Principal Software Engineer, Architect - Java Backend

Secure Every Identity, from AI to Human Identity is the key to unlocking the potential of AI. Okta secures AI by building the trusted, neutral infrastructure that enables organizations to safely embrace this new era. This work requires a relentless drive to solve complex challenges with real-world stakes. We are looking for builders and owners who operate with speed and urgency and execute with excellence. This is an opportunity to do career-defining work. We're all in on this mission. If you are too, let's talk. DEVICE IDENTITY AND ACCESS ORGANIZATION The Device Identity and Access organization is at the forefront of Okta’s Zero Trust vision. As a foundational pillar within Okta Research and Development (ORD), our mission is to transform the device itself into a secure, trusted, and effortless identity factor. We are the teams responsible for ensuring users can seamlessly interact with their work from any endpoint, anywhere in the world.   Our organization is comprised of engineers who thrive at the intersection of deep client-side platform engineering and massive-scale distributed systems. The work we do secures millions of enterprise endpoints globally, prevents modern identity attacks, and fundamentally changes how people work by making world-class security completely invisible to the end user. OPPORTUNITY We seek a highly impactful and influential Software Engineer to join our engineering team. The ideal candidate will leverage their deep expertise in distributed systems, particularly Java, to architect, build, and scale the critical server-side software and services at the heart of our security and identity platform. This is a high-visibility, hands-on opportunity to define the architectural vision, pioneer new capabilities, and drive the technical strategy to solve complex, company-wide challenges and shape the future of Okta's device identity ecosystem. You will act as a key technical leader—a player-coach and force multiplier—by setting the technical standard, mentoring and coaching engineers, and partnering with engineering leadership and product management to translate strategic business objectives into actionable, scalable technical roadmaps. This role requires an engineer who believes in designing for massive scale, rigorous code reviews, automated testing, and an iterative process to build high-quality enterprise software. WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING * Partner closely with Product Management, Engineering Directors, and Principal Architects to translate strategic business objectives into actionable, scalable technical roadmaps. * Drive cross-functional collaboration with Product, Design, and QA to ensure the seamless delivery of our most critical engineering initiatives. * Lead the design and implementation of new features and services within our core Java platform, taking ownership from conception to deployment. * Define and champion engineering best practices, and make critical contributions to technical designs, proposals, and long-term architectural decisions. * Act as a force multiplier across multiple teams, mentoring Staff and Senior engineers, guiding technical design reviews, and raising the engineering bar across the entire pillar. * Develop high-quality, maintainable software with comprehensive test coverage and drive improvements to our testing and CI/CD strategies. * Create and maintain high-quality technical documentation and foster a culture of knowledge sharing within the team and the broader organization. * Champion the adoption of AI-native engineering practices within our Product Development Lifecycle (PDLC), utilizing AI coding assistants to accelerate delivery while ensuring rigorous security and code quality standards. * Spearhead technical innovation, identifying emerging industry trends (such as advanced device security or AI-native development paradigms) and prototyping solutions to keep Okta ahead of the curve. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS * 7+ years of progressive software development experience, with a proven track record of designing and building scalable, high-performance server-side features using Java and Spring. * Deep expertise with high-performance Postgres or MySQL environments, including schema design and query optimization. * Extensive experience designing, building, and securing RESTful APIs for large-scale systems. * Expert knowledge of server-side technologies, including caching, asynchronous processing, and multi-threading. * A deep understanding of design patterns, scalability patterns, security engineering, and object-oriented principles. * Experience in fast-paced agile environments, with a strong understanding of CI/CD and automated testing. * Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences and influence technical direction. * Security Domain Expertise: Deep understanding of endpoint security concepts (e.g., Trusted Platform Modules (TPM), Secure Enclave, Device Management/MDM protocols, and endpoint detection). * Cross-Platform Context: Strong conceptual understanding of how OS-level security features (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS) report state to the cloud. * Proficiency in leveraging AI coding assistants (e.g., GitHub Copilot) to accelerate the development lifecycle. NICE-TO-HAVES * Experience building anomaly detection systems or risk systems is a huge plus. * Experience in cloud security, identity, and/or authentication protocols. * Understanding of Identity and Access Management protocols and technologies (FIDO, U2F, WebAuthn, SSO, SAML, OAuth, Federation, etc.). * Knowledge of cybersecurity principles, secure coding practices, and certifications like CISSP or Security+. * Experience with UI technologies such as ReactJS. * Exposure to gRPC API development. * Exposure to microservice architecture. EDUCATION Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience. #LI-Hybrid P25230_3471799 The Okta Experience * Supporting Your Well-Being  * Driving Social Impact  * Developing Talent and Fostering Connection + Community We are intentional about connection. Our global community, spanning over 20 offices worldwide, is united by a drive to innovate. Your journey begins with an immersive, in-person onboarding experience designed to accelerate your impact and connect you to our mission and team from day one. Okta 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, ancestry, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, or status as a protected veteran. We also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and convictions records, consistent with applicable laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to complete any part of the job application, interview process, or onboarding please use this Form to request an accommodation. Notice for New York City Applicants & Employees: Okta may use Automated Employment Decision Tools (AEDT), as defined by New York City Local Law 144, that use artificial intelligence, machine learning, or other automated processes to assist in our recruitment and hiring process. In accordance with NYC Local Law 144, if you are an applicant or employee residing in New York City, please click here to view our full NYC AEDT Notice.

