Staff AI Engineer (Backend Frameworks)

Description

The company's applied grid innovation team is building backend platforms and AI agent frameworks for next-generation grid management, so that grid operators can make decisions faster, automate complex workflows, and keep energy delivery reliable at scale.

This is a senior individual contributor role for an engineer who enjoys system architecture problems and wants their code running in production, where downtime is not acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Build distributed backend systems in Python, Java, C++, or Go, including scalable microservices, APIs, and event-driven architectures that connect to SCADA, PMU data streams, and time-series databases.
• Design AI agent frameworks that coordinate machine learning models, rule engines, simulation engines, and enterprise grid services to support automation and decision-making in control rooms.
• Build production AI/ML infrastructure: model lifecycle management, inference services, agent coordination layers, and real-time feedback loops for AEMS, ADMS, and WAMS.
• Set the standard for code quality, covering automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, performance tuning, and observability.
• Work with data scientists, power systems engineers, and DevOps teams to take AI-driven solutions from prototype to production in mission-critical settings.
• Shape architecture decisions around scalability, fault tolerance, cybersecurity, and fit for on-premises control center deployments.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of professional experience in backend or distributed systems development.
• Strong proficiency in Python and at least one other backend language: Java, C++, or Go.
• Proven experience designing microservices, REST or gRPC APIs, and event-driven architectures.
• Hands-on experience running AI/ML systems in production, such as model serving, inference pipelines, or agent-based orchestration frameworks.
• Experience with AI/ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or Scikit-learn.
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines.
• A solid grasp of software architecture, concurrency, system performance, and security principles.
• Preferred: experience building software for on-premises, mission-critical, or operational technology (OT) control environments.
• Preferred: working knowledge of EMS, DMS, WAMS, SCADA, or power system operations.
• Preferred: familiarity with time-series data systems and high-throughput data processing pipelines.
• Nice to have: a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field. Total experience and professional achievements matter more to the team.

Conditions

The position is US-based, and the company will only hire people legally authorized to work in the United States for this role.

Any offer depends on passing a drug screen, where applicable.

Relocation assistance is available.

The pay range is $126,500.00 to $210,900.00. In certain areas the company pays a geographic differential of 110%, 120%, or 130% of salary. Final pay depends on factors such as experience, education, and skill set.

The posting will stay open for at least seven days after November 2, 2026.

The company may change, suspend, or end its benefit plans at any time, and this posting does not create an employment contract.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Health Coach, a 24/7 nurse-based resource, and a 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance Program for assessment, counseling, and referrals.
• A 401(k) retirement savings plan with company matching and company retirement contributions, plus Fidelity resources and financial planning consultants.
• Tuition assistance, adoption assistance, paid parental leave, disability benefits, and life insurance.
• 12 paid holidays and permissive time off.
• A discretionary annual bonus.
• Ongoing on-the-job learning and a path for career growth.