Principal Software Engineer, Docker Hardened Images

The role

You will set the long-term technical direction for the Docker Hardened Images catalogue. You will own the architecture, drive technical roadmaps, and resolve complex container supply chain security problems.

What you will do

• Own the architecture for DHI as a platform.
• Define and drive multi-quarter technical roadmaps for the container hardening domain.
• Identify systemic patterns and translate them into architectural changes.
• Build alignment across teams and executives on technical strategy.
• Represent Docker in enterprise customer engagements and upstream OSS communities.
• Set conventions and standards for image definition, Helm charts, and supply chain tooling.
• Drive ambiguous packaging problems involving security tradeoffs and multi-arch constraints.
• Shape integration test infrastructure and developer tooling strategy.
• Mentor staff and senior engineers.
• Take part in the paid on-call rotation.

Required qualifications

• 10+ years of backend engineering experience, including work on production-grade, distributed systems at scale.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Ability to set multi-quarter technical roadmaps and align stakeholders.
• Deep expertise in the container and Kubernetes ecosystem.
• Mastery of container supply chain security concepts (provenance, attestation, SBOM, signing, SLSA).
• Strong software engineering fundamentals: code review, testing, source control, CI/CD, and Go.
• Track record of technical influence without authority across multiple teams or organizations.
• Experience navigating upstream OSS communities as a decision-maker.
• Comfort working across remote, distributed teams and communicating complex technical strategy.

Nice to have

• Experience as a package maintainer at a Linux distribution, Homebrew, or comparable ecosystem.
• Hands-on experience implementing or operationalizing supply chain tooling (Sigstore, SBOM, SLSA) at org scale.
• Experience in regulated environments (FedRAMP, FIPS, PCI) with direct exposure to compliance requirements.
• Prior Principal or Distinguished IC experience on a platform, security, or developer-tools team.
• Experience engaging directly with enterprise customers on container security architecture.

Benefits

• Remote-first by design
• Flexibility to manage your schedule
• Generous PTO
• Designated quarterly Whaleness Days
• Designated end-of-year Whaleness break
• Home office support
• Technology stipend equivalent to US$100 net per month
• Annual stipend for conferences, courses, certifications, and continued learning
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave after six months of employment
• Equity for all full-time employees
• Medical, retirement, and paid holidays vary by country
• Docker swag

Before you apply

• Docker considers visa sponsorship on a case-by-case basis based on business needs.
• Docker may use AI-assisted tools during our recruiting process.
• Candidates may be invited to opt in to interview recordings.

About the company

Docker is a globally distributed, remote-first team building tools that define how software gets built and delivered. Their products include Docker Desktop, Docker Hub, and Docker Scout.