Remote Principal Backend Development Engineer – Enterprise Cloud, Microservices & API Architecture Leader

Why CVS Health? – A Purpose‑Driven Organization at the Forefront of Innovation

Bringing our heart to every moment of your health isn’t just a tagline—it’s the core promise that guides everything CVS Health does. As a global leader in health‑focused retail, pharmacy services, and digital health solutions, CVS Health is transforming how people access care, making it more personal, convenient, and affordable. Our Heart at Work culture empowers every employee to own the mission, innovate boldly, and collaborate across boundaries.

We are a company that thrives on diversity, inclusion, and a commitment to better health outcomes for millions of Americans. Whether you are on the front lines in a pharmacy, in a research lab, or powering the digital backbone from a home office, you are part of an ecosystem that values curiosity, humility, and a relentless drive to improve lives.

Position Overview – Shape the Future of CVS Health’s Digital Backbone

As a Remote Principal Backend Development Engineer, you will be a senior technical leader reporting to the Executive Director of Software Engineering. You will partner with high‑visibility Enterprise Digital teams to design, prototype, and ship large‑scale, cloud‑native solutions that power CVS Health’s most critical customer‑facing and internal applications. Your influence will span strategic roadmap creation, proof‑of‑concept execution, and hands‑on code that sets the standard for reliability, scalability, and performance.

This role is perfect for an experienced engineer who thrives on solving complex problems, mentoring elite engineering teams, and driving enterprise‑wide technical transformation across the cloud, microservices, streaming, and API landscapes.

Key Responsibilities – What You’ll Own and Deliver

• Technical Vision & Strategy: Define and champion an architectural roadmap for backend services, aligning cloud, microservices, and API strategies with business objectives.
• Proof‑of‑Concept Development: Lead rapid prototype initiatives that validate emerging technologies (e.g., serverless, event‑driven architectures, AI‑assisted services) and translate them into production‑ready solutions.
• Cross‑Functional Leadership: Serve as the technical owner for high‑impact projects, collaborating with product owners, UX designers, data scientists, and security teams to ensure seamless delivery.
• Mentorship & Engineering Excellence: Coach senior engineers and emerging talent, fostering a culture of code quality, automated testing, and continuous improvement.
• API Governance & Reusability: Design and enforce standards for RESTful and gRPC APIs, promoting reusable contracts across multiple consumer applications.
• Cloud & Infrastructure Expertise: Own the design of resilient, cost‑optimized solutions on Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Amazon Web Services (AWS), leveraging Kubernetes, serverless, and managed data streaming services.
• Incident Response & RCA: Provide expert-level support for critical production incidents, lead root‑cause analysis, and implement preventative measures.
• Stakeholder Advocacy: Translate complex technical concepts into clear business outcomes for senior leadership, ensuring alignment on priorities and expectations.
• Open‑Source & Community Engagement: Contribute to internal and external open‑source projects, championing knowledge sharing and industry thought leadership.

Essential Qualifications – The Foundations of Success

• 10+ years of hands‑on experience in systems analysis, application design, and full‑stack development, with a proven record of leading high‑performing engineering teams.
• 5+ years leading the design and delivery of large‑scale, mission‑critical applications in an enterprise environment.
• 3+ years of experience building and operating solutions on public cloud platforms (GCP and/or AWS), with deep expertise in container orchestration (Kubernetes) and CI/CD pipelines.
• 3+ years designing modern microservices architectures and cost‑effective, secure APIs (REST, gRPC, GraphQL).
• 2+ years working with streaming platforms such as Apache Kafka or equivalent open‑source distributions.
• Expertise in Java and Spring Boot (5+ years), complemented by familiarity with JavaScript/Node.js, Angular, or modern front‑end frameworks.
• Strong Agile background (5+ years) and experience driving scrum ceremonies, backlog grooming, and iterative delivery.
• Proficiency with DevOps tooling: Docker, Helm, Jenkins/Argo CD, Git, Maven/Gradle, JUnit, JMeter, Artifactory, and automated testing frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to manage stakeholder requirements, negotiate trade‑offs, and deliver technically sound solutions on schedule.

