AI Builder · Spec-Driven Development · Agentic Orchestration
We're looking for a Principal Engineer who want to work at the frontier of how software gets built. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship, including visa expiration limitations.
This role starts with strong, traditional engineering fundamentals. At its core, this is a Principal-level full-stack engineering position. You will be expected to bring deep hands-on experience designing, building, and owning production systems using languages such as Java, C#, Dart, JavaScript, or similar.
As an AI-First Software Engineer — what Silicon Valley increasingly calls an AI Builder — you won’t spend your day writing code line by line. However, in order to succeed in this role, you must first be a deeply capable engineer who understands how systems are built without AI. AI is used to accelerate development outcomes, but strong engineering judgment, system design, and real-world production experience are the foundation of success in this role.
You will design robust, scalable systems, write clear and precise technical specifications, guide implementation through both hands-on engineering and AI-assisted workflows, and validate that every output meets enterprise standards. The job is architecture first, backed by proven engineering depth.
You’ll need to hold an application’s entire shape in your head — from the mobile UI, through the API, down to the database and the cloud infrastructure underneath it. This is a full-stack role grounded in strong engineering fundamentals, with AI used as a multiplier only after the system is clearly defined.
Who We Are
As the United States’ largest light industrial staffing company and a broad workforce solutions provider, our digital-enabled approach to staffing is rooted in a rich history of delivering high-quality, scalable workforce solutions to the organizations driving the American supply chain. Our colleagues are guided by our purpose of Championing People, Unlocking Potential, and they bring this to life every day as they help put hundreds of thousands of people to work at thousands of companies across the country. The foundation of our culture is built upon a bridge to better, offering our colleagues rewarding and growth-oriented experiences that positively impact the lives of others and businesses in innovative and meaningful ways.
What You'll Do
Architect & Specify
- Design end-to-end system architectures spanning mobile (Flutter), web (React), backend (Java/Spring Boot or similar), and cloud infrastructure (AWS or equivalent)
- Write detailed, unambiguous technical specifications that clearly define behavior, dependencies, edge cases, and system constraints
- Decompose complex features into dependency-ordered tasks
- Work across teams to ensure architectural alignment and anticipate downstream impacts
Build & Engineer
- Design, develop, and maintain core frameworks, components, and services used across multiple applications
- Contribute hands-on to implementation where needed, especially for critical or complex areas
- Ensure all solutions are grounded in real-world production considerations including scalability, performance, and reliability
- Develop highly scalable APIs and services using modern architecture patterns
Orchestrate & Generate
- Use AI tools (Claude, Copilot, or similar) to assist in generating implementation once systems are clearly defined
- Apply AI selectively as a multiplier while maintaining full ownership of system quality
- Drive efficient development workflows that combine strong engineering fundamentals with AI-assisted acceleration
Validate & Ship
- Conduct thorough code reviews and enforce engineering standards across all systems
- Identify and resolve architectural gaps, edge cases, and system inconsistencies before production
- Ensure enterprise-grade reliability through proper testing strategies, validation, and observability
- Own production readiness, including performance, error handling, and system stability
Lead & Scale
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers across teams
- Partner with architects and cross-functional teams to drive alignment and best practices
- Help onboard new technologies, patterns, and engineering practices across the organization
- Act as a force multiplier, raising the quality and capability of the broader engineering team
What We’re Looking For
Required
- 5+ years of strong, hands-on software engineering experience with principal-level depth
- Proven experience building production systems using Java, C#, Dart, JavaScript, or similar
- Full-stack capability across frontend, backend, databases, and cloud infrastructure
- Strong systems thinking — ability to design and reason end-to-end (UI API DB infrastructure)
- Demonstrated experience building scalable, distributed systems in production environments
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to reason through real-world technical scenarios
- Experience designing and developing APIs, microservices, and enterprise-level applications
- Experience working with CI/CD pipelines, cloud deployments, and modern engineering practices
- Ability to clearly communicate architectural decisions, trade-offs, and solutions
- Experience handling production issues, debugging complex systems, and addressing edge cases
- Experience mentoring engineers and leading technical initiatives
Preferred
- Experience with microservices architecture and service-oriented design
- Experience with AWS, Azure, or similar cloud platforms
- Experience building highly scalable and distributed systems
- Background in enterprise or platform engineering environments
- Experience with frontend frameworks (React, Flutter, or similar)
- Familiarity with AI tools (Claude, Copilot, etc.) as part of development workflows
- Experience working in fast-paced, high-output engineering teams
What Success Looks Like
First 30 Days
- Understand the existing systems, architecture, and engineering standards
- Contribute to design discussions and begin working on features
- Demonstrate strong system-level thinking and technical clarity
First 90 Days
- Independently design and deliver full-stack features with architectural ownership
- Write clear, structured specifications and ensure implementation aligns
- Demonstrate strong judgment around scalability, reliability, and production readiness
First Year
- Own major application modules or services end-to-end
- Act as a technical leader and mentor across teams
- Help evolve how AI is used within development without compromising engineering standards
Why This Role Is Different
Most roles that focus on AI overemphasize tools and underemphasize engineering fundamentals. In this role, strong traditional engineering comes first. AI is an amplifier—not a substitute.
We are looking for engineers who already understand how systems are built, scaled, and maintained in real production environments—and who can then use AI to accelerate development without sacrificing quality.
If you are a strong engineer who wants to operate at a higher level of leverage—designing systems, making architectural decisions, and using AI to increase speed while maintaining control—this role enables you to do exactly that.
Employbridge offers a competitive base salary plus monthly bonus potential! Additional benefits package for full time colleagues that includes:
- High IQ / EQ Team
- Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision benefits starting on the first of the month following hire date
- Pet Insurance starting on the first of the month following hire date
- 8 Paid Holidays per year
- Paid Time Off
- 401(k)
- Wellness Program
- Parental Leave
The anticipated annual base salary for this position in the US is $185,000 - $193,000. This range does not include any other compensation components or other benefits that an individual may be eligible for. The actual base salary offered depends on a variety of factors, which may include as applicable, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.
Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
Employbridge offers a competitive benefits package which includes Medical/Dental/Vision, prescription drug benefits, 401(k), paid time off and holidays, a wellness program, and incentive programs. We also offer a variety of career paths and encourage promotion from within.
EmployBridge is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
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 (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
