What You'll Do

We are seeking a high‑agency, AI‑native Software Engineer who is passionate about building real‑world AI systems that deliver measurable business impact. This is not a research or exploratory role focused on theoretical model development. This is a hands‑on engineering role for a builder who thrives on turning ideas into production‑grade solutions at scale.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be energized by taking AI solutions from concept to prototype, through production, and ultimately to scalable deployment
• Actively experiment with emerging models, frameworks, and agentic architectures to solve complex problems
• Demonstrate a strong problem‑solving mindset, approaching challenges with creativity, resilience, and a bias toward action
• Believe AI should enable tangible business outcomes, not just technical novelty
• Excel in ambiguous environments, moving quickly while maintaining strong engineering discipline and best practices

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead development of custom AI agents and agentic patterns using AWS Bedrock and related services
• Own proof-of-concept creation for new AI capabilities and innovation initiatives
• Drive end-to-end delivery of AI use case solutions from design through production
• Serve as senior technical execution lead, providing guidance and code review to engineering team members
• Collaborate with the AI Architect to translate architectural decisions into working implementations
• Evaluate and integrate emerging AI tools, frameworks, and patterns
• Contribute to reusable agent patterns, skills, and libraries used across engineering teams

Who You Are

• 8+ years of software engineering experience with increasing technical leadership responsibility
• Hands-on experience building applications with large language models, AI agents, or generative AI services
• Strong experience with agentic patterns (tool use, multi-agent orchestration, MCPs, skills, AI CLI platforms)
• Proficiency with AWS services (Bedrock, Agent Core, Lambda, S3, OpenSearch, or similar)
• Experience with Python, TypeScript, or other languages commonly used in AI/ML development
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical execution — taking initiatives from concept to production
• Strong collaboration skills; able to work across architecture, product, and engineering functions

Preferred Qualifications

• MLOps — Docker, Kubernetes, ML lifecycle management, model monitoring
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure-as-code, and DevOps practices
• System design — distributed systems, API design, scalable architectures
• Experience working with distributed or offshore engineering teams
• Background in financial services or regulated industries

Salary Range Information

Salary Range (Non-Exempt expressed as hourly; Exempt expressed as yearly)

Time Off Program

Pension Eligible

Work Environment

This role offers in-office, hybrid (blending at least three office days in a typical workweek), and remote work arrangements (only if residing more than 30 miles from Des Moines, IA, Raleigh, NC, or Charlotte, NC). You’ll work with your leader to figure out which option may align best based on several factors.

Hours

This role will partner with our global teams and has an expectation for flexibility in your work schedule to have a regular start time around 7:30am CST a few days a week.

Work Authorization/Sponsorship

At this time, we're not considering candidates that need any type of immigration sponsorship now or in the future or those needing work authorization for this role. (This includes, but is not limited to students on F1-OPT, F1-CPT, J-1, etc.)

Nonimmigrant Workers and Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants

Investment Code of Ethics

For Principal Global Investors positions, you’ll need to follow an Investment Code of Ethics related to personal and business conduct as well as personal trading activities for you and members of your household. These same requirements may also apply to other positions across the organization.

Experience Principal

At Principal, we value connecting on both a personal and professional level. Together, we’re imagining a more purpose-led future for financial services – and that starts with you. Our success depends on the unique experiences, backgrounds, and talents of our employees. And we support our employees the same way we support our customers: with comprehensive, competitive benefit offerings crafted to protect their physical, financial, and social well-being. Check out our careers site to learn more about our purpose, values and benefits.

Principal is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

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