Principal Software Engineer

The Team
Block (Foundational)
Block is one company built from many blocks, all united by the same purpose of economic empowerment. The blocks that form our foundational teams - People, Finance, Counsel, Hardware, Information Security, Platform Infrastructure Engineering, and more - provide support and guidance at the corporate level. They work across business groups and around the globe, spanning time zones and disciplines to develop inclusive People policies, forecast finances, give legal counsel, safeguard systems, nurture new initiatives, and more. Every challenge creates possibilities, and we need different perspectives to see them all. Bring yours to Block.
The Role
We are seeking an experienced Principal Software Engineerto join our Developer Experience team. In this role, you will help drive the adoption of cutting-edge AI technologies that enhance engineering workflows and create scalable solutions for Blocks engineers. You will be responsible for delivering tools that go from experimentation through to full-scale adoption, ensuring they deliver measurable improvements in engineering velocity.
You Will

• Design, build, and maintain AI-driven tools to support engineering teams across the full software development lifecycle (SDLC)
• Collaborate with product managers, data scientists, and engineering teams to understand pain points and identify areas where AI can accelerate productivity
• Experiment with emerging AI technologies to create innovative solutions, rapidly iterate, and test hypotheses
• Deliver high-quality, reusable tools that can be easily integrated into existing workflows and systems
• Stay up-to-date with the evolving AI landscape and assess new tools and approaches for integration into our ecosystem
• Contribute to the long-term technical roadmap for the AI Tools team and Developer Experience

You Have:

• Proven experience in product engineering, delivering tools or products from concept through to widespread adoption
• Strong software development background, with expertise in one or more modern programming languages (e.g., Python, Go, Java, etc.)
• Experience working with AI/ML technologies, frameworks, and libraries, with a passion for staying on top of AI trends
• Deep understanding of the software development lifecycle and common pain points for engineering teams
• A collaborative mindset and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to experimentation and iteration

Nice to Have:

• Prior experience working in Developer Experience or building internal tooling
• Exposure to platforms like GitHub, Slack, Google Docs, and other developer tools
• Knowledge of cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure) and experience building scalable solutions in cloud environments

We're working to build a more inclusive economy where our customers have equal access to opportunity, and we strive to live by these same values in building our workplace. Block is an equal opportunity employer evaluating all employees and job applicants without regard to identity or any legally protected class. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment on our team, and always assess candidates on an individualized basis.
We believe in being fair, and are committed to an inclusive interview experience, including providing reasonable accommodations to disabled applicants throughout the recruitment process. We encourage applicants to share any needed accommodations with their recruiter, who will treat these requests as confidentially as possible. Want to learn more about what we're doing to build a workplace that is fair and square? Check out our I+D page .
Block will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with state and local laws and "fair chance" ordinances.
Block takes a market-based approach to pay, and pay may vary depending on your location. U.S locations are categorized into one of four zones based on a cost of labor index for that geographic area. The successful candidate's starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, work location, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future.
To find a location's zone designation, please refer to this resource . If a location of interest is not listed, please speak with a recruiter for additional information.
Zone A:
$386,100 - $579,100 USD
Zone B:
$386,100 - $579,100 USD
Zone C:
$386,100 - $579,100 USD
Zone D:
$386,100 - $579,100 USD
Block, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) is a global technology company with a focus on financial services. Made up of Square, Cash App, Spiral, TIDAL, and TBD, we build tools to help more people access the economy. Square helps sellers run and grow their businesses with its integrated ecosystem of commerce solutions, business software, and banking services. With Cash App, anyone can easily send, spend, or invest their money in stocks or Bitcoin. Spiral (formerly Square Crypto) builds and funds free, open-source Bitcoin projects. Artists use TIDAL to help them succeed as entrepreneurs and connect more deeply with fans. TBD is building an open developer platform to make it easier to access Bitcoin and other blockchain technologies without having to go through an institution.