Principal Software Engineer; APIs​/microservices​/Python​/Kafka​/Elasticsearch

Principal Software Engineer, (APIs/microservices/Python/Kafka/Elasticsearch)

Chicago, IL

With 1,000+ intelligence professionals serving over 1,900 clients worldwide, Recorded Future is the world’s most advanced, and largest, intelligence company!

We’re looking for a Principal Software Engineer to help design, build, and scale the systems that power our Attack Surface Intelligence module. You’ll own critical data pipelines responsible for the ingestion and distribution of intelligence signals, both internally and to customers via the product. The Attack Surface Intelligence Data Engineering team is responsible for two datasets: our holistic global internet inventory and the technical artifacts of our customers’ attack surface.

This role reports to the Engineering Owner for Attack Surface Intelligence Data and is ideal for someone who writes clean, maintainable code and thrives in distributed systems. You’ll work with product management and other engineering teams to drive technical strategy and ensure reliability, performance, and insight.

• Lead the design and implementation of backend services and APIs in Python
• Architect and evolve microservice-based systems for scalability and resilience
• Collaborate with product managers and cross-functional partners to align technical work with business goals
• Proactively identify and resolve data and integration issues by digging into pipelines and systems
• Drive observability and operational excellence across services
• Mentor other engineers through code reviews and design discussions
• Coordinate with stakeholders outside the Attack Surface Intelligence team to inform data-transfer solutions within the Recorded Future ecosystem
• Contribute to technical roadmaps and long-term platform strategy

• Proven experience designing and maintaining scalable APIs and microservices in Python, leveraging Kafka, Click House, and Elasticsearch
• Deep understanding of distributed systems and service-oriented architecture
• Ability to explore data to debug, validate assumptions, and drive better system behavior
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work across teams to align on goals and priorities
• Track record of operating independently and driving complex projects, especially with geographically distributed teams
• Experience with informing and driving coding and design standards within a team

The base salary range for this full-time position is $152,000-$228,000. Salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The salary shown reflects new hire ranges across US locations. Individual pay is determined by factors including location, skills, experience, and education. This position may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, and benefits. Your recruiter can share specifics during hiring.

Why join Recorded Future? Recorded Future employees (or “Futurists”) represent a diverse set of nationalities and uphold our values of high standards, inclusion, and ethics. We serve over 1,900 clients and support many Fortune 100 companies.

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the self-identification survey. Completion is voluntary and will not influence the hiring process. Any information provided will be kept confidential. Equal Employment Opportunity policy applies.

We are committed to maintaining an environment that attracts and retains talent from diverse backgrounds. If you need accommodations to navigate our website or apply, please email