Principal software engineer at Smartsheet in Bangalore (hybrid): leading next-generation architecture for the platform, including its identity foundation and agentic identity strategy.

This Bangalore role was posted on 24 August 2026. The scope is broad and senior: lead design and implementation of Smartsheet's next-generation architecture, drive architecture strategy, and evolve the identity and access foundation - including a forward-looking brief to define how AI agents authenticate, are authorized and are audited. The listing asks for proven experience in system architecture, distributed systems and leading large-scale transformations.

About Smartsheet

Smartsheet is the Intelligent Work Management Platform: for over 20 years it has helped teams plan, track and automate work, and it is now uniting people, data and AI - including AI agents - in one platform. Its India Global Capability Center in Bangalore is described as leading global product innovation, not just supporting operations. Learn more on Smartsheet's website.

The role in plain terms

You lead architecture across the platform: scalability, security and performance; the identity and access foundation spanning authentication and authorization; and the emerging agentic identity space - machine identities, delegated authority and audit for AI agents. The listing also expects mentoring of senior engineers and design-review leadership across teams.

What you will do

Per the employer's listing, you will:

Lead the design and implementation of Smartsheet's next-generation architecture, ensuring scalability, security, and performance for millions of global users.
Define and drive architecture strategy, making key technical decisions that shape the future of the platform.
Architect and evolve Smartsheet's Identity and Access foundation — spanning authentication, authorization, and identity lifecycle — ensuring it scales securely across enterprise, multi-entity, and regulated environments.
Craft and drive the strategy for Agentic Identity, defining how AI agents authenticate, are authorized, and are audited across the platform, and establishing identity patterns for agent-to-service and agent-on-behalf-of-user flows.
Review and guide technical project designs, providing feedback during design review presentations to ensure system resilience and scalability.

What the employer asks for

These requirements are quoted from the employer's listing, kept in their exact words so eligibility details are not distorted:

Proven experience in system architecture and the design of scalable, high-availability systems across multiple programming languages and frameworks (Python, Go, Java, C/C++, SQL).
Demonstrated experience designing identity strategy for agentic and AI-driven systems — machine identities, delegated authorization, token exchange, scoped agent credentials, and auditability of autonomous actions.
Deep understanding of distributed systems, event-driven architectures, and microservices.
Strong experience in leading large-scale architectural transformations, with the ability to influence technical direction across multiple teams.
Expertise in web application development, data structures, and object-oriented design.
A track record of mentoring senior engineers, leading them through architectural challenges, and ensuring they grow into strong technical leaders.

Who this role suits

Principal-track engineers with a track record of large-scale architectural change, plus genuine identity depth - the agentic identity brief is unusual and central. Strong fit for platform architects at SaaS companies. Not for senior engineers making their first architecture jump.

Practical notes

Agentic identity - how AI agents authenticate, are authorized and audited - is a differentiator topic; form an opinion before the loop. Expect architecture reviews and a mentoring/leadership thread. Hybrid in Bangalore per the listing; posted 24 August.

How to apply

Apply directly on the employer's site: Principal Software Engineer at Smartsheet. We found this listing on the Greenhouse public job board (job-boards.greenhouse.io), where it was posted on 24 Aug 2026 and was still open when we checked on 31 Oct 2026. Before applying, re-read the employer's own description in full, since eligibility details, deadlines and process steps can change at any time and the employer's page is always the final word. Tailor your resume to the specific requirements above rather than sending a generic one: mirror the skills and tools the listing names where you genuinely have them. A short, specific note on why this team and this problem interest you goes further than a long generic cover letter. Never pay a fee to apply or interview; genuine employers, including this one, do not charge candidates.

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