Principal AI Engineer (SDLC)

Principal AI Engineer (SDLC) Generative AI & Enterprise Applications About the Role AT&T is seeking an innovative and results-driven AI Engineer to design, build, and deploy next-generation AI-powered products and platforms across the enterprise. In this role, you will take cutting-edge AI capabilities, including Large Language Models (LLMs), Generative AI, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and agentic workflows, and transform them into scalable, production-ready business applications. Unlike traditional AI research roles that focus on inventing models, this position focuses on making AI usable at scale by integrating AI technologies into enterprise software solutions through the full Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). You will collaborate with software engineers, architects, product teams, and business stakeholders to deliver secure, reliable, and highly scalable AI solutions that drive business value. This role is ideal for engineers who are passionate about application development, cloud technologies, APIs, automation, and delivering AI-driven experiences that solve real-world business challenges. Key Responsibilities AI Product Development Design, develop, and deploy AI-powered applications and platforms that support enterprise business objectives. Build Generative AI solutions using Large Language Models (LLMs), RAG architectures, and agent-based workflows. Develop intelligent assistants, copilots, chatbots, and AI automation solutions that enhance employee and customer experiences. Transform AI concepts, proofs of concept, and prototypes into production-ready software products. Software Engineering & Integration Design and build scalable APIs, microservices, and backend services that power AI-enabled applications. Integrate AI capabilities into existing enterprise platforms, business systems, and customer-facing applications. Develop secure, reliable, and reusable application components within modern software architectures. Partner with cross-functional teams to translate business requirements into technical solutions. Cloud & Platform Engineering Deploy and manage AI workloads across cloud environments including Azure and AWS. Implement containerized and cloud-native solutions using Kubernetes and modern orchestration technologies. Build and maintain enterprise-grade AI platforms capable of supporting high-volume production workloads. Optimize performance, reliability, security, and scalability of AI services. AI Operations & Delivery Establish and maintain CI/CD pipelines for AI-enabled applications and services. Implement MLOps best practices for deployment, monitoring, testing, and lifecycle management of AI solutions. Support model integration, version management, governance, and operational excellence. Monitor production environments and continuously improve platform performance and user experience. Innovation & Collaboration Evaluate emerging AI technologies and identify opportunities for enterprise adoption. Collaborate with product managers, software engineers, data scientists, UX teams, and business stakeholders. Contribute to technical architecture decisions and AI engineering best practices. Drive continuous improvement across AI development methodologies and delivery frameworks. Example Projects You May Build Enterprise Generative AI chatbots and virtual assistants AI-powered recruiting and talent acquisition solutions Customer care AI assistants powered by GPT and LLM technologies Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) platforms Multi-agent and agentic workflow automation systems AI APIs and shared enterprise AI services AI-enabled operational intelligence and analytics platforms Example at AT&T An AI Engineer may build a Network Operations Copilot that: Leverages multiple Large Language Models (LLMs) Integrates with trouble-ticket and operational systems Provides intelligent outage recommendations Surfaces network analytics and operational insights Delivers a fully deployed, production-ready software solution Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical field Experience developing enterprise applications using modern software engineering practices Strong proficiency in Python and modern application development frameworks Experience building RESTful APIs and microservices Knowledge of Generative AI technologies, LLMs, and AI application architectures Experience with cloud platforms such as Azure and/or AWS Experience working within Agile and SDLC environments Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, DevOps practices, and software release management Experience with containerization and orchestration technologies such as Kubernetes and Docker Strong problem-solving, analytical, and collaboration skills Preferred Qualifications Experience building RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) solutions Experience developing agentic AI workflows and autonomous AI systems Knowledge of MLOps platforms and machine learning deployment practices Experience integrating AI solutions into enterprise business systems Familiarity with vector databases, prompt engineering, and AI evaluation frameworks Experience developing scalable cloud-native AI applications Exposure to enterprise security, governance, and responsible AI practices Ideal Background Candidates may currently hold titles such as: AI Engineer Generative AI Engineer Machine Learning Engineer AI Solutions Engineer AI Application Engineer AI Platform Engineer Why Join AT&T? Join a team that is transforming how AI is applied across one of the world's largest technology and communications companies. You'll have the opportunity to build impactful AI products, influence enterprise innovation, and help shape the future of intelligent software delivery at scale. Our Principal Software Engineering jobs earn between $155,400.00 - $261,100.00 USD Annual. Not to mention all the other amazing rewards that working at AT&T offers. Individual starting salary within this range may depend on geography, experience, expertise, and education/training. Joining our team comes with amazing perks and benefits: Medical/Dental/Vision coverage 401(k) plan Tuition reimbursement program Paid Time Off and Holidays (based on date of hire, at least 23 days of vacation each year and 9 company-designated holidays) Paid Parental Leave Paid Caregiver Leave Additional sick leave beyond what state and local law require may be available but is unprotected Adoption Reimbursement Disability Benefits (short term and long term) Life and Accidental Death Insurance Supplemental benefit programs: critical illness/accident hospital indemnity/group legal Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) Extensive employee wellness programs Employee discounts up to 50% off on eligible AT&T mobility plans and accessories, AT&T internet (and fiber where available) and AT&T phone Apply today and help bring AI from concept to production. This position requires office presence of a minimum of 5 days per week and is only located in the location(s) posted. No relocation is offered. Weekly Hours: 40 Time Type: Regular Location: Atlanta, Georgia, Dallas, Texas AT&T and its subsidiaries are committed to equal employment opportunity. All hiring, promotion, and other employment decisions remain merit-based and free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, pregnancy, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. In addition, AT&T will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. AT&T is a fair chance employer and does not initiate a background check until an offer is made. Click here to learn more or request an application accommodation here .