Principal Compiler Architect

Principal Compiler Architect

Full-Time 70000 - 90000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Software AG

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the technical direction of our compiler for the JOPAZ product and ensure top-notch performance.
  • Company: Join Software AG, a pioneer in data solutions with over 50 years of innovation.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse work culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Diversity matters! We welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
  • Why this job: Make a significant impact on mission-critical applications and lead a talented team.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in compiler construction and JVM expertise required.

The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.

About us Software AG's products enable companies to convert their data into value.

As a data pioneer, Software AG has been convincing thousands of market-leading companies worldwide with customer-oriented innovations for over 50 years.

Mainframe Adabas is the flagship product for Software AG.

It is well known for its extremely high performance and reliability, with online transaction processing and is used to run customers’ business and company-critical applications.

Even after more than 50 years, Software AG Adabas continues to develop and adapt to new industry standards, business methods, and technologies.

The Mainframe Adabas family of products has a diverse portfolio.

Support for high availability technology; IBM’s SYSPLEX Technology and z IIP are key extensions to the DBMS.

Additional add-on products include replication, monitoring, network, Auditing, security, large memory and various other optimizations.

For this position, we are looking for an experienced and motivated senior assembler developer who can support existing products or develop solutions for our customer base.

The role

COBOL applications, backed by the legendary resilience, security, and scalability of IBM Z, are among global enterprises’ most valuable assets.

They run mission-critical operations with business logic that is unique to the respective organization.

We are hiring a Principal Compiler Architect to own the technical direction of the compiler part of our JOPAZ product, and to grow into leading the team that builds it.

What you'll do

  • Own the compiler end to end
  • Guard correctness as the top priority
  • Define and defend how COBOL semantics map onto the JVM so that compiled programs are behaviorally equivalent to native execution
  • Drive performance on the JVM
  • Set the technical roadmap for the optimization strategy, make cross-cutting design decisions, and keep the codebase coherent as it grows
  • Collaborate across the product, including mainframe connectivity layers
  • Grow into technical and people leadership

What we're looking for (must-have)

  • Proven, end-to-end compiler construction experience – you have built or substantially contributed to a production compiler; not just used compiler frameworks.
  • Multi-year JVM code expertise
  • Correctness and semantics engineering
  • Architecture-level judgment for optimization strategies
  • Ability to make and defend cross-cutting technical decisions in a long-lived codebase
  • Technical leadership instincts (mentoring engineers, communicate designs clearly)
  • Strong plus-points (not required)
  • Hands-on COBOL knowledge, or experience with another legacy/ business language and its habits
  • z/OS experience: Java on z/OS, z IIP and specialty-engine offload, JCL/batch, …
  • Verification at scale, differential testing, conformance suites, fuzzing, or formal methods

INTERESTED?We look forward to receiving your complete application documents.

Your application should include a short cover letter, a CV in tabular form and your training and work references.

Your contact: Mubina Bhaisaheb, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner * f/m/d - Diversity matters!

Principal Compiler Architect employer: Software AG

At Software AG, we pride ourselves on being a leading employer in the tech industry, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through continuous learning opportunities and the chance to lead impactful projects, such as the development of our flagship Mainframe Adabas product. Located in a vibrant tech hub, we provide a supportive environment where your expertise as a Principal Compiler Architect will not only be valued but also play a crucial role in shaping the future of our products.

Software AG

Contact Details:

Software AG Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Compiler Architect

Join Local Tech Meetups

Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Software AG or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!

Contribute to Open Source Projects

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We think you need these skills to ace Principal Compiler Architect

Compiler Construction
JVM Code Expertise
Correctness Engineering
Semantics Engineering
Architecture-Level Judgment
Technical Leadership
Cross-Cutting Technical Decision Making

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.

Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Software AG.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Software AG and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!

Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!

How to prepare for a job interview at Software AG

Brush Up on Your Coding Skills

For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.

Know Your Tools and Frameworks

Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Software AG uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.

Showcase Your Projects

Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.

Prepare for Behavioural Questions

While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.