Experienced Software Engineer (COBOL, Java)

What You'll Do

As an Experienced Software Engineer at Principal within our Retirement and Income Solutions division, you'll work with engineers to help lead our efforts to support and maintain legacy systems while also continuing to modernize our technology. Our goal is to provide solutions that help us progress into the future to enable great solutions for our customers, keeping them at the center of our work.

This team supports payroll integrations within our Retirement division. This team is responsible for receiving, validating, and posting transactions for thousands of customers. The current applications lean heavy on legacy technologies such as COBOL, JCL, DB2, Informatica, etc. Future vision includes improving and modernizing these systems to meet the changing demands of our customers.

Technologies used here at Principal include: AWS, Java, Python, TypeScript, .NET, Salesforce (Apex, Lightning), mainframe, distributed systems, JavaScript, SQL, Mulesoft, and many more.

Here are a few examples of the kinds of things you'll do in this role:

• Develop high quality applications for our customers
• Contribute to existing enterprise and InnerSource solutions
• Identify and propose strategies around technical problems affecting the business, communicate standards, and get consensus on solutions
• Collaborate with purpose. Work closely within your engineering team, architecture, and business partners to determine how to make our software even better
• Take on tasks of increasing complexity, learn quickly, and make steady progress to make improvements based on stakeholder feedback
• Solve interesting and complex problems to create a positive customer experience
• Experiment with new tools and practices to deliver business value in an agile organization
• Continuously improve both yourself and the systems you are working on
• Research new technology developments and stay current and engaged on industry trends
• Understand how work fits into the larger strategy
• Participate in technical design of features
• Actively participate with team and take the lead during pairing, mobbing, and design

Discover the Experience of Working at Principal

• We help you understand our customers in meaningful ways so you can represent their perspectives and needs in your work.
• We provide an environment based on integrity, inclusion, and trust where your diverse perspectives are welcomed. And we care about our local communities around the world and support efforts to make your impact go further.
• We provide a total rewards approach that pays you fairly for your contributions and helps you save enough, protect enough, and have enough- because it's what we do.
• We give you the opportunity to do challenging and rewarding work, continuously learn, and try new things.
• We set a clear enterprise direction so you can prioritize your work and deliver the highest value.

Who You Are

• Associate or Bachelor's degree with a preference in a science, technology, engineering, or math related field or equivalent work experience
• 3+ years software engineering experience
• Excellent planning, organizational, problem-solving, analytical, decision-making and communication skills
• Experience in mainframe technologies such as COBOL, JCL, DB2
• Desire to learn new technology and continuously grow
• Basic leadership and presentation skills

Skills that will help you stand out:

• Cloud platforms experience (we use AWS, but open to others)
• Development practices including TDD, CI, and pair programming
• DevOps

Salary Range Information

Salary ranges below reflect targeted base salaries. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation for all roles will be based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.

Salary Range

$81900 - $158400 / year

Time Off Program

Flexible Time Off (FTO) is provided to salaried (exempt) employees and provides the opportunity to take time away from the office with pay for vacation, personal or short-term illness. Employees don't accrue a bank of time off under FTO and there is no set number of days provided.

Pension Eligible

Yes

Additional Information

Work Environments

This role offers in-office, hybrid (blending at least three office days in a typical workweek), and remote work arrangements (only if residing more than 30 miles from Des Moines, IA, or Charlotte, NC). You'll work with your leader to figure out which option may align best based on several factors.
Job Level

We'll consider talent at the next level with the right experiences and skills.
Our Engineering Culture

Through our product-driven Agile/Lean DevOps environment, we've fostered a culture of innovation and experimentation across our development teams. As a customer-focused organization, we work closely with our end users and product owners to understand and rapidly respond to emerging business needs.

Collaboration is embedded into everything we do - from the products we develop to the quality service we provide. We're driven by the belief that diversity of thought, background, and perspective is critical to creating the best products and experiences for our customers.

Work Authorization/Sponsorship

At this time, we're not considering applicants that need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but IS NOT LIMITED TO: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For additional information around work authorization needs please use the following links.

Nonimmigrant Workers and for Employment-Based Immigrants
Investment Code of Ethics

For Principal Asset Management positions, you'll need to follow an Investment Code of Ethics related to personal and business conduct as well as personal trading activities for you and members of your household. These same requirements may also apply to other positions across the organization.
Experience Principal

At Principal, we value connecting on both a personal and professional level. Together, we're imagining a more purpose-led future for financial services - and that starts with you. Our success depends on the unique experiences, backgrounds, and talents of our employees. And we support our employees the same way we support our customers: with comprehensive, competitive benefit offerings crafted to protect their physical, financial, and social well-being. Check out our careers site to learn more about our purpose, values and benefits.
Principal is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Posting Window

We will accept applications for 3 full days following the Original Posting Date, after which the posting may remain open or be removed based upon applications received. If we choose to post the job again, we will accept additional applications for at least 1 full day following the Most Recently Posted Date. Please submit applications in a timely manner as there is no guarantee the posting will be available beyond the applicable deadline.

Date First Posted (TTF)

8/1/2025

Latest Post Date: Careers - US

8/27/2025

LinkedIn Remote Hashtag

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