Distinguished Software Engineer

Here at Appian, our values of Intensity and Excellence define who we are. We set high standards and live up to them, ensuring that everything we do is done with care and quality. We approach every challenge with ambition and commitment, holding ourselves and each other accountable to achieve the best results. When you join Appian, you’ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to accomplishing hard things, together. As a Distinguished Software Engineer at Appian you have the intuition, knowledge, communication and coordination abilities to steer the technical direction of the product. You are a reference to other engineers as a member of feature teams and a trusted advisor to product management. You collaborate with other architects to promote consistency of the platform, inspire design discipline, and continuously advance the state of Appian’s technology. This role is based at our HQ in McLean, VA. Appian was built on a culture of in-person collaboration, which we believe is a key driver of our mission to be the best. Employees hired for this position are expected to be in the office 5 days a week to foster that culture and ensure we continue to thrive through shared ideas and teamwork. We believe being in the office provides more opportunities to come together and celebrate working with the exceptional people across Appian. Responsibilities: Autonomously lead transformational technical initiatives that address real, open-ended business problems. Identify, understand, and bring to fruition technology trends and innovations relevant to Appian. Identify technical constraints to engineering effectiveness and lead initiatives to address them. Fully own an operational or functional area within the architecture group. Develop product features to the highest engineering standards as a member of teams. Spike robust solutions to clear architectural runway ahead of feature development. Regularly conduct and report on design reviews. Advise product management on technical opportunities and constraints. Serve as advisor to multiple engineering teams to provide broad technical expertise and design oversight. Mentor and be an example to other engineers. Promote, document, and disseminate design best practices for building world-class software. Contribute ideas to continuously improve the organization and processes of the architecture function. Effectively communicate technical designs and vision verbally, visually and/or in writing for small to large sized technical and non-technical audiences. Contribute to Appian's long-term documentation through publishing relevant, high-quality content to Engineering's technical documentation site Preferred Experience Level: MS in Computer Science or related field/degree and 7+ years of relevant experience, or a BS and 10+ years of relevant experience; Experience in a high-volume or critical production service environment; Fluency in Java, experience with multiple programming paradigms and database technologies. Prior functional and/or operational responsibility a plus. Education: B.S. in Computer Science or related field, advanced degree preferred Tools and Resources Training and Development: During onboarding, we focus on equipping new hires with the skills and knowledge for success through department-specific training. Continuous learning is a central focus at Appian, with dedicated mentorship and the First-Friend program being widely utilized resources for new hires. Growth Opportunities: Appian provides a diverse array of growth and development opportunities, including our leadership program tailored for new and aspiring managers, a comprehensive library of specialized department training through Appian University, skills based training, and tuition reimbursement for those aiming to advance their education. This commitment ensures that employees have access to a holistic range of development opportunities. Community: We’ll immerse you into our community rooted in respect starting on day one. Appian