Principal Software Engineer, Ads Platform

Principal Software Engineer – Ads Platform

Responsibility focus:
Build next‑generation ad formats, backend infrastructure, and technical solutions that increase clicks, conversions, and value for advertisers. Lead end‑to‑end development of new ad products, format ideas, and infrastructure experiments, including analysis and optimization. Collaborate across teams to understand product requirements, evaluate trade‑offs, and deliver scalable, reliable solutions with best practices in availability, scalability, operational excellence, and cost management. Provide company‑wide technical direction, mentor and coach peers, leverage AI tools, and maintain rigorous code correctness, security, and production‑ready quality.

• Excellent programming and software design skills, including debugging, performance analysis, and test design.
• Proven track record of operating highly‑available systems at scale.
• Ability to proactively learn new concepts and technologies and apply them to work.
• Strong problem‑solving skills for ambiguous challenges.
• Excellent collaboration and mentorship abilities.
• Ads domain expertise and strong interest in advertising technology.
• Adaptability in learning and applying evolving AI systems and tools.

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field such as computer science, mathematics, statistics, or equivalent professional experience.
• 10+ years of post‑Bachelor’s software development experience; or Master’s degree + 9+ years post‑grad development experience; or Ph.D. + 6+ years post‑grad development experience.
• 2+ years of technical leadership experience or domain‑expert role in a technical organization.
• Experience in technical leadership/ownership and setting technical direction for engineering projects.
• Experience architecting, designing, and developing distributed systems.

• Experience delivering large‑scale projects in attribution and measurement.
• Experience operating highly‑available systems at significant scale.
• Experience with backend services or distributed systems.
• Ads domain experience.

Applicants with disabilities and special needs are encouraged to provide information so we can offer reasonable accommodations.

Snap is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. EEO, including disability and veteran status.

Snap Inc. provides paid parental leave, comprehensive medical coverage, emotional and mental health support programs, and compensation packages that allow employees to share in Snap’s long‑term success.

Base salary ranges by zone:

• Zone A (CA, WA, NYC): $276,000–$414,000 annually.
• ZoneB: $262,000–$393,000 annually.
• ZoneC: $235,000–$352,000 annually.