Wells Fargo

Principal AI Engineer

Wells Fargo$159K — $305K *
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 7+ years of Engineering experience or equivalent in related fields
  • 7+ years of senior engineering experience in architecture and delivery of large scale platforms
  • 4+ years developing or deploying AI-powered tools and understanding AI risks
  • 3+ years of hands-on experience with Cloud architectures such as AWS, Google Cloud, Azure
  • 3+ years balancing technical depth and executive communication skills

Responsibilities

  • Advise business and technology executives, influencing strategy and application development
  • Lead architecture and delivery of enterprise-scale AI and cloud initiatives
  • Translate business objectives into scalable engineering solutions
  • Partner with senior leaders to define AI roadmaps and success metrics
  • Stay updated on industry trends and proactively identify innovations
  • Mobilize cross-functional initiatives, resolving challenges as the technical authority
  • Drive executive ideation sessions to identify high-value AI use cases

Benefits

  • Health benefits
  • 401(k) Plan
  • Paid time off
  • Disability benefits
  • Life and critical illness insurance
  • Parental leave
  • Critical caregiving leave
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Adoption reimbursement
  • Discounts and savings
  • Commuter benefits
  • Scholarships for dependent children
Full Job Description

About this role:

This role focuses on designing and delivering enterprise‑scale strategic initiatives in reusable AI patterns that deliver business and customer value.

This is a hands‑on, business facing, Principal Engineer role for a technical leader who designs, builds, and scales AI‑driven platforms, while operating at enterprise scope. The Principal Engineer serves as a technical authority who codes, prototypes, and reviews architecture, not just oversees execution


In this role, you will:

  • Act as a trusted advisor to business and technology executives, influencing enterprise strategy and guiding the development of applications, platforms, security, data, and AI capabilities that address complex business challenges and create measurable customer and business value.
  • Lead the strategy, architecture, and delivery of enterprise-scale AI, cloud, and modernization initiatives by partnering with business leaders to identify opportunities, shape use cases, and translate emerging technologies into practical business outcomes.
  • Translate enterprise business objectives, customer needs, and operational challenges into scalable engineering solutions, including reusable architectures, AI-enabled platforms, and production-grade capabilities that accelerate adoption across the organization.
  • Partner directly with senior executives, product leaders, and engineering teams to evaluate strategic priorities, define AI roadmaps, establish success metrics, and communicate technical opportunities, tradeoffs, risks, and implementation strategies.
  • Maintain deep awareness of industry trends, emerging technologies, and advances in AI, proactively identifying innovations that improve productivity, decision-making, customer experiences, operational efficiency, and competitive advantage.
  • Mobilize and influence large-scale, cross-functional initiatives by aligning business and technology stakeholders, resolving complex challenges, and serving as the senior technical authority for critical platform, data, and AI decisions.
  • Drive AI opportunity discovery and executive ideation sessions, helping business leaders identify, prioritize, and mature high-value use cases while establishing clear business outcomes, investment rationale, and adoption strategies.

Required Qualifications:

  • 7+ years of Engineering experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education
  • 7+ years of senior engineering experience, including architecture and hands‑on delivery of large‑scale platforms and systems
  • 4+ years of experience developing or deploying AI‑powered tools, chatbots, LLM‑based automation, or agentic workflows, including understanding of AI risks, observability needs, and stakeholder communication
  • 3+ years of hands‑on experience across Cloud architectures including Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, AWS, etc. and internal platforms such as Tachyon
  • 3+ years of experience operating at both keyboard‑level technical depth and executive‑level technical storytelling

Desired Qualifications:

  • Experience leading technology strategy and delivery within agile product operating models in large, complex enterprises, including cloud-native platforms and modern software engineering practices.
  • Financial services experience preferred; Business Banking domain experience is beneficial but not required
  • Demonstrated ability to mentor and influence senior technical talent, establish engineering standards, and elevate architecture and delivery practices across multiple teams and organizations.
  • Proven ability to engage and influence senior business executives, translating strategic priorities and operational challenges into high-impact AI use cases, technology roadmaps, and measurable business outcomes.
  • Demonstrated experience evaluating, prototyping, and scaling Generative and Agentic AI capabilities while balancing innovation, risk management, governance, and responsible AI principles.
  • Strong organizational savvy, executive presence, and customer centricity, with the ability to influence senior leaders, navigate complex enterprise environments, and align technology investments to measurable business outcomes
  • Experience partnering directly with business executives and product leaders to identify strategic opportunities, shape technology roadmaps, and translate business objectives into scalable solutions.
  • Experience building or scaling enterprise AI platforms, developer frameworks, reusable services, or shared capabilities that accelerate adoption across multiple business domains.
  • Ability to evaluate technology investments through a business value lens, including defining success metrics, prioritizing opportunities, and articulating ROI to executive stakeholders.
  • Experience delivering technology solutions within highly regulated industries, balancing innovation with security, compliance, audit, and risk management requirements.
  • Proven ability to drive enterprise adoption of emerging technologies through influence, stakeholder engagement, and cross-functional change leadership.


