Principal Software Development Engineer

Sonos

. Lead performance and reliability initiatives across Sonos APIs .

Posted 9/24/2026full-timeUnited StatesLead💰 $190,000 - $237,500 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive experience in embedded or systems-level software engineering, with strong proficiency in C++ and a deep understanding of networking fundamentals. Capable of leading performance initiatives, mentoring peers, and collaborating across teams to enhance product reliability and user experience.

Highest-signal resume keywords

C++ ProgrammingEmbedded Systems OptimizationREST and WebSocket APIsTelemetry and Performance MeasurementMulti-Threaded Systems Debugging

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

C++ ProgrammingEmbedded Systems OptimizationREST APIsWebSocket APIsTelemetry FrameworksPerformance MeasurementMulti-Threaded DebuggingNetworking FundamentalsTLS/mTLSCI/CD Systems

Soft Skills

MentoringCollaborationPresentation SkillsProblem-Solving

Tools & Technologies

Telemetry ToolsPerformance Measurement FrameworksGit Workflows

Industry Keywords

Systems-Level Software EngineeringLatency BottlenecksAsynchronous Command ExecutionDevice-to-Device CommunicationSonos Architecture

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

CloudDistributed SystemsC++

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead performance and reliability initiatives across Sonos APIs
Work on Player Control components and develop software enabling new products
Collaborate across App, Cloud, Security, Data, and QA teams
Mentor junior peers and engineers through design reviews, code reviews, architecture discussions, and root cause investigations
Participate in the full software development lifecycle, including planning, requirements, development, and testing
Advocate for customers in product definition and planning
Support service initiatives focused on security, scalability, cost, and performance
Identify and eliminate latency bottlenecks in player-to-app and player-to-cloud communication
Design and implement architectural improvements such as asynchronous command execution, protocol optimizations, and reduced handshake overhead
Use telemetry and customer data to connect code changes to real-world impact
Partner with App, UX, PM, and Data teams to improve end-to-end user experience
Proactively investigate system-level issues before customer impact
Present performance findings and architectural proposals to engineering leadership and broader forums
Influence playback latency, Player Control components, command execution performance, reliability metrics, API usability and scalability, and long-term Player API architecture

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent experience
8+ years of experience in embedded or systems-level software engineering
Strong proficiency in C++
Experience working with REST and/or WebSocket-based APIs
Experience debugging complex, multi-threaded systems
Experience with telemetry, instrumentation, or performance measurement frameworks
Deep understanding of networking fundamentals, including TLS/mTLS, WebSocket, HTTP, and LAN communication
Must live within commuting distance of the Boston or Seattle office and be in office a minimum of 3 days per week
Must be authorized to work for any US employer now and in the future; Sonos cannot sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa
Preferred: experience optimizing embedded systems for performance and memory constraints
Preferred: experience with secure communication protocols, including TLS, DTLS, and authentication flows
Preferred: experience analyzing large-scale telemetry datasets
Preferred: familiarity with distributed systems and device-to-device communication
Preferred: experience with CI/CD systems and modern Git workflows
Preferred: familiarity with Sonos architecture or similar control-plane systems
Preferred: experience presenting technical proposals to senior engineering leadership

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
A 401(k) plan with company matching and immediate vesting
Open Time Off policy (OTO)
80 hours of sick time upon hire, refreshed annually
Up to 12 paid holidays per calendar year
Generous paid leave program for new parents or to care for a family member with a serious health condition
Short- and long-term disability coverage
Company-paid Disability, Life, and AD&D Insurance
Voluntary Life, AD&D, Accident, and Pet Insurance
Mental health benefits
Employee discount program
Sonos Radio HD at no cost