Principal Software Engineer, Docker Agents (London)

Docker1 months ago

Location

London, UK

Workplace

Remote

Type

Full Time

Salary

GBP 180,000 – 250,000

Level

Principal

Role

Principal Software Engineer

Posted

Jan 20, 2026

Full TimeRemotePrincipal

The role

Summary

Docker is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to lead the development of containerized AI agent infrastructure, focusing on expanding the open-source Docker Agent project. The role involves technical leadership in building scalable, portable container-based systems for AI agents, with a critical emphasis on innovation in container technology and AI integration.

What you'll do

Technical Leadership: Define long-term technical strategy for containerized agent platform, including core primitives, APIs, and extensibility patterns

Agent System Development: Design and implement containerized AI agent systems ensuring isolation, scalability, and portability

Open Source Engagement: Maintain and evolve the open-source Docker Agent project, adding new containerized agent deployment capabilities

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Lead technical discussions and influence architectural decisions across Docker's AI initiatives

What we look for

Technical

Go ProgrammingStrong proficiency in Go, Docker's primary backend language

Container TechnologyDeep understanding of Docker, containerization, and container orchestration

System ArchitectureAbility to design scalable, distributed production systems

Education

Computer Science DegreeBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent practical experience

Experience

Senior Engineering Leadership10+ years of software engineering experience, including 3+ years in technical leadership roles

AI/ML SystemsPractical experience with large language models and agent development patterns

Skills

Required skills

GoAdvanced Go programming skills mandatory for backend systems

Container TechnologiesExpert-level understanding of Docker and containerization

System DesignProven ability to architect scalable distributed systems

Nice to have

AI FrameworksExperience with CrewAI, AGNO, ADK, LangChain/LangGraph

PythonProficiency in Python for AI prototyping and tooling

KubernetesExperience with container orchestration platforms

Compensation & benefits

Salary

GBP 180,000 – 250,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Remote Flexibility

Remote-first work culture with flexible arrangements

Home Office Support

Technology setup stipend and home office support

Parental Leave

16 weeks of paid parental leave

Professional Development

Training stipend for conferences, courses, and classes

Equity

Stock options in a growing startup

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Technical resume and background review
2
Technical Phone Screen — Detailed discussion of engineering experience and technical capabilities
3
Technical Interviews — Multiple rounds of in-depth technical interviews focusing on system design, coding, and architectural skills
4
Leadership Interview — Assessment of technical leadership and cross-functional collaboration abilities