Principal Software Engineer

About Gradle

Gradle is the build tool of choice for millions of developers worldwide. It’s the most widely used build tool for JVM languages and the official build system for Android applications. Our vision is to build an open-source system that automates the process of building software of any type, size, or complexity — all while delivering speed, reliability, and simplicity.

We are passionate about creating an elegant, extensible, and declarative build language that empowers developers to describe and manage software builds with clarity and confidence.

We’re expanding our core team and are looking for an exceptional Principal Engineer to help drive the next evolution of the Gradle Build Tool.

What You’ll Do

• Take ownership of substantial features and non-functional areas across the Gradle Build Tool
• Lead and contribute to complex technical projects involving scalability, performance, and reliability challenges
• Work closely with a globally distributed, passionate team of engineers focused on improving developer productivity
• Collaborate with and mentor senior engineers across the organization
• Engage with the open-source community, helping shape the future of build automation

About You — Ideal Candidate Profile

Engineering Strength

You are highly productive, self-driven, and ready to handle substantial responsibility.

• Proven track record of owning large features or critical areas of complex products
• Experience working on highly technical, challenging projects that demand scalability, performance, and innovation
• History of successful delivery to large-scale user bases

Domain Affinity

You are passionate about developer tooling, with real-world experience building tools developers rely on.

• Experience with frameworks, libraries, programming languages, IDEs, or other developer platforms (leading or founding projects is a big plus)
• Previous involvement in build systems, developer productivity teams, or the creation of Gradle plugins is highly valued
• A track record of tackling ambitious problems that improve developer experience

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years of software development experience
• Deep expertise with Java and the JVM
• Experience using or contributing to Gradle
• Strong understanding of modern software development practices
• Experience solving complex scalability, reliability, and performance challenges
• Excellent communication skills in both written and verbal English
• Passion for developer tooling and making developers’ lives better

Why Join Gradle?

• Be part of an open-source project that impacts millions of developers worldwide
• Work on deeply technical challenges alongside world-class engineers
• Influence the future of build tooling and developer productivity
• Enjoy a collaborative, fully remote work environment with flexible hours