Senior Principal Backend Engineer, Conversational AI

Role Description

As a Senior Principal Software Engineer on the Conversational AI team at Trellis, you’ll play a critical role in shaping the future of our AI-driven customer experiences. You’ll architect and build intelligent systems that power natural, engaging conversations between users and our platform. Working closely with cross-functional partners, you’ll transform high-level product initiatives into scalable, well-tested technical solutions.

You’ll lead the way on complex projects by:

• Defining scope and setting technical direction
• Mentoring teammates
• Guiding the team through tough challenges
• Offering thoughtful code reviews
• Contributing to a culture of continuous learning and collaboration

Whether you're onboarding new teammates or refining our LLM-driven infrastructure, you’ll be a key force behind our AI innovation.

You will report directly into John Hartley, Head of Conversational AI.

Qualifications

• 7+ years’ experience developing software in a production environment
• 4+ years’ experience in a senior engineer role
• Ability to lead projects from conception through execution
• Production experience with Node.js and Typescript
• Proven experience working in backend systems, designing RESTful APIs and codifying business logic on top of data stores
• Familiarity with GCP, Looker, BigQuery are a plus
• Exceptional ability to communicate clearly and concisely, particularly in Slack and technical documents
• Experience in product development where you were a key decision maker
• Cross-functional leadership and collaboration experience

Requirements

• Own the ideation and execution of high-impact projects that directly influence the user experience and business outcomes
• Flesh out and evolve the Conversational AI Engineering roadmap alongside product and technical leadership
• Incept projects: identify opportunities, design solutions, and lead implementation
• Guide integration efforts with external agencies and insurance carriers
• Normalize, rank, and evaluate results using ML-based predictions to determine optimal user paths
• Work closely with our Data Science team to leverage MLMs in tools like DataRobot for retention forecasting and decision logic
• Ensure scalability and performance across the platform as we continue to grow

Benefits

• ✨ A transparent, collaborative culture where ideas win, not titles
• Big opportunities to take ownership and chart your growth
• Competitive compensation (75th+ percentile)
• Fully remote across the US & Canada
• Quarterly virtual and/or in-person events that keep us connected
• Flexible vacation (yes, actually flexible)
• Health insurance starts day one
• Wellness programming, because balance matters
• 401(k) and HSA contributions, FSAs, bonuses & equity opportunities
• Paid parental leave