Principal Software Engineer

<meta><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><b><strong style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">The Opportunity</strong></b></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><br></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer to join and lead engineering at Root. As a Principal Engineer, you will be the primary technical leader within a product domain. You’ll work very closely with the software engineers on your team(s) to plan, design and deploy valuable software as well as the broad set of stakeholders to define the strategy and overall roadmap for the domain.</span></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><br></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Root is a “work where it works best” company. This means we will support you working in whatever location that works best for you across the US.</span></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><br></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><b><strong style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Salary Range:</strong></b><span style="color:rgb(32,32,34);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color:rgb(32,32,34);font-size:10.5pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">$223,552 - $259,000 </span><span style="color:rgb(32,32,34);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">(Eligible for Competitive Bonus & Equity Offering)</span></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><br></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><b><strong style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">How You Will Make an Impact</strong></b></p><ul data-pattern="discCircleSquare" data-depth="1" style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;margin:8px="" 0px;line-height:1.6;padding:0px="" 0px="" 32px;list-style-type:disc;"=""><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Drive end-to-end execution of large-scale, strategic initiatives that materially improve business outcomes (e.g., revenue, loss ratio, customer experience).</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Align leaders and teams around high-value initiatives, ensuring clarity on priorities, tradeoffs, and expected impact.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Make and influence decisions on organizational structure, team topology, and resource allocation to enable successful execution of critical initiatives.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Set and guide priorities across multiple teams and domains, balancing short-term delivery with long-term scalability and resilience.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Lead cross-functional collaboration with Product, Data Science, and business stakeholders to translate strategy into coordinated execution.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Establish and evolve technical standards, architecture, and best practices that scale across the organization.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Communicate complex technical and strategic concepts to drive decision-making and alignment at the executive level.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Coach and influence engineering leaders and senior ICs, raising the organization’s ability to identify opportunities and deliver business impact at scale.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Coordinate with Staff Engineers across the organization to establish and evangelize standards and best practices.</span></li></ul><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><br></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><b><strong style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">What You Will Need to Succeed</strong></b></p><ul data-pattern="discCircleSquare" data-depth="1" style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;margin:8px="" 0px;line-height:1.6;padding:0px="" 0px="" 32px;list-style-type:disc;"=""><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">10+ years as a software engineer</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Proven leadership of projects involving multiple teams across functional domains</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Excellent communication skills both with engineering colleagues and senior business leaders</span></li></ul><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><br><span style="color:rgb(29,28,29);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);white-space:pre-wrap;">As part of Root's interview process, we kindly ask that all candidates be on camera for virtual interviews. This helps us create a more personal and engaging experience for both you and our interviewers. Being on camera is a standard requirement for our process and part of how we assess fit and communication style, so we do require it to move forward with any applicant's candidacy. If you have any concerns, feel free to let us know once you are contacted. We’re happy to talk it through.</span></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><br></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><span style="color:rgb(29,28,29);white-space:pre-wrap;">Please see our Privacy Notice available </span><a href="http://inc.joinroot.com/california-job-applicant-privacy-notice/" target="_blank" class="css-173makr-linkStyle" style="color:rgb(30,74,169);cursor:pointer;"><span style="color:rgb(29,28,29);white-space:pre-wrap;">HERE</span></a><span style="color:rgb(29,28,29);white-space:pre-wrap;"> for more information on how we process your personal data.</span></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><br></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><span style="color:rgb(29,28,29);white-space:pre-wrap;">Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is the policy of Root to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or candidate with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship for Root. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact recruiting@joinroot.com</span></p>

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Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...