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Principal Ai Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

NSF's NOIRLab

Principal AI Engineer

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$179K - $226K/yr

NOIRLab is seeking an accomplished Principal AI Engineer to define and lead the organization's artificial intelligence strategy, technical architecture, and AI engineering capabilities. This highly ...

Strive Health

Principal AI Engineer

Denver, CO

What You'll Do The Principal AI Engineer is a senior individual contributor who helps Strive turn AI into real operating leverage across the business. This role will work as a forward-deployed AI ...

Ontrac Solutions

Principal AI Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$100 - $120/hr

Overview We are seeking a Principal GenAI Architect / Forward Deployed Principal Engineer to lead the design, delivery, and productionization of enterprise-grade Generative AI solutions within a ...

Manhattan Associates

Principal AI Engineer

Atlanta, GA · On-site

They are seeking a Principal AI Engineer to design and develop advanced artificial intelligence systems that support business goals, drive AI initiatives, and mentor teams in adopting AI solutions.

Ontrac Solutions

Principal AI Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$100 - $120/hr

Overview We are seeking a Principal GenAI Architect / Forward Deployed Principal Engineer to lead the design, delivery, and productionization of enterprise-grade Generative AI solutions within a ...

ForeFlight

Principal AI Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site +1

$208K - $255K/yr

Jeppesen and ForeFlight are looking for a Principal Engineer to lead the next evolution of software development inside our organization: agentic coding, AI-native engineering workflows, and large ...

Strive Health

Principal AI Engineer

Denver, CO · On-site

What You'll Do The Principal AI Engineer is a senior individual contributor who helps Strive turn AI into real operating leverage across the business. This role will work as a forward-deployed AI ...

Insight Enterprises

Principal AI Engineer

Nashville, TN · On-site

$150 - $210/hr

We are seeking a Principal AI Engineer with deep experience in agentic systems, Google Cloud Platform and Vertex AI, large language models, clinical operations, and forward deployed engineering. In ...

Venus Consultancy

Principal AI Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

Principal Engineer (Backend / Platform)About Us We are a Cambridge, MA-based rapidly scaling Generative AI startup. Our platform enables thousands of AI Agents to "think" and cooperate for hours to ...

Tenex

Principal AI Engineer

Kansas City, MO · On-site

$180 - $240/hr

As a Principal AI Engineer at TENEX, you will be a key technical leader responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing scalable, high-performance AI systems. You will play a crucial role in ...

Tenex

Principal AI Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$180 - $240/hr

As a Principal AI Engineer at TENEX, you will be a key technical leader responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing scalable, high-performance AI systems. You will play a crucial role in ...

Stellantis

Principal AI Engineer

Auburn Hills, MI · On-site

We are seeking a Principal AI Engineer with deep, hands-on experience in Large Language Models (LLMs) to lead the design, development, and deployment of enterprise-grade AI-powered automation systems ...

Tenex

Principal AI Engineer

Sarasota, FL · On-site

$180 - $240/hr

As a Principal AI Engineer at TENEX, you will be a key technical leader responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing scalable, high-performance AI systems. You will play a crucial role in ...

Confiz Limited

Principal AI Engineer

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$180 - $230/hr

Confiz is seeking a Principal AI Engineer in the Phoenix AZ market, who can design and drive end-to-end AI-powered solutions from data engineering and model architecture to full-stack integration and ...

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All JobsPrincipal Ai Engineer Jobs

Principal Ai Engineer information

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$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do principal ai engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal ai engineer in the United States is $147,220.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Principal Ai Engineer vs Data Scientist?

AspectPrincipal Ai EngineerData Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS, AI, or related; extensive experience in AI/MLBachelor's/Master's in CS, Statistics, or related; strong analytical skills
Work EnvironmentLeading AI projects, designing algorithms, collaborating with engineering teamsAnalyzing data, building models, generating insights for business decisions
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, AI-focused firms, R&D departmentsBusiness sectors, tech companies, research institutions

The Principal Ai Engineer typically focuses on leading AI development and strategic implementation, requiring advanced technical expertise and leadership skills. In contrast, Data Scientists primarily analyze data and develop models to inform business decisions. While both roles require strong analytical backgrounds, the Principal Ai Engineer often works on more complex AI systems and architecture, whereas Data Scientists focus on data analysis and insights.

How much do principal AI engineers make?

Principal AI engineers typically earn between $130,000 and $200,000 annually, with salaries varying based on experience, location, and industry. They often hold advanced degrees and have expertise in machine learning, deep learning, and AI frameworks, which can influence compensation levels.

What does a principal AI engineer do?

A principal AI engineer leads the development and implementation of advanced artificial intelligence systems, overseeing research, design, and deployment of machine learning models. They often coordinate cross-functional teams, set technical standards, and ensure the scalability and performance of AI solutions, typically requiring expertise in programming, data analysis, and AI frameworks. This role involves strategic planning and mentoring junior engineers to drive innovation in AI projects.
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What states have the most Principal Ai Engineer jobs?

