As a Principal Software Engineer, you'll play a defining role in shaping the technical direction of the platforms that power the institutional investing marketplace. You'll operate at the intersection of hands-on engineering and strategic influence — driving technology exploration, enabling engineering teams to deliver at scale, and contributing to architecture decisions.

You'll thrive in this role if you're a technically deep, collaborative engineer who is energized by complexity, passionate about emerging technology, and skilled at turning ambiguous challenges into well-engineered solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Define and drive technical architecture across multiple engineering teams, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure, and aligned with long-term platform strategy.

Lead proof-of-concept initiatives for emerging technologies, evaluating feasibility and translating findings into actionable recommendations for adoption.

Serve as a technical lead on large-scale engineering projects, providing direction, mentorship, and hands-on contribution from discovery through delivery.

Partner with cross-functional teams — including product, design, and platform engineering — to align technical decisions with business priorities and client outcomes.

Establish and champion engineering standards, patterns, and best practices that elevate quality and consistency across the organization.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent practical experience.

8+ years of software engineering experience, with a demonstrated track record of delivering complex, large-scale systems.

Proven ability to lead architecture design and technical strategy across multiple teams or workstreams.

Deep expertise in full-stack development, cloud infrastructure, and modern software engineering practices.

Strong communication and collaboration skills, with experience influencing technical decisions in matrixed, global environments.

Experience with AI-assisted development, including large language models, agentic workflows, or spec-driven development.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience leading technology POCs and translating exploration into production-ready solutions.

Prior experience in capital markets, fintech, or other regulated industries.

This position offers the opportunity for a hybrid work environment (at least 3 days a week in office, subject to change), providing flexibility and accessibility for qualified candidates.

Come as You Are

Nasdaq is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and identities.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives, experiences, and identities are valued and celebrated.

We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation throughout the hiring process.

What We Offer

We’re proud to offer a competitive rewards package that is meaningful, recognizes the unique needs of our employees and their families and incentivizes employees for their contribution to Nasdaq’s overall success.

In addition to base salary, Nasdaq offers significant other compensation (annual bonus/commissions and equity), benefits, and opportunity for growth. Exact compensation may vary based on several job-related factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to: skill set, experience, education/training, business needs and market demands.

Nasdaq’s programs and rewards are intended to allow our employees to:

Secure Wealth: 401(k) program with 6% employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Program with 15% discount, Student loan repayment program up to $10k, Company paid life and disability plans, Generous paid time off
Prioritize Health: Comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, Health spending account with employer contribution, Paid flex days to support mental wellbeing, Gym membership discounts
Care for Family: Hybrid home/office schedule (for most positions), Paid parental leave, Fertility benefits, Paid bereavement leave
Connect with Community: Company gift matching program, Employee resource groups, Paid volunteer days
Grow Career: Education Assistance Program, Robust job skills training and Professional development opportunities

For more information, visit Nasdaq Benefits & Rewards Career page.

About the company

Nasdaq operates one of the world’s largest electronic stock exchanges and provides a suite of financial technology services for buying and selling securities, plus analytics like Nasdaq Smart Portfolio. Its products include an electronic trading platform that matches orders, subscription analytics, and data services, as well as listing services and non-financial marketplaces through InsurTech partners. It differentiates itself with a large, scalable exchange, extensive data analytics, a broad subscription-based product lineup, and a footprint in both traditional markets and digital marketplaces. Its goal is to provide efficient, transparent access to capital and investment opportunities worldwide while growing revenue from trading, listings, and data-driven services and advancing sustainable investing globally.

Company Size

5,001-10,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

1971

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

Second-quarter 2026 revenue hit $1.5 billion, while fintech revenue grew 16%.
Verafin and Stablecore unify fiat and crypto monitoring, addressing a fast-growing $2.4 trillion market.
Nasdaq launched 34 index products in Q2 2026, expanding annuities and international distribution.

What critics are saying

SEC delisting fights like Shineco show Nasdaq carries constant regulatory and reputational risk.
Kraken tokenization and blockchain settlement make Nasdaq dependent on crypto counterparties and execution by 2027.
NYSE, Cboe, and ICE are racing into tokenized trading, commoditizing Nasdaq's infrastructure.

