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Overview

Atlassians can choose where they work – in an office, from home, or a combination. Interactions are virtual for interviews and onboarding as part of being a distributed-first company. Our office is in Mountain View, CA, but we offer flexibility for eligible candidates to work remotely across the West Coast, US. You can choose the place that best fits your work and lifestyle. We call this TEAM anywhere.

The Role: We are seeking an exceptional Senior Principal Software Engineer to lead the technical vision and execution of our next-generation API Platform. This role requires deep technical expertise and the ability to operate in a rapidly evolving space at the intersection of infrastructure and AI. You will build a comprehensive platform for governance, monitoring, and metering of all Atlassian APIs, including our Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers. You will work on foundational features as well as 0-1 products that will shape how developers and customers interact with Atlassian in the future. You will collaborate across departments to design and implement systems addressing complex challenges, directly influencing the future of Atlassian’s API ecosystem.

Responsibilities

Define the technical roadmap for the API Platform organization, balancing immediate needs with long-term vision.

Architect consumption-based monetization systems with metering, billing, and analytics.

Develop strategies and tools for AI-native features, including the Model Context Protocol (MCP), enabling seamless integration with next-generation products.

Drive innovation in API lifecycle management, including versioning, deprecation, and migration strategies.

Mentor senior engineers across the organization on API design and AI integration best practices.

Build and foster a culture of innovation, operational excellence, and continuous learning.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

12+ years of backend software development experience, with at least 5 years in principal/staff-level roles.

Proven experience delivering large-scale, end-to-end initiatives in backend software development.

Strong product sense and ability to align technical decisions with customer needs and business goals.

Experience working on 0-to-1 products in high-uncertainty environments.

Exceptional collaboration skills across departments and ability to influence technical direction in a multi-team organization.

Excellent ability to communicate complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

Expertise in API design, governance, and implementation, including versioning, schema evolution, and standardization.

Hands-on experience integrating LLMs/AI models into production backend systems.

Expertise in cloud platforms (AWS preferred) including serverless and container orchestration.

Deep knowledge of API security: OAuth, API keys, rate limiting, and DDoS protection.

Compensation

We design equitable, explainable, and competitive compensation programs. The base pay ranges for new hires in the United States are: Zone A: $239,400 - $312,550; Zone B: $216,000 - $282,000; Zone C: $198,900 - $259,675. This role may also be eligible for benefits, bonuses, commissions, and equity. Please visit go.atlassian.com/payzones for more information and confirm your location zone with your recruiter.

Perks & Benefits

Atlassian offers a wide range of perks and benefits designed to support you and your family, including health and wellbeing resources and paid volunteer days. To learn more, visit go.atlassian.com/perksandbenefits.

About Atlassian

At Atlassian, we aim to unleash the potential of every team. Our software helps teams worldwide, fostering collaboration and making the impossible possible when people work together. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability. All information is kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. We can provide accommodations or adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process if needed. For more about our culture and hiring process, visit go.atlassian.com/crh.

Seniority level: Mid-Senior level

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Engineering and Information Technology

Industries: Software Development

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