Principal Software Engineer - Python (AI Team)

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Define and drive the technical vision and roadmap for AI/GenAI systems, aligning with company objectives and future growth.
• Provide architectural leadership for complex, large-scale AI systems, ensuring scalability, performance, and maintainability.
• Act as a thought leader in AI technologies, influencing cross-functional technical decisions and long-term strategies.
• Lead the development of state-of-the-art generative AI solutions, leveraging advanced techniques such as transformer models, diffusion models, and multi-modal architectures.
• Drive innovation by exploring and integrating emerging AI technologies and best practices.
• Mentor senior and junior engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and technical excellence.
• Elevate the team's capabilities through coaching, training, and providing guidance on best practices and complex problem-solving.
• Take full ownership of high-impact projects, from ideation and design to implementation, deployment, and monitoring in production.
• Ensure the successful delivery of projects with a focus on quality, timelines, and organizational alignment.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers, data scientists, and engineering leadership, to deliver cohesive solutions.
• Act as a trusted advisor to stakeholders, clearly articulating technical decisions and their business impact.
• Champion best practices for software development, CI/CD, and DevOps, ensuring robust and reliable systems.
• Monitor and improve the health of deployed services, conducting root cause analyses and driving preventive measures.
• Lead the adoption of new tools, frameworks, and methodologies to enhance team productivity and product capabilities.
• Stay at the forefront of AI/GenAI research, contributing to thought leadership and the AI community.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field; Ph.D. is preferred but not required.
• 10+ years of professional software development experience, including 5+ years in AI/ML or GenAI.
• Proven track record of designing and deploying scalable, production-grade AI solutions.
• Deep expertise in Python and frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, FastAPI, and LangChain.
• Advanced knowledge of AI/ML algorithms, generative models, and large language models (LLMs).
• Proficiency with cloud platforms (e.g., GCP, AWS, Azure) and modern DevOps practices.
• Strong understanding of distributed systems, microservices architecture, and database systems (SQL/NoSQL).
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical initiatives, influence teams, and mentor engineers.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Nice to Have

• Experience with multi-modal models, reinforcement learning, and responsible AI principles.
• Advanced knowledge of GCP technologies such as VertexAI, BigQuery, GKE, and DataFlow.
• Contributions to the AI/ML community through publications, open-source projects, or speaking engagements.
• Familiarity with agile methodologies and working in a DevOps environment.

Qualifications

• Educational background in Computer Science, Engineering, or related fields; Ph.D. preferred but not required.
• 10+ years of software development experience with at least 5+ years in AI/ML or GenAI.

Benefits & Perks

• Competitive salary range of $142,100 to $204,200 USD, with potential short-term and long-term incentives.
• Comprehensive benefits package available on UKG's careers site.
• Work environment that supports personal and professional growth, including wellness programs and tuition reimbursement.
• Inclusive culture with active employee resource groups and supportive leadership.