Principal Architect (AI)

TL;DR

Principal Architect (AI): Leading the architecture, development, and deployment of agentic AI products with an accent on LLMs, AI agents, and large-scale distributed systems. Focus on guiding 80+ engineers, making high-impact architectural decisions, engaging executive stakeholders, and delivering AI solutions for high-stakes public-sector missions.

Location: Washington, DC, United States

Salary: $284,800–$356,000 USD base salary for a full-time position, plus potential equity and benefits.

Company

Scale AI develops reliable AI systems, high-quality data, and full-stack technologies for enterprises, governments, and leading AI model developers.

What you will do

• Lead and mentor an engineering organization of 80+ engineers while fostering technical excellence, ownership, speed, and resilience.
• Set technical direction for complex systems involving LLMs, AI agents, and large-scale distributed architectures.
• Make high-impact architectural decisions across product development and deployment.
• Represent the organization in strategic discussions and high-stakes negotiations with senior external partners and public-sector customers.
• Define and communicate the technology vision, while reporting progress, risks, and opportunities to senior leadership.
• Establish a high-velocity engineering cadence and turn mission solutions into scalable product offerings.

Requirements

• 10+ years of software engineering experience, including 5+ years in a technical leadership or staff role.
• Deep knowledge of modern AI and ML technologies, including hands-on experience with LLMs and AI agents.
• Proficiency in Python, JavaScript, or TypeScript.
• Hands-on experience with Kubernetes and cloud infrastructure on AWS, GCP, or Azure.
• Strong product and business judgment, with experience aligning engineering efforts with company goals.
• Experience engaging executives, industry partners, and public-sector customers in ambiguous and fast-changing environments.

Culture & Benefits

• Inclusive and equal-opportunity workplace focused on bringing employees' whole selves to work.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement benefits, learning and development stipend, and generous paid time off.
• Potential equity compensation and commuter stipend for eligible roles.

Hiring process

• Compensation and level are determined during the interview process based on location, experience, qualifications, and interview performance.
• Candidates must wait 90 days before reapplying for the same role after an application decision.