Principal Software Engineer - Risk Management / Risk AI (all genders)

Role: In this role as Principal Software Engineer, you will guide multiple teams within the Risk Management department. This department focuses on developing Software and Machine Learning solutions to manage risk and detect fraud in payment transactions amounting to billions of euros annually. You will be responsible for setting architectural and software engineering standards, mentoring engineers, and leading high-impact initiatives. As a key member of the leadership team, you will collaborate closely with Engineering Managers, Applied Science Managers, other Principal Software Engineers, Principal Applied Scientists, and Product Managers. Responsibilities: - Design and drive technical solution design for high-impact ambiguous projects developed by multiple teams. - Break down complex solutions into iterations to reduce risk and complexity, and ship large scale projects to production by driving, mentoring, designing and code contributions. - Evangelize good software practices and drive technical innovation across the department or across teams. - Provide technical guidance and mentorship to software engineers on day-to-day work. - Contribute to operational excellence by driving operational review meetings and post-incident analyses, and provide hands-on support for critical investigations. - Serve as a sparring partner for tech and product leadership on technical and product topics. Qualifications: - 3+ years of experience as a Principal Engineer, Solutions Architect, or Staff Engineer. - Extensive experience in software architecture and design in cloud environments, with a strong track record of leading complex projects spanning multiple teams and departments. - Experience with Machine Learning, especially regarding productionizing and MLOps. - Strong leadership and communication skills to effectively guide and mentor teams through architectural decisions and project implementation. - Ability to get hands-on and delegate when appropriate. What We Offer: - 27 days of holiday per year (full-time) - 2 paid volunteering days per year - Hybrid working model with up to 60% remote per week - Work from abroad for up to 30 working days per year - Employee shares program - 40% off fashion and beauty products sold by Zalando, 30% off Lounge by Zalando, and partner discounts - Relocation assistance (subject to prior agreement) - Family services, counseling, health and wellbeing options, mental health support and coaching - Training platform and biannual peer-to-peer review