Principal Software Engineer
Principal Software Engineer6 Month ContractSeaTac, WashingtonThe TeamGuided by a shared purpose, core values, and leadership principles, this organization builds technology solutions that support critical business operations and customer‑facing experiences. Corporate and technology teams set strategy and deliver scalable, reliable systems across finance, HR, operations, marketing, data, and technology.If you’re excited about using AI and automation to transform how work gets done, this team would love to connect.Role SummaryThe Principal Software Engineer, AI & Automation serves as the lead subject matter expert in AI‑enabled full‑stack software engineering and low/no‑code automation.As a hands‑on individual contributor, this role defines long‑term technical strategy for agile development teams, develops and supports products end‑to‑end, and regularly delivers production software (ranging from daily to bi‑weekly releases). Solutions span custom software development, AI services, and Microsoft Power Platform technologies (Power Apps and Power Automate).This role also provides technical leadership for a team of approximately seven (7) engineers by setting technical direction, aligning work across initiatives, mentoring engineers, and ensuring high‑quality delivery. The position requires significant autonomy to solve complex problems and influence how teams apply AI, automation, and modern engineering practices to deliver business value.Key DutiesAct as the lead subject matter expert in AI, automation, and full‑stack software engineering on an agile delivery team, collaborating with product owners, designers, and engineers to deliver value iteratively.Coordinate and lead the technical delivery of a team of approximately seven engineers, including setting technical direction, aligning priorities, planning work, and driving execution through influence.Serve as the AI and automation technology SME for product teams, representing technical solutions to business stakeholders and leadership.Architect, engineer, test, and release scalable, secure, and maintainable end‑to‑end solutions, including:Custom software and APIsCloud‑based AI services (e.g., LLMs, cognitive services, AI Builder)Microsoft Power Apps and Power Automate workflowsEnsure delivery of high‑quality software through clean coding practices, pair programming, test‑driven development (TDD), continuous integration, code reviews, and appropriate monitoring and observability for AI‑enabled workflows.Influence the development of AI and automation technology strategy aligned with department and enterprise goals.Partner closely with business stakeholders to understand processes, user journeys, and operational pain points, translating needs into effective AI‑powered and automated solutions.Facilitate design sessions, technical reviews, and demos, clearly communicating tradeoffs and concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences.Stay current with emerging trends in AI/ML, large language models, and low/no‑code development, applying modern concepts to real‑world solutions.Advocate for responsible AI use, governance, and sustainable automation practices.Mentor engineers and citizen developers across teams using a deep understanding of systems, workflows, and business operations.Job‑Specific Experience, Education & SkillsRequired7+ years of experience in software engineering or a related fieldBachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experienceExperience as a full‑stack software engineer building high‑scale, n‑tier applications using object‑oriented languages (e.g., C#, Java)Strong understanding of design patterns and clean, maintainable code practicesExperience building distributed systems using modern cloud technologiesProven ability to lead and coordinate the technical delivery of teams of 7+ engineersHands‑on experience delivering AI‑enabled or advanced automation solutionsExperience with low/no‑code or workflow automation platforms (preferably Microsoft Power Platform)Strong mentoring skills and commitment to code quality (SOLID principles, modern design patterns)Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to drive adoption of new technologiesPreferred / Nice‑to‑HaveExperience with test data management tools (e.g., Parasoft, IBM Optim)Experience with Microsoft technologies (.NET, .NET Core, SQL Server, Azure)Experience with Angular (v10+)Experience leading large or complex initiatives across multiple teamsExperience with containers and orchestration tools (Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift)Experience with automated testing (front‑end and back‑end)Deep experience with AI/ML technologies, including:Large Language Models (LLMs)Azure OpenAI or Cognitive ServicesAI Builder or similar platformsExperience with Power Apps, Power Automate, and custom connectorsFamiliarity with SRE and DevOps practices (especially Azure DevOps)Experience working in Agile / Lean environmentsExperience leading discovery sessions or design workshopsExperience enabling and mentoring citizen developers in governed low/no‑code environments