Preferred Qualifications – What Will Set You Apart

• Experience operating distributed teams across multiple time zones and cultural contexts.
• Background in health‑care, wellness, or related regulated domains, understanding of HIPAA, HL7, and other industry standards.
• Full‑stack development exposure, including building user‑facing features with Angular or React.
• History of influencing technical direction at the organization level, shaping roadmaps that balance innovation with reliability.
• Contributions to open‑source projects, patents, or published technical articles.
• Passion for emerging technologies such as serverless functions, AI/ML integration, or edge computing.
• Exceptional communication and facilitation skills, capable of bridging gaps between engineering, product, and executive leadership.

Core Skills & Competencies – The DNA of an Effective Principal Engineer

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to see the big picture and translate it into concrete technical initiatives.
• Problem Solving: Deep analytical mindset to dissect complex systems, identify bottlenecks, and devise elegant solutions.
• Leadership & Influence: Inspire trust, champion best practices, and drive cross‑team alignment without direct authority.
• Technical Mastery: Expert knowledge of Java, Spring ecosystem, cloud native patterns, and distributed systems design.
• Quality Advocacy: Commitment to test‑driven development, code reviews, static analysis, and performance profiling.
• Continuous Learning: Curiosity to stay ahead of industry trends, experiment with new tools, and share insights with peers.
• Communication: Clear articulation of technical concepts to non‑technical audiences, delivering concise presentations and documentation.

Career Growth & Learning Opportunities – Your Path at CVS Health

CVS Health invests heavily in employee development. As a Principal Engineer, you will have access to:

• Leadership Development Programs: Executive coaching, mentorship circles, and strategic workshops tailored for senior technical leaders.
• Technical Certifications: Funded certifications for Google Cloud Professional Architect, AWS Solutions Architect, Certified Kubernetes Administrator, and more.
• Learning Platforms: Unlimited access to Udemy, Pluralsight, Coursera, and internal learning portals covering emerging tech, architecture patterns, and soft‑skill mastery.
• Innovation Labs: Participate in internal hackathons, proof‑of‑concept sprints, and cross‑functional labs designed to push boundaries.
• Career Mobility: Opportunities to transition into senior leadership (Director, VP of Engineering) or specialized technical roles (Principal Architect, Distinguished Engineer).

Work Environment & Culture – What It’s Like to Be a Remote Team Member

Our remote culture is built on trust, autonomy, and transparent communication. You will enjoy:

• Flexible Work Hours: Align your schedule with personal peak productivity while collaborating across global teams.
• Collaborative Tools: State‑of‑the‑art virtual whiteboards, video conferencing, and async communication platforms (Slack, Teams, Confluence).
• Diversity & Inclusion: Active employee resource groups, inclusive hiring practices, and a culture that celebrates varied perspectives.
• Health & Well‑Being: Virtual wellness programs, mental health resources, and a supportive network for caregivers and veterans.
• Community Impact: Volunteer time‑off, company‑wide charity initiatives, and a focus on improving community health outcomes.

Compensation, Perks & Benefits – A Comprehensive Package

While exact figures depend on experience, location, and market factors, the role offers a competitive base salary ranging from $144,200 to $288,400 annually, complemented by a robust total‑reward package that includes:

• Performance‑based bonus and short‑term incentive programs.
• Equity award opportunities through the CVS Health stock plan.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.
• 401(k) retirement savings with company match and Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Fully‑paid term life insurance, short‑term and long‑term disability coverage.
• Generous paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and flexible sick leave policies.
• Employee discount on CVS pharmacy and retail purchases.
• Access to wellness programs, gym reimbursements, and mental‑health resources.
• Tuition assistance, professional development funds, and free learning courses.

Application Process – Take the Next Step Towards Impactful Innovation

If you are ready to bring your expertise, passion, and vision to a company that truly cares about the health of its customers and employees, we encourage you to apply today. Our recruitment team will review your application carefully and reach out to discuss next steps.

Join us, and together we’ll build the digital infrastructure that empowers millions to live healthier lives.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Click the button below to submit your application. We look forward to welcoming a leader like you to our remote CVS Health family.