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Principal Ai Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Ai Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, 20% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 67% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 29% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Principal AI Engineer

NSF's NOIRLab

Tucson, AZ • On-site

$179K - $226K/yr

Full-time

Posted 23 days ago

Job description

NOIRLab is seeking an accomplished Principal AI Engineer to define and lead the organization's artificial intelligence strategy, technical architecture, and AI engineering capabilities. This highly visible leadership role will establish the foundational AI platforms, engineering practices, and governance framework that enable scientists, software engineers, and operations teams to harness the power of artificial intelligence in support of groundbreaking astronomical research and observatory operations.
As NOIRLab's first dedicated AI engineering leader, you will have a unique opportunity to shape how AI is adopted across one of the world's premier astronomical research organizations. You will identify and prioritize high-impact AI opportunities, build enterprise-scale AI capabilities, and deliver innovative solutions that accelerate scientific discovery, increase engineering productivity, and improve operational efficiency.
This role combines strategic vision with hands-on technical leadership. You will partner closely with researchers, software engineers, data scientists, and operational stakeholders to design, prototype, implement, and deploy production-ready AI systems. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable defining long-term AI strategy, architecting scalable AI platforms, and personally contributing to the development of advanced AI solutions.
At NOIRLab, we believe scientific discovery and technological innovation go hand in hand. We value intellectual curiosity, continuous learning, and a passion for solving complex problems. This position offers the rare opportunity to apply cutting-edge AI technologies-including machine learning, generative AI, large language models (LLMs), advanced analytics, and agentic systems-to help answer fundamental questions about our universe while advancing the future of scientific computing.
If you are energized by the challenge of building AI capabilities from the ground up and motivated by the potential to make a lasting impact on science, this is an exceptional opportunity to lead transformative innovation at a global research institution.
Key Responsibilities
AI Strategy & Technical Leadership
  • Define and execute NOIRLab's enterprise AI strategy, technical vision, and multi-year roadmap aligned with scientific, engineering, and operational goals.
  • Identify, evaluate, and prioritize high-value AI use cases that deliver measurable business and scientific impact.
  • Establish AI engineering standards, development methodologies, reusable frameworks, and best practices that support scalable adoption across the organization.
  • Assess and implement emerging technologies, including generative AI, foundation models, LLMs, AI agents, and advanced machine learning approaches.
  • Develop governance frameworks, model evaluation processes, and lifecycle management practices that ensure responsible, secure, and effective AI deployment.
  • Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and success metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of AI initiatives.
AI Platform Architecture & Solution Development
  • Design and implement secure, scalable, and production-ready AI platforms and applications that integrate with scientific research systems, software platforms, and operational workflows.
  • Lead the development of LLM-powered applications, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems, AI agents, copilots, and other advanced AI solutions.
  • Establish platform capabilities that enable experimentation, model deployment, monitoring, observability, and continuous improvement.
  • Partner with IT and enterprise technology teams to ensure AI systems meet organizational requirements for reliability, scalability, security, and compliance.
Advanced Analytics & Scientific Computing
  • Develop advanced analytics capabilities that support scientific discovery, operational decision-making, and organizational effectiveness.
  • Apply machine learning, statistical modeling, and AI techniques to large-scale scientific datasets and computational workflows.
  • Evaluate and optimize model performance, accuracy, explainability, and operational effectiveness.
  • Collaborate with researchers and technical teams to leverage AI in solving complex scientific and engineering challenges.
Technical Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Serve as the organization's senior technical authority for AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics.
  • Mentor engineers, scientists, and technical teams in AI technologies, architecture, and responsible AI practices.
  • Collaborate across scientific, engineering, and operations organizations to drive AI adoption and innovation.
  • Engage with external research institutions, observatories, and scientific communities to promote collaboration, interoperability, and knowledge sharing.
  • Foster a culture of experimentation, continuous improvement, and responsible innovation.
What You'll Bring
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • 15+ years of experience in software engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning, or related fields, including experience serving as a Principal Engineer, AI Technical Lead, Architect, or equivalent senior technical leadership role.
  • Demonstrated success designing, building, and deploying production-scale AI and machine learning solutions.
  • Deep expertise in machine learning, generative AI, large language models, modern AI architectures, and AI engineering best practices.
  • Experience developing and deploying LLM applications, RAG systems, AI agents, and foundation model-based solutions.
  • Strong background in cloud-native architecture, distributed systems, data platforms, and AI infrastructure.
  • Experience implementing AI operationalization practices, including model deployment, monitoring, evaluation, governance, and lifecycle management.
  • Expertise in secure, responsible AI development and model governance frameworks.
  • Advanced software engineering skills and proficiency with modern programming languages, frameworks, and AI development ecosystems.
  • Exceptional communication, leadership, and collaboration skills with the ability to influence diverse technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience applying AI, machine learning, or advanced analytics within scientific research environments.
  • Familiarity with astronomical datasets, observatory operations, scientific instrumentation, or related research domains.
  • Experience with high-performance computing (HPC), large-scale data processing, or scientific computing platforms.
  • Contributions to open-source software, AI frameworks, or scientific computing communities.
  • Experience building organizational AI capabilities and driving enterprise-wide AI adoption strategies.

Salary Range: $179,000-$226,000. The final salary will depend on skills, qualifications, experience and job location.
This position will remain open until it is filled. Please submit a cover letter and a CV or resume, PDF files preferred.
Individuals needing assistance with the employment process can request assistance here.
Why Join NOIRLab?
  • Lead the AI vision for one of the world's leading astronomical research organizations.
  • Build AI capabilities from the ground up with executive visibility and organizational influence.
  • Apply cutting-edge AI technologies to accelerate scientific discovery and innovation.
  • Collaborate with world-class scientists, engineers, and researchers solving some of humanity's most fundamental questions.
  • Make a lasting impact on both the future of AI and our understanding of the universe.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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