How to apply for Principal Software Engineer (Java)

About Resource Innovations

Resource Innovations is a women-led company working on accessible, sustainable energy and water solutions. It builds a SaaS platform used by leading energy organizations. The company is fully remote in the US with occasional in-person meetings in select metro areas.

About the role

This is a hands-on principal software engineer role focused on Java and the architecture of an enterprise SaaS platform. You will set technical direction, modernize a complex business-critical system, and stay active in design and development. You will work with senior engineers and product leaders to translate architectural vision into practical execution.

A typical day

A typical day includes writing and reviewing Java code, working through architecture decisions with senior engineers, and aligning with product leaders on platform priorities. You will also spend time on design reviews and planning how to modernize parts of the existing system without breaking current customers. The job posting does not describe a fixed daily schedule, so ask about team rituals and meeting load during interviews.

Who Resource Innovations is looking for

• Proven experience designing and evolving large-scale enterprise systems, not just building features.
• Strong hands-on Java development skills, with the ability to remain actively involved in coding and design.
• Able to establish technical direction and translate architecture into practical execution with senior engineers and product leaders.
• Comfortable modernizing a complex, business-critical platform while respecting existing product and domain knowledge.

Tips for this application

• State your current US residence clearly, since the role requires it and no visa sponsorship is offered.
• Confirm you live in or near one of the listed metro areas (San Francisco, Chicago, Phoenix, Denver, Salt Lake City, Austin, or Madison) and note your willingness to attend occasional in-person meetings.
• Use your resume to show at least one large-scale enterprise system you helped design or evolve, including the scale and business impact.
• Include concrete Java work: frameworks, versions, system size, and your direct contributions, not just architecture diagrams.
• Mention any SaaS platform experience and any work in energy, water, or other regulated industries if you have it.

What to cover in your cover letter

Explain why you want to work on energy and water solutions at a women-led company. Describe a specific large enterprise system you modernized and what you changed. Show that you can both set architecture direction and write production Java code. Note your US residence and proximity to one of the listed metro areas if applicable.

Research before applying

• Read Resource Innovations' website and any public materials about its energy and water SaaS products.
• Look up the company's leadership to understand its women-led structure and priorities.
• Find any public engineering talks, blog posts, or job posts that describe the platform's tech stack.
• Check recent news or press releases about the company's growth, customers, or product changes.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you would modernize a complex, business-critical enterprise platform without disrupting existing users.
• A specific example of translating an architectural vision into working code with a senior engineering team.
• Your approach to balancing hands-on Java development with principal-level technical leadership.
• How you partner with product leaders and cross-functional teams to shape platform direction.
• Your experience with SaaS architecture and multi-tenant enterprise systems.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without confirming you live in the US or near one of the listed metro areas, since the role requires both.
• Presenting yourself as an architect only, without evidence of recent hands-on Java coding.
• Ignoring the energy and water domain and treating this as a generic SaaS engineering role.