Principal Software Engineer (C++) Budapest

Principal Software Engineer (C++)
Budapest

We are looking for a skilled and experienced Principal Software Engineer with deep expertise in C++. This is a hands-on technical role focused on owning the design and quality of complex systems across the entire product. The ideal candidate will work across components, guide engineering decisions, and ensure high performance, reliability, and maintainability. Responsibilities:- End-to-End Development: Lead the design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance of key features and systems- Architecture Ownership: Contribute to architectural decisions and long-term technical direction across products- Mentorship: Guide and support other engineers through code reviews, technical design discussions, and feedback- Debugging and Performance: Identify and fix performance issues, memory leaks, and reliability problems- System Integration: Work on interoperability with other languages and platforms (e. g. , C#, Java, Python)- Technical Communication: Collaborate with other teams and stakeholders to define and implement solutions that meet product goals- Code Quality: Promote clean, testable, and well-documented code through best practices and peer reviews- Continuous Improvement: Propose and drive initiatives to modernize the codebase, improve developer productivity, and optimize system performanceRequired Qualifications:- 10+ years of experience with C++ (including modern standards)- Experience working on complex and large-scale systems- Strong understanding of COM and system-level programming- Experience integrating with other languages and platforms (e. g. , pybind11, JNI, Interop)- Strong problem-solving and debugging skills- Solid background in unit testing, profiling, and code review practices- Familiarity with Git and CI/CD workflows- Proven ability to mentor engineers and lead technical initiativesPreferred Qualifications:- Experience leading cross-team technical efforts and driving architectural decisions- Strong understanding of design patterns and software architecture in large distributed systems- Ability to manage technical debt and guide long-term maintainability strategies- Experience influencing product direction through technical insights and feasibility analysis- Comfort working with legacy systems while planning for modernization effortAdditional Information:This is a hands-on technical leadership role. You will work closely with product and engineering teams to shape and build complex features in a large codebase. The work is primarily C++ but may involve integration with other components and languages.