Principal Architect & Technical Team Lead

Scale AI • Washington, DC

129d • $257,000 - $321,000

About The Position

We are seeking a Principal Technical Team Lead to drive the design, development, and deployment of our agentic AI products in a fast-paced, collaborative, extremely high-visibility environment. In this role, you will lead a team of 20+ engineers, providing both strategic and technical guidance. You’ll be responsible for high-impact architectural decisions, cross-company collaboration, and executive level engagements.

Requirements

• 10+ years of software engineering experience, including 5+ years in a technical leadership or staff role.
• Deep understanding of modern AI/ML technologies, including experience working with LLMs and AI agents.
• Proficient in one or more modern programming languages (Python, JavaScript/TypeScript).
• Hands-on experience with Kubernetes and cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP, or Azure).
• Strong product and business sense, with a track record of aligning engineering efforts with company goals.
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-changing environments and guide your team to do the same.
• Experience in executive level engagement with industry partners and Public Sector customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a high-performing engineering team of 20, fostering a culture of technical excellence and ownership.
• Guide your team through complex challenges involving LLMs, AI agents, and large-scale distributed systems.
• Represent Scale AI in high-stakes negotiations and strategic discussions with senior external partners, demonstrating strong technical competence and credibility.
• Develop and communicate a compelling vision for Scale AI’s technology applied to your program.
• Provide regular updates to senior leadership and key stakeholders on progress, risks, and opportunities.
• Foster a culture of speed, unity of purpose, resilience, and teamwork.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage
• Retirement benefits
• Learning and development stipend
• Generous PTO
• Commuter stipend (may be eligible)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees