Principal Engineer

Principal Engineer – Conversational AI & Digital PlatformsWe are seeking a highly experienced Principal Engineer to serve as the technical authority for a large-scale Conversational AI and Digital Transformation initiative. This role requires a deeply hands-on engineering leader who actively contributes to architecture, design, coding, technical reviews, and complex problem resolution. This is not a strategy-only or advisory position. The ideal candidate is an accomplished technologist who remains close to the code, drives technical excellence, and influences engineering direction across multiple teams and business domains.Key ResponsibilitiesServe as the primary technical authority for Conversational AI, digital engagement platforms, and channel integrations.Design, develop, and maintain scalable, enterprise-grade conversational AI solutions.Author architecture and design documents, conduct technical reviews, and establish engineering best practices.Write production-quality code and actively participate in debugging, troubleshooting, and resolving complex technical issues.Define and drive architectural direction across the conversational AI ecosystem, including integrations with digital channels and enterprise platforms.Collaborate with engineering teams across the organization to ensure alignment with enterprise standards and strategic technology objectives.Influence technical decisions across teams, including those outside the immediate program scope.Evaluate and implement modern AI/ML technologies, frameworks, and tooling to support evolving business needs.Provide technical leadership for cloud-native and event-driven architectures.Advocate for sound engineering practices and challenge decisions when necessary to protect long-term platform integrity and scalability.Required Qualifications12+ years of software engineering experience, including significant experience in enterprise architecture and distributed systems.Proven hands-on expertise in: Conversational AI, Natural Language Understanding (NLU), and chatbot platformsLarge Language Model (LLM) integration and orchestrationDialog management and conversation orchestration frameworksAPI design, microservices architecture, and integration patternsContact center, e-commerce, web, and mobile channel integrationsStrong experience with cloud platforms such as AWS and/or Azure.Expertise in event-driven architectures, messaging platforms, and modern AI/ML ecosystems.Demonstrated ability to influence senior engineers, architects, and cross-functional technology leaders.Strong technical credibility with a track record of delivering complex enterprise-scale solutions.Preferred QualificationsExperience in travel, hospitality, cruise, or customer experience platforms.Prior experience leading conversational AI, contact center modernization, or omnichannel digital transformation initiatives.Ability to rapidly assess, prioritize, and deliver outcomes in fast-paced environments.Success ProfileThe successful candidate is a seasoned technical operator who combines deep engineering expertise with strong organizational influence. They are respected by senior technical stakeholders, drive execution through technical leadership, and maintain a hands-on approach to solving complex engineering challenges.