docker, Kubernetes).
• Demonstrated ability to drive technical innovation, keep up with industry trends, and apply new technologies to solve business challenges.

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in software development, with a focus on complex systems and large-scale applications.

UL has COVID-19 protocols and policies in place to ensure the safety of our employees, customers and clients. Effective November 1, 2021, the company mandates that employees are vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment (except where prohibited by law), subject to reasonable accommodation as required by law.

• Mission: For UL, corporate and social responsibility isn’t new. Making the world a safer, more secure and sustainable place has been our business model for the last 128 years and is deeply ingrained in everything we do.
• People: Ask any UL employee what they love most about working here, and you’ll almost always hear, “the people.” Going beyond what is possible is the standard at UL. We’re able to deliver the best because we employ the best.
• Interesting work: Every day is different for us here as we eagerly anticipate the next innovation that our customers’ create. We’re inspired to take on the challenge that will transform how people live, work and play. And as a global company, in many roles, you will get international experience working with colleagues around the world.
• Grow & achieve: We learn, work and grow together with targeted development, reward and recognition programs as well as our very own UL University that offers extensive training programs for employees at all stages, including a technical training track for applicable roles.
• Total Rewards: All employees at UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagementare eligible for bonus compensation. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans. a generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay. Additionally, we invest an additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment. Depending on your role, you can work with your manager on flexible working arrangements. We also provide employees with paid time off including vacation, holiday, sick and volunteer time off.

About UL Research Institutes 

UL Research Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing safety science research through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data, convene experts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide safe commercialization of evolving technologies. We foster communities of safety, from grassroots initiatives for neighborhoods to summits of world leaders. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security, and sustainability, ultimately enhancing societal well-being.

Our wholly owned subsidiary, UL Solutions, advances our shared public safety mission. We fund our work through grants, the licensing of standards documents and the business activities of UL Solutions, which conducts testing, verification and certification, and provides training and advisory services, along with data-driven reporting and decision-making tools for customers around the world.

To learn more, visit our websites UL.org.