What makes Nasdaq unique

Nasdaq fuses exchange rails, Verafin, Calypso, and eVestment into one capital-markets stack.
September 2026 Kraken investment positions Nasdaq as bridge between tokenized and traditional equities.
Nasdaq-100 licensing and index products create recurring revenue beyond volatile trading volumes.

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Benefits

Hybrid Work Options
Flexible Work Hours

Company News

Yahoo Finance

Oct 26th, 2026

Nasdaq hires Andrew Murray and moves Bob McCooey to Singapore to expand in Asia-Pacific

Nasdaq has appointed Andrew Murray as senior vice president, financial technology, Asia-Pacific. Based in Singapore, he will deepen client partnerships and speed business growth across the region. Murray brings more than three decades of experience in financial technology. He most recently led International Banking and Payments at FIS, and previously worked at Calypso Technology (now part of Nasdaq), SunGard, Wall Street Systems, and Deutsche Bank. His appointment follows the move to Singapore of Bob McCooey, vice chairman and head of international listings. McCooey, who has spent more than two decades at Nasdaq, will work more closely with regional companies seeking access to global capital. Nasdaq announced the changes on October 25, 2026.

Fortune

Oct 23rd, 2026

Nasdaq CEO urges national fraud strategy as global losses hit $579B

Nasdaq chair and chief executive officer Adena Friedman has called for a National Fraud Strategy to coordinate efforts across the financial system and beyond. She proposed it at an American Banker event on Tuesday, citing information sharing, common best practices, and legal safe harbours as ways to disrupt criminals. Nasdaq Verafin's 2026 Global Financial Crime Report estimates fraud losses reached $579.4 billion in 2025, with scam-related losses at about $62 billion. "This challenge is simply too large and evolving too quickly for any single institution to solve alone," Friedman said. Greg Williamson of Nasdaq Verafin said criminals use AI to automate attacks and personalise scams. They increasingly manipulate consumers into authorising payments themselves, often through emotional appeals such as love or fear. The framework would link financial institutions, technology platforms, telecommunications providers, payment networks, and law enforcement.

Yahoo Finance

Oct 23rd, 2026

Nasdaq Q3 revenue jumps 14% to $1.5B as cloud and anti-financial crime demand surges

Nasdaq reported third-quarter 2026 net revenue growth of 14% year over year to $1.5 billion, driven by demand for cloud technology and index products. The company announced the results on its earnings call on October 22, 2026. Cloud migration is lifting contract sizes: 85% of fintech bookings were for cloud-based solutions. Demand for Nasdaq Verafin, its financial crime prevention software, also rose, with 12 enterprise deals signed year to date against nine in all of last year. Bruce ATS agreed to use Nasdaq's trading technology to power the first 24/7 US equities trading ecosystem. Free cash flow reached $616 million for the quarter. Nasdaq plans to spend on organic technology investment and share repurchases.

KuCoin

Oct 22nd, 2026

Nasdaq Foundation grant helps Marketplace expand financial literacy content

Marketplace, owned by American Public Media, has received a grant from the Nasdaq Foundation's Economic Opportunity Initiative to expand its financial literacy content. The source gives no grant amount. The money will bundle Marketplace's best reporting and learning material into one digital hub. It will also widen classroom-ready resources through educational partners and reach audiences online, particularly on social media. The project centres on four podcasts: Million Bazillion, Financially Inclined, This Is Uncomfortable, and Must Be the Money. Neal Scarbrough, vice president and general manager of Marketplace, said the support will help it "expand the depth, discoverability, and reach of these resources.

Associated Press

Oct 22nd, 2026

Nasdaq Q3 net revenue rises 13% to $1.5B as ARR hits record $3.4B

Nasdaq reported third quarter 2026 net revenue of $1.5 billion, up 13% from a year earlier. Solutions revenue rose 17% to $1.2 billion, and annualized recurring revenue hit a record $3.4 billion, up 12%. Financial Technology revenue grew 16% to $529 million. Index revenue jumped 39% to $286 million, helped by $49 billion of net inflows in the quarter. GAAP diluted earnings per share rose 31% to $0.96. Non-GAAP earnings per share rose 18% to $1.04. Nasdaq returned $173 million to shareholders through dividends and $323 million through share repurchases. It also completed the acquisition of LeveL Markets, which closed early in the fourth quarter.

Nasdaq

Principal Software Engineer

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