Secure Every Identity, from AI to Human Identity is the key to unlocking the potential of AI. Okta secures AI by building the trusted, neutral infrastructure that enables organizations to safely embrace this new era. This work requires a relentless drive to solve complex challenges with real-world stakes. We are looking for builders and owners who operate with speed and urgency and execute with excellence. This is an opportunity to do career-defining work. We're all in on this mission. If you are too, let's talk. GET TO KNOW OKTA Okta is The World’s Identity Company. We free everyone to safely use any technology—anywhere, on any device or app. Our Workforce and Customer Identity Clouds enable secure yet flexible access, authentication, and automation that transforms how people move through the digital world, putting Identity at the heart of business security and growth.  At Okta, we celebrate a variety of perspectives and experiences. We are not looking for someone who checks every box - we’re looking for lifelong learners and people who can improve us with their unique experiences.  Join our team! We’re building a world where Identity belongs to you. Company Description: Okta is the leading independent provider of enterprise identity. The Okta Identity Cloud enables organizations to securely connect the right people to the right technologies at the right time. With over 6,500 pre-built integrations to applications and infrastructure providers, Okta customers can easily and securely use the best technologies for their business. Over 7,950 organizations, including 20th Century Fox, JetBlue, Nordstrom, Slack, Teach for America and Twilio, trust Okta to help protect the identities of their workforces and customers Access Management Foundation Team The Access Management Pillar at Okta is on a mission to seamlessly and securely authorize users to access any resource they need to get their work done. Our goal is to lead the industry in Zero Trust identity management.  The Access Foundation Backend Team is at the core of this mission, building and maintaining the foundational components and frameworks that power Okta's identity and access management solutions. We develop Okta cloud services and client software that allow users to seamlessly login to devices and use Okta authenticators to access applications securely. Learn more about Okta’s Engineering on our blog. About You We are looking for a seasoned Principal Engineer to join our team and help us build the future of identity and access management. Ideal candidate should be * A strong Java developer with a passion for building high-quality, secure, and performant applications and frameworks.  * Excited by the opportunity to work on cutting-edge security and identity management challenges and are a thought leader who can drive technical strategy and mentor other engineers. * A collaborative individual with excellent communication skills, capable of working with cross-functional teams to deliver on a shared vision.  * Not just be a builder; but a force multiplier who can create frameworks and solutions that enable other teams to be more productive. Job Duties and Responsibilities: * Design, develop, and maintain core components of the Okta Access Management platform * Lead the architectural design and implementation of new features and services, with a focus on scalability, performance, and security. * Build and maintain frameworks that enable other engineering teams to ship modular and secure code quickly. * Collaborate with product managers, architects, and other engineering teams to define the technical strategy and lead the prototyping of framework components * Following best practices, contribute to technical designs, proposals, and architectural decisions. * Drive a culture of quality and continuous improvement, with a focus on robust testing, monitoring, and operational excellence. * Stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies in identity, security, and distributed systems. Minimum Requirements: * 12+ years of experience building and scaling Java-based web applications and services. * A deep understanding of design patterns, scalability patterns, security engineering, and object-oriented principles. * Experience working in a fast-paced, agile environment, with a strong understanding of CI/CD practices. * Strong communication skills and the ability to work across functions Nice to have: Experience with identity and access management (IAM) protocols such as SAML, OAuth, FIDO, and WebAuthn * Experience with security best practices and threat modeling Experience with one or more UI technologies such as Angular, ReactJS, Backbone, and Vue.  * Knowledge of cybersecurity principles, secure coding practices, and certifications like CISSP or Security+. Education and Training: * Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience. * 12+ years of software development experience #LI-Hybrid P24162_3334963 The Okta Experience * Supporting Your Well-Being  * Driving Social Impact  * Developing Talent and Fostering Connection + Community We are intentional about connection. Our global community, spanning over 20 offices worldwide, is united by a drive to innovate. Your journey begins with an immersive, in-person onboarding experience designed to accelerate your impact and connect you to our mission and team from day one. Okta 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, ancestry, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, or status as a protected veteran. We also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and convictions records, consistent with applicable laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to complete any part of the job application, interview process, or onboarding please use this Form to request an accommodation. Notice for New York City Applicants & Employees: Okta may use Automated Employment Decision Tools (AEDT), as defined by New York City Local Law 144, that use artificial intelligence, machine learning, or other automated processes to assist in our recruitment and hiring process. In accordance with NYC Local Law 144, if you are an applicant or employee residing in New York City, please click here to view our full NYC AEDT Notice.