Software Developer Contract Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

What You'll Do

We’re looking for an Experienced Software Engineer to join our Retirement & Income Solutions (RIS) business. In this role, you’ll contribute to the modernization of our retirement recordkeeping platform by building scalable services, enabling complex system integrations, and delivering high-quality solutions that support our long-term technology strategy. 

You will work within a highly integrated ecosystem that includes internal platforms and external solutions, requiring strong engineering fundamentals and a focus on reliable, well-defined system interactions. 

You’ll have the opportunity to: 

• Design, build, and support scalable, reliable, and performant applications that enable core business capabilities 

• Develop and maintain integrations across APIs, file-based interfaces, and batch processing patterns 

• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to ensure systems integrate effectively and meet shared objectives 

• Contribute to platform modernization efforts by building new capabilities and enabling connectivity across evolving systems 

• Participate in technical design discussions, helping define interface contracts, data exchanges, and integration patterns 

• Make well-reasoned technical decisions by evaluating tradeoffs across performance, scalability, and maintainability 

• Ensure solutions meet non-functional requirements such as performance, security, scalability, and resiliency 

• Advocate for engineering best practices, including code quality, automated testing, and delivery discipline 

• Troubleshoot integration and production issues, with a focus on reliability, traceability, and operational stability 

• Take ownership of features of increasing complexity, driving them from design through delivery in collaboration with the team 

• Work cross-functionally to deliver outcomes in a fast-paced, evolving environment 

Who You Are

We’re looking for someone with: 

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree with a preference in a science, technology, engineering, or math related field or equivalent work experience 

• 2+ years of AWS experience is required.  

• 2+ years of vendor integration experience is required.  

• Must have the desire to learn new technology and continuously grow. 

• Ability to work on cross-functional teams and collaborate with both IT and non-IT partners 

• May be required to provide on-call support 

Additional preferred technical experience: 

• Python and Java 

Salary Range Information
Salary ranges below reflect targeted base salaries. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation for all roles will be based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.
Salary Range (Non-Exempt expressed as hourly; Exempt expressed as yearly)
$84600 - $187200 / year
Salary Details

The following levels and locations are examples of market-specific salary ranges across different job levels and geographies. Candidates will be evaluated to determine the appropriate job level based on their skills and experience. 

• Wichita, KS:
  • Software Engineer III: $84,600 - $114,400 / year
  • Sr. Software Engineer I: $104,400 - $144,400 / year
• Des Moines, IA:
  • Software Engineer III: $89,300- $120,650 / year
  • Sr. Software Engineer I: $110,200 - $148,200 / year
• Charlotte, NC:
  • Software Engineer III: $94,00- $127,00 / year
  • Sr. Software Engineer I: $116,000 - $156,000 / year
• Chicago/Minneapolis:
  • Software Engineer III: $103,400 - $139,700/ year
  • Sr. Software Engineer I: $127,600 - $171,600 / year
• Los Angeles/New York City:
  • Software Engineer III: $112,800 - $152,400 / year
  • Sr. Software Engineer I: $139,200- $187,200 / year

Time Off Program
Flexible Time Off (FTO) is provided to salaried (exempt) employees and provides the opportunity to take time away from the office with pay for vacation, personal or short-term illness. Employees don't accrue a bank of time off under FTO and there is no set number of days provided.
Pension Eligible
Yes

Job level

We’ll consider talent at the next level with the right experiences and skills.

Work Environments

This role offers in-office, hybrid (blending at least three office days in a typical workweek), and remote work arrangements (only if residing more than 30 miles from Des Moines, IA, or Charlotte, NC). You’ll work with your leader to figure out which option may align best based on several factors.

Work Authorization/Sponsorship

At this time, we're not considering candidates that need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but IS NOT LIMITED TO: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For additional information around work authorization needs please use the following links.

Nonimmigrant Workers and Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants

Investment Code of Ethics

For Principal Global Investors positions, you’ll need to follow an Investment Code of Ethics related to personal and business conduct as well as personal trading activities for you and members of your household. These same requirements may also apply to other positions across the organization.

Experience Principal

While our expertise spans the globe, we're bound by one common purpose: to foster a world where financial security is accessible to all. And our success depends on the unique experiences, backgrounds, and talents of our employees – individually and all of us together. Explore our core values, benefits and why we’re an exceptional place to grow your career.

Principal is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Posting Window
We will accept applications for 3 full days following the Original Posting Date, after which the posting may remain open or be removed based upon applications received. If we choose to post the job again, we will accept additional applications for at least 1 full day following the Most Recently Posted Date. Please submit applications in a timely manner as there is no guarantee the posting will be available beyond the applicable deadline.
Original Posting Date
6/25/2026
Most Recently Posted Date
6/25/2026
 

Principal uses artificial intelligence tools to assist in reviewing and evaluating job applications, fraud prevention, and candidate matching and comparisons. These AI tools support our human recruiters in the initial review process but do not make final hiring decisions without human involvement. By submitting your application, you acknowledge this use of AI in our recruitment process. Please review our Workforce (U.S.) Privacy Notice for more details on our practices and your data privacy rights.

LinkedIn Remote Hashtag

#LI-RemoteQualifications:

We’re looking for someone with: 

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree with a preference in a science, technology, engineering, or math related field or equivalent work experience 

• 2+ years of AWS experience is required.  

• 2+ years of vendor integration experience is required.  

• Must have the desire to learn new technology and continuously grow. 

• Ability to work on cross-functional teams and collaborate with both IT and non-IT partners 

• May be required to provide on-call support 

Additional preferred technical experience: 

• Python and Java 

Education:UNAVAILABLEEmployment Type: FULL_TIME