What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director-Engineering position at Principal Financial Group?
What You'll Do
We’re looking for a Director of Engineering to join our WPI team. In this role, you’ll help shape the future of our WPI business. This is a high-impact opportunity to join at a pivotal moment—helping define the technology strategy, guide platform transformation, and build the capabilities that will support future growth !
This role is ideal for a leader who thrives in transformation environments, understands the complexity of broker-dealer and advisor platform ecosystems, and is energized by the opportunity to build, influence, and deliver at scale.
As Principal continues to modernize its systems, this role will offer you an exciting opportunity to build solutions that will directly impact our long-term strategy and tech stack, all while ensuring that our products are robust, scalable, and secure!
Who You Are
Salary ranges below reflect targeted base salaries. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation for all roles will be based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.
Salary Range (Non-Exempt expressed as hourly; Exempt expressed as yearly)
$157000 - $213000 / year
Time Off Program
Flexible Time Off (FTO) is provided to salaried (exempt) employees and provides the opportunity to take time away from the office with pay for vacation, personal or short-term illness. Employees don’t accrue a bank of time off under FTO and there is no set number of days provided.
Pension Eligible
Yes
Our Engineering Culture
Through our product-driven Agile/Lean DevOps environment, we’ve fostered a culture of innovation and experimentation across our development teams. As a customer-focused organization, we work closely with our end users and product owners to understand and rapidly respond to emerging business needs.
Collaboration is embedded into everything we do – from the products we develop to the quality service we provide. We’re driven by the belief that diversity of thought, background, and perspective is critical to creating the best products and experiences for our customers.
Work Environments
This role offers in-office, hybrid (blending at least three office days in a typical workweek), and remote work arrangements (only if residing more than 30 miles from Des Moines, IA, Charlotte, NC, and Raleigh, NC). You’ll work with your leader to figure out which option may align best based on several factors.
Work Authorization/Sponsorship
At this time, we're not considering applicants that need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but IS NOT LIMITED TO: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For additional information around work authorization needs please use the following links.
Nonimmigrant Workers and Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants
Investment Code of Ethics
For Principal Asset Management positions, you’ll need to follow an Investment Code of Ethics related to personal and business conduct as well as personal trading activities for you and members of your household. These same requirements may also apply to other positions across the organization.
Experience Principal
At Principal, we value connecting on both a personal and professional level. Together, we’re imagining a more purpose-led future for financial services – and that starts with you. Our success depends on the unique experiences, backgrounds, and talents of our employees. And we support our employees the same way we support our customers: with comprehensive, competitive benefit offerings crafted to protect their physical, financial, and social well-being. Check out our careers site to learn more about our purpose, values and benefits.
Principal is an Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Posting Window
We will accept applications for 3 full days following the Original Posting Date, after which the posting may remain open or be removed based upon applications received. If we choose to post the job again, we will accept additional applications for at least 1 full day following the Most Recently Posted Date. Please submit applications in a timely manner as there is no guarantee the posting will be available beyond the applicable deadline.
Original Posting Date
6/10/2026
Most Recently Posted Date
8/28/2026
Principal uses artificial intelligence tools to assist in reviewing and evaluating job applications, fraud prevention, and candidate matching and comparisons. These AI tools support our human recruiters in the initial review process but do not make final hiring decisions without human involvement. By submitting your application, you acknowledge this use of AI in our recruitment process. Please review our Workforce (U.S.) Privacy Notice for more details on our practices and your data privacy rights.
LinkedIn Remote Hashtag
LinkedIn Hashtag
We’re looking for a Director of Engineering to join our WPI team. In this role, you’ll help shape the future of our WPI business. This is a high-impact opportunity to join at a pivotal moment—helping define the technology strategy, guide platform transformation, and build the capabilities that will support future growth !
This role is ideal for a leader who thrives in transformation environments, understands the complexity of broker-dealer and advisor platform ecosystems, and is energized by the opportunity to build, influence, and deliver at scale.
- Lead engineering strategy and delivery across Brokerage platform, brokerage operations, and client servicing capabilities.
- Ability to manage integrations with clearing firms such as NFS, Pershing or LPL and vendor tools that provide advisor-client collaboration capabilities
- Own delivery across key wealth platform domains, including advisor tools, client experience, brokerage integration, and servicing operations.
