Software Developer Principal Engineer – Plugin Architecture & Enterprise Java (Smart Connectors)

Overview

Job Title: Principal Engineer – Plugin Architecture & Enterprise Java (Smart Connectors)

Location: Hybrid Experience: 12+ years Employment Type: Full-time

About The Role

You will lead the design and implementation of a dynamic plugin framework for our flagship Java product, enabling customers to extend core functionality at runtime. Your expertise will guide the development of Java-based plugins—spanning external databases, ETL pipelines, reporting engines, and more—that compile independently and load via factory patterns into our platform.

Responsibilities

• Plugin Framework Design
• Architect and evolve a modular, extensible plugin infrastructure using factory patterns, custom class loaders, or OSGi-like mechanisms.
• Define clear extension points, APIs, and lifecycle management for third-party integrations.
• Integration & Extensibility
• Lead development of sample plugins and reference implementations (e.g., JDBC connectors, ETL adapters, reporting modules).
• Ensure robust versioning, backward compatibility, and dependency isolation.
• Performance & Security
• Optimize plugin loading time, memory footprint, and runtime stability.
• Establish sandboxing or permission models to secure untrusted code.
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Collaborate with product management to capture integration requirements and prioritize extension scenarios.
• Mentor engineers on best practices for API design, dynamic loading, and plugin testing frameworks.
• Quality & Automation
• Define CI/CD pipelines for plugin builds, automated tests, and deployment artifacts.
• Champion end-to-end test suites, including integration tests against multiple plugin types.
  
  

Qualifications

• 12+ years in Java SE/EE, with deep expertise in classloading, reflection, and module systems.
• Proven track record building or evolving plugin/extension frameworks in large-scale applications.
• Strong programming skills in design patterns (Factory, Strategy, Service Locator) and architectural principles for extensibility.
• Experience integrating with diverse technologies: RDBMS, NoSQL, ETL tools, reporting engines, etc.
• Solid grasp of build tools (Maven), artifact repositories, and dynamic dependency management.
• Familiarity with security practices for executing third-party code at runtime.
• Hands-on with CI/CD automation (Jenkins, GitLab CI, or equivalent) and test frameworks (JUnit, TestNG).
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience with OSGi, Java Module System (Jigsaw), or similar plugin ecosystems.
• Knowledge of containerized deployments and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Exposure to Gen AI tools for code generation or automated testing.
• Open-source contributions or published papers on modular architectures.
  
  

What We Offer

• Opportunity to influence product direction and architecture.
• A collaborative and learning-focused environment.
• Access to modern tools and Gen AI platforms.
• Competitive salary and performance bonuses
• Health insurance
• Hybrid work model
  
  

Company Description

At Quest, we create and manage the software that makes the benefits of new technology real. Companies turn to us to manage, modernize and secure their business, from on-prem to in-cloud, from the heart of the network to the vulnerable endpoints. From complex challenges like Active Directory management and Office 365 migration, to database and systems management, to redefining security, and hundreds of needs in between, we help you conquer your next challenge now. 

We’re not the company that makes big promises. We’re the company that fulfills them. 

We’re Quest: Where Next Meets Now. 

Why work with us!

• Life at Quest means collaborating with dedicated professionals with a passion for technology. 
• When we see something that could be improved, we get to work inventing the solution. 
• Our people demonstrate our winning culture through positive and meaningful relationship. 
• We invest in our people and offer a series of programs that enables them to pursue a career that fulfills their potential. 
• Our team members’ health and wellness is our priority as well as rewarding them for their hard work. 
  
  

Quest is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.  

Come join us. For more information, visit us on the web at Quest Careers | Where next meets now. Join Quest.

Job seekers should be aware of fraudulent job offers from online scammers and only apply to roles listed on quest.com/careers using our applicant system. Note: We do not use text messaging or third-party messaging apps like Telegram to communicate with applicants, so please exercise caution if you are approached in this way and only interact with people claiming to be Quest employees if they have an email address ending in @quest.com or @oneidentity.com