Principal Engineer • Lead

Who you are

You have a proven track record of leading the introduction of new technologies such as AI or ML into core products or engineering workflows with durable impact. Your experience operating in highly distributed, virtual-first engineering organizations at global scale has equipped you with the skills to navigate complex technical landscapes effectively.

You are adept at defining long-term technical direction for customer-facing experiences used by millions. Your ability to identify where AI meaningfully improves customer value allows you to translate evolving business contexts and industry advances into durable, multi-area strategies and roadmaps that shape how Dropbox builds, scales, and innovates.

Your influence spans organizations, setting foundational architecture and driving execution standards. You excel in aligning senior technical and product leaders across boundaries, ensuring that all stakeholders are on the same page when it comes to technical strategy and execution.

You are hands-on in software development where it provides the greatest leverage, contributing directly through critical design, prototyping, and code reviews. Your role as a trusted technical partner to senior leadership is crucial in shaping systems and platforms, including AI-powered foundations that define Dropbox’s future.

Desirable

Experience with applied AI and its integration into product capabilities is a plus. Familiarity with engineering excellence practices and the ability to institutionalize these within teams will set you apart.

What you'll do

As a Principal Engineer at Dropbox, you will own company-critical, loosely defined technical problems with multi-year impact. You will operate at the intersection of technology, product, business strategy, and applied AI, defining long-term technical direction for customer-facing experiences.

Your responsibilities will include leading the responsible introduction and adoption of AI across product capabilities and engineering workflows. You will bring clarity to the most complex decisions and contribute directly through critical design, prototyping, and code reviews.

You will work closely with senior leadership to shape systems and platforms that advance Dropbox’s mission to create a more enlightened way of working. Your role will involve setting foundational architecture and driving execution standards across multiple organizations.

What we offer

Dropbox offers a competitive compensation package, including a salary range of $256,300—$346,700 USD for Zone 2 and $227,800—$308,200 USD for Zone 3. You will have the opportunity to work in a flexible, remote-first environment that values innovation and collaboration.

Join us in shaping the future of work through technology and AI, and be part of a team that is dedicated to creating impactful solutions for millions of users worldwide.