- Partner with product, architecture, and business leaders to define and scale a modern wealth platform in a new-build or transformation environment.
- Guide platform integration efforts with brokerage, custodial, and clearing partners, including third-party ecosystem connectivity.
- Translate business strategy into technology direction, roadmaps, and execution plans that improve resiliency, scalability, and value delivery.
- Build, lead, and develop high-performing engineering teams by coaching talent and raising the performance bar.
- Start with the customer and work backwards. Work vigorously to earn and keep customer trust. Pay attention to competitors, but obsess over customers.
As Principal continues to modernize its systems, this role will offer you an exciting opportunity to build solutions that will directly impact our long-term strategy and tech stack, all while ensuring that our products are robust, scalable, and secure!
Who You Are
- You have a
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, business administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience and 10 years of relevant technology experience.
- You have excellent leadership, problem solving, analytical, and decision making skills
- You are able to set strategic direction while also driving execution in complex, highly collaborative environments
- You have deep experience in broker-dealer, wealth management, retail investing, or closely related financial services technology environments
- Direct experience with advisor platforms and wealth technology ecosystems that support financial advisors and home office teams
- Demonstrated experience with third-party integrations and external ecosystem connectivity, including custodians, clearing firms, or fintech partners
- Background in transformation or new-build environments where you helped stand up modern platforms, modernize legacy capabilities, or deliver large-scale integration initiatives
Salary ranges below reflect targeted base salaries. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation for all roles will be based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.
Salary Range (Non-Exempt expressed as hourly; Exempt expressed as yearly)
$157000 - $213000 / year
Time Off Program
Flexible Time Off (FTO) is provided to salaried (exempt) employees and provides the opportunity to take time away from the office with pay for vacation, personal or short-term illness. Employees don’t accrue a bank of time off under FTO and there is no set number of days provided.
Pension Eligible
Yes
Our Engineering Culture
Through our product-driven Agile/Lean DevOps environment, we’ve fostered a culture of innovation and experimentation across our development teams. As a customer-focused organization, we work closely with our end users and product owners to understand and rapidly respond to emerging business needs.
Collaboration is embedded into everything we do – from the products we develop to the quality service we provide. We’re driven by the belief that diversity of thought, background, and perspective is critical to creating the best products and experiences for our customers.
Work Environments
This role offers in-office, hybrid (blending at least three office days in a typical workweek), and remote work arrangements (only if residing more than 30 miles from Des Moines, IA, Charlotte, NC, and Raleigh, NC). You’ll work with your leader to figure out which option may align best based on several factors.
Work Authorization/Sponsorship
At this time, we're not considering applicants that need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but IS NOT LIMITED TO: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For additional information around work authorization needs please use the following links.
Nonimmigrant Workers and Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants
Investment Code of Ethics
For Principal Asset Management positions, you’ll need to follow an Investment Code of Ethics related to personal and business conduct as well as personal trading activities for you and members of your household. These same requirements may also apply to other positions across the organization.
Experience Principal
At Principal, we value connecting on both a personal and professional level. Together, we’re imagining a more purpose-led future for financial services – and that starts with you. Our success depends on the unique experiences, backgrounds, and talents of our employees. And we support our employees the same way we support our customers: with comprehensive, competitive benefit offerings crafted to protect their physical, financial, and social well-being. Check out our careers site to learn more about our purpose, values and benefits.
Principal is an Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Posting Window
We will accept applications for 3 full days following the Original Posting Date, after which the posting may remain open or be removed based upon applications received. If we choose to post the job again, we will accept additional applications for at least 1 full day following the Most Recently Posted Date. Please submit applications in a timely manner as there is no guarantee the posting will be available beyond the applicable deadline.
Original Posting Date
6/10/2026
Most Recently Posted Date
8/28/2026
Principal uses artificial intelligence tools to assist in reviewing and evaluating job applications, fraud prevention, and candidate matching and comparisons. These AI tools support our human recruiters in the initial review process but do not make final hiring decisions without human involvement. By submitting your application, you acknowledge this use of AI in our recruitment process. Please review our Workforce (U.S.) Privacy Notice for more details on our practices and your data privacy rights.
LinkedIn Remote Hashtag
LinkedIn Hashtag
Salary : $157,000 - $213,000