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Senior Principal Software Engineer - Virtualization and Modernization Staff Engineer

Red Hat

Red Hat

Software Engineering
Boston, MA, USA · Raleigh, NC, USA
USD 164,850-271,910 / year + Equity
Posted on Feb 26, 2026

Job Summary

The Red Hat Engineering team is looking for a Senior Principal Software Engineer to join our global team. In this role you'll be responsible for setting and achieving mid-term strategic objectives aligned to company business goals. As a part of the responsibilities you will work with multiple teams and organizations to design, architect, and lead the implementation of future Modernization and Virtualization solutions.

The role exercises expert judgment and business acumen to work on and resolve highly complex issues that impact critical initiatives and key business processes. This role serves as a technical lead and mentor to other team members, providing expert guidance.

Note: This role may come into contact with confidential or sensitive customer information requiring special treatment in accordance with Red Hat policies and applicable privacy laws.

At Red Hat, our commitment to open source innovation extends beyond our products - it’s embedded in how we work and grow. Red Hatters embrace change – especially in our fast-moving technological landscape – and have a strong growth mindset. That's why we encourage our teams to proactively, thoughtfully, and ethically use AI to simplify their workflows, cut complexity, and boost efficiency. This empowers our associates to focus on higher-impact work, creating smart, more innovative solutions that solve our customers' most pressing challenges.


What you will do:

  • Design, lead, and help implement virtualization and modernization related solutions for Red Hat's next-generation platforms, based on Red Hat OpenShift and thus Kubernetes

  • Identify problems that need to be solved, set and achieve strategic technical objectives to solve those problems

  • Lead cross-functional teams to deliver software solutions that align with business objectives

  • Proactively leverage AI technologies to streamline workflows, simplify processes, and enhance overall efficiency

  • Proactively utilize and experiment with AI-assisted tools and technologies, such as code generation, auto-completion, and intelligent suggestions, to accelerate development cycles, enhance code quality, and support test design, automation, and peer review throughout the development lifecycle

  • Provide technical expertise and guidance on complex software and system issues

  • Serve as a technical lead for major software initiatives and lead the team to success

  • Set and maintain a visible leadership presence in upstream projects, including contributing new development work for projects like Kubernetes, KubeVirt, Konveyor AI and Forklift

  • Use your deep virtualization and Kubernetes expertise to help customers solve complex business problems with creative solutions

  • Mentor and coach engineering staff to develop their technical and leadership capabilities

  • Represent the team in technical discussions with senior leadership and stakeholders


What you will bring:

  • Significant experience with Kubernetes, Red Hat OpenShift, and container networking technologies

  • Strong virtualization knowledge including expertise in one or more of scheduling, fencing, storage, network, life-cycle management

  • Deep understanding and experience with Generative AI technologies

  • Experience with cloud technologies

  • Experience using programming languages like Go, Python or C, C++

  • Understanding of how open source and free software communities work

  • Self-driven and highly motivated with a proactive attitude, willingness to tackle new problems, and an ability to develop new architectures and identify good ones

  • Ability to work well as part of a team in a highly collaborative, distributed environment with a diverse team

  • Ability to present to customers and stakeholders

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities for AI integration within the software development lifecycle, driving continuous improvement and innovation in engineering practices; share use cases for successful experiments with stakeholders for broader use


The following are considered a plus:

  • Experience with Linux virtualization technologies

  • Previous contributions to open source projects or being an open source maintainer

  • Experience with development for public cloud services, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Compute Engine (GCE), and Microsoft Azure

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The salary range for this position is $164,850.00 - $271,910.00. Actual offer will be based on your qualifications.

Pay Transparency

Red Hat determines compensation based on several factors including but not limited to job location, experience, applicable skills and training, external market value, and internal pay equity. Annual salary is one component of Red Hat’s compensation package. This position may also be eligible for bonus, commission, and/or equity. For positions with Remote-US locations, the actual salary range for the position may differ based on location but will be commensurate with job duties and relevant work experience.

About Red Hat

Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of enterprise open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to deliver high-performing Linux, cloud, container, and Kubernetes technologies. Spread across 40+ countries, our associates work flexibly across work environments, from in-office, to office-flex, to fully remote, depending on the requirements of their role. Red Hatters are encouraged to bring their best ideas, no matter their title or tenure. We're a leader in open source because of our open and inclusive environment. We hire creative, passionate people ready to contribute their ideas, help solve complex problems, and make an impact.

Benefits
● Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
● Flexible Spending Account - healthcare and dependent care
● Health Savings Account - high deductible medical plan
● Retirement 401(k) with employer match
● Paid time off and holidays
● Paid parental leave plans for all new parents
● Leave benefits including disability, paid family medical leave, and paid military leave
● Additional benefits including employee stock purchase plan, family planning reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, transportation expense account, employee assistance program, and more!

Note: These benefits are only applicable to full time, permanent associates at Red Hat located in the United States.

Inclusion at Red Hat
Red Hat’s culture is built on the open source principles of transparency, collaboration, and inclusion, where the best ideas can come from anywhere and anyone. When this is realized, it empowers people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to come together to share ideas, challenge the status quo, and drive innovation. Our aspiration is that everyone experiences this culture with equal opportunity and access, and that all voices are not only heard but also celebrated. We hope you will join our celebration, and we welcome and encourage applicants from all the beautiful dimensions that compose our global village.

Equal Opportunity Policy (EEO)
Red Hat is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer. We review applications for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, veteran status, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, or any other basis prohibited by law.


Red Hat does not seek or accept unsolicited resumes or CVs from recruitment agencies. We are not responsible for, and will not pay, any fees, commissions, or any other payment related to unsolicited resumes or CVs except as required in a written contract between Red Hat and the recruitment agency or party requesting payment of a fee.

Red Hat supports individuals with disabilities and provides reasonable accommodations to job applicants. If you need assistance completing our online job application, email application-assistance@redhat.com. General inquiries, such as those regarding the status of a job application, will not receive a reply.