Job Expectations:

  • Flexibility to work across global teams
  • Ability to travel as needed
  • This position offers a hybrid work schedule
  • This position is not eligible for Visa sponsorship

Job Location:

333 Market St - San Francisco, California 94105

300 S. Brevard - Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

2600 S Price Rd - Chandler, Arizona 85286

3075 Loyalty Cir -COLUMBUS, OH 43219

Pay Range

Reflected is the base pay range offered for this position. Pay may vary depending on factors including but not limited to demonstrated examples of prior performance, skills, experience, or work location. Employees may also be eligible for incentive opportunities.

$159,000.00 - $305,000.00

Benefits

Wells Fargo provides eligible employees with a comprehensive set of benefits, many of which are listed below. Visit for an overview of the following benefit plans and programs offered to employees.

  • Health benefits
  • 401(k) Plan
  • Paid time off
  • Disability benefits
  • Life insurance, critical illness insurance, and accident insurance
  • Parental leave
  • Critical caregiving leave
  • Discounts and savings
  • Commuter benefits
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Scholarships for dependent children
  • Adoption reimbursement

Posting End Date:

24 Sep 2026

*Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo Careers

Joining Wells Fargo means becoming part of a distinguished financial institution that has been a cornerstone of innovation and leadership in the banking industry. At Wells Fargo, we offer a plethora of job opportunities designed to empower your career growth and development in a diverse and inclusive environment.

Work You’ll Do

At Wells Fargo, you will be part of a team that values diversity and is committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We are looking for professionals who are eager to drive innovation and lead with integrity. Our employees are our greatest asset, and we invest in their professional growth through comprehensive leadership and diversity training programs that are recognized industry-wide.

Explore a Multitude of Career Paths

Whether you're interested in a position in finance, IT, customer service, or management, Wells Fargo has career opportunities in various fields. Our team members benefit from job stability, competitive benefits, and a culture that values and rewards performance and dedication.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with a Wells Fargo internship. Our programs provide invaluable industry exposure, professional skills development, and networking opportunities that often lead to full-time employment offers. Interns at Wells Fargo work on real projects, solve actual challenges, and gain the mentorship of seasoned professionals.

Professional Growth and Development

We believe in nurturing the potential of our employees. Wells Fargo offers robust training programs and resources to help every team member excel in their current roles and prepare for future challenges. Growth at Wells Fargo is not just about climbing the career ladder but expanding your skills and expertise to add value to our team and customers.

Benefits and Rewards

Wells Fargo is committed to the well-being of our team members. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes health care, retirement plans, and generous paid time off. Additionally, we provide unique perks like employee discounts, adoption assistance, and tuition reimbursement.

Join Our Team

Discover the opportunities waiting for you at Wells Fargo by exploring open positions that match your skills and interests. We are continuously hiring and looking for individuals who bring creativity, passion, and a drive to serve our customers.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest from Wells Fargo Careers by subscribing to our job alert emails. Tailor your subscription to receive updates that align with your career preferences and get insider tips on crafting the perfect resume and acing your interview.

Networking and Innovation

At Wells Fargo, networking and innovation go hand in hand. We encourage our employees to connect across departments and roles to foster new ideas and strategies that lead to groundbreaking solutions.

Empower Your Career

Step into a role at Wells Fargo where your skills will be honed, your achievements recognized, and your career can flourish. We're not just filling positions; we're building leaders who are equipped to navigate the complexities of the financial world. Join Wells Fargo today and be part of a team that’s redefining the future of banking.
Learn more about Wells Fargo
Size
246,577 employees
Market Cap
$155.2 billion
Industry
Net Income
$3.3 billion
Founded
1852
5 Year Trend
-5.9%
NASDAQ

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Wells Fargo

More Finance & Insurance Jobs

Find similar Principal AI Engineer jobs: