Principal Software Engineer
Company websiteservicenow.com (ServiceNow, opens in new tab)
Base salary $221,200 to $387,100
Employer-published annual base salary, USD. Advertised base range in Santa Clara, CA
You apply on the employer's own site. Six Figure Work does not handle applications.
- LocationSanta Clara, CA
- WorkplaceHybrid
- Status at last checkSource accepting applications when checked
- Last checked (28 min ago) · observed since
About this job
Company Description
It all started when engineer Fred Luddy wrote code that automated a tedious task for his coworker, Phyllis. She cried tears of joy. That moment inspired Fred to build a company that could do that for everyone—freeing people from busywork so they could focus on meaningful work. Today, ServiceNow is the AI control tower for business reinvention. Our ServiceNow AI platform brings together any AI, any data, and any workflow— helping 85% of the Fortune 500® work smarter, faster, and better. We're building an AI-native culture where technology and talent are unstoppable together. And we're just getting started.
Join us to put AI to work for people.
Job Description
What you get to do in this role:
- Produce high quality design and code on aggressive deadlines for security features and frameworks, leveraging AI where appropriate without compromising quality or security
- Provide guidelines and mentorship to application teams on how to implement and design security features and frameworks, and on the appropriate use of AI to achieve those goals
- Design & implement comprehensive AI-native security features and frameworks by understanding customer problems, product goals and technical requirements
- Collaborate with design and platform teams to deliver robust security features and frameworks
- Participate in all technical aspects of team deliverables, including quality, performance, maintainability, and scalability
- Communicate technical decisions (architecture and design) to business and engineering
Qualifications
To be successful in this role you have:
- Experience in leveraging or critically thinking about how to integrate AI into work processes, decision-making, and problem-solving. This may include using AI-powered tools, automating workflows, analyzing AI-driven insights, or exploring AI's potential impact on the function or industry.
- Passion for software development, problem solving, coaching and mentoring other software engineers
- High energy and an aptitude for learning new technologies
- 10+ years of experience in designing & implementing security features and frameworks
- Experience building security features specifically for AI
- Exceptional Java and JavaScript skills
- Deep knowledge and experience with leveraging and influencing industry standards for security, building security frameworks and driving their adoption, and implementing security features
- Exceptional problem-solving skills
- Self-starter with a quick learning curve
- Strong written and verbal communication
For positions in this location, we offer a base pay of $221,200 - $387,100, plus equity (when applicable), variable/incentive compensation and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the base pay shown is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location. We also offer health plans, including flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, matching donations, a flexible time away plan and family leave programs. Compensation is based on the geographic location in which the role is located and is subject to change based on work location.
Additional Information
Work Personas
We approach our distributed world of work with flexibility and trust. Work personas (flexible, remote, or required in office) are categories that are assigned to ServiceNow employees depending on the nature of their work and their assigned work location. Learn more here. To determine eligibility for a work persona, ServiceNow may confirm the distance between your primary residence and the closest ServiceNow office using a third-party service.
Equal Opportunity Employer
ServiceNow is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity, veteran status, or any other category protected by law. In addition, all qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with legal requirements.
Accommodations
We strive to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are unable to use this online application and need an alternative method to apply, please contact [email protected] for assistance.
Export Control Regulations
For positions requiring access to controlled technology subject to export control regulations, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), ServiceNow may be required to obtain export control approval from government authorities for certain individuals. All employment is contingent upon ServiceNow obtaining any export license or other approval that may be required by relevant export control authorities.
From Fortune. ©2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.
Source: ServiceNow on SmartRecruiters · View original posting (opens in new tab)
Pay in context
This role's base floor ($221,200) is above 81% of the 4,280 Software Engineering roles in California listed on this site; 3 others list the same floor. Their median floor is $176,362; the middle half runs from $149,100 to $204,000.
Only jobs on this site count, and each one publishes a base salary of $100,000 or more, so this compares six-figure jobs with each other, not with the whole market. Computed Nov 6, 2026.
This listingPrincipal Software Engineer$221,200 to $387,100
Principal AI Platform Engineer$221,200 to $387,100
Principal Product Designer, SalesCRM$221,200 to $387,100
Principal Software Engineer - Application Lifecycle$221,200 to $387,100
Director, Product Design, IT Service Management$221,200 to $387,100
Director, Product Management$221,200 to $387,100
Principal Design Technologist, Design Systems & Applied AI$221,200 to $387,100
Chart as a table
| Role | Published base |
|---|---|
| Principal Software Engineer (this listing) | $221,200 - $387,100 |
| Principal AI Platform Engineer | $221,200 - $387,100 |
| Principal Product Designer, SalesCRM | $221,200 - $387,100 |
| Principal Software Engineer - Application Lifecycle | $221,200 - $387,100 |
| Director, Product Design, IT Service Management | $221,200 - $387,100 |
| Director, Product Management | $221,200 - $387,100 |
| Principal Design Technologist, Design Systems & Applied AI | $221,200 - $387,100 |
Observed changes
- First observed on the employer's board
- fields changed
- Began meeting the published-salary criteria
- Observed since
- Employer-stated posting date
- 2026-09-16
Where this pay comes from
Location as the employer wrote it: Santa Clara, California, United States
For positions in this location, we offer a base pay of $221,200 - $387,100, plus equity (when applicable), variable/incentive compensa
- Method
- Employer text, read with fixed rules and re-verified
- Checked
- Rule set
- us-base-v2
The pay passage appears in the employer's own job text. Fixed, deterministic rules located it, and the passage below was checked against the stored copy of the posting.
What we verified
- The pay figures come from the employer's own listing, quoted exactly above.
- The pay is an annual base salary in US dollars with a minimum of at least $100,000.
- The role was publicly listed on the employer's job board when last checked.
We do not verify what the employer will actually offer, whether the employer is still recruiting for the role, or anything beyond what the employer published. Full methodology.