Full Job Description
We are seeking a Senior Principal Software Engineer to lead the design and development of next-generation Agentic AI platforms and applications that power personalization, lifecycle engagement, and customer journeys across Shutterfly. This is a high-impact, hands-on technical leadership role responsible for shaping the architecture, design and implementation of AI systems that directly drive conversion, customer satisfaction, and long-term growth.
Note: We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position at this time. This position is a remote role that will be based in the United States with preference given to candidates in the metro areas of Phoenix, AZ; Dallas, TX and/or Charlotte, NC areas.
What You'll Do
Own and Build Agentic AI Platforms
Architect and build scalable agentic AI systems that power various seamless experiences for customers that drive conversion and customer delight.
Develop multi-agent systems that reason, plan, and take actions across tools and services
Build Autonomous agents operating across end-to-end customer journeys
Build reusable platforms, not one-off solutions
Enable multiple teams to innovate independently
Drive End-to-End Technical Strategy
Define platform abstractions and reusable capabilities that enable teams across the organization to build and deploy AI-powered experiences independently
Contribute to, define and lead architecture for AI platforms integrated into Shutterfly
Build foundational capabilities including:
Evaluation frameworks for AI quality, safety, and business impact
Scalable inference and orchestration infrastructure
Ensure systems are highly available, performant, and production-grade at scale
Be Deeply Hands-On
Maintain deep hands-on involvement in prototyping, architecture, and critical production systems, setting the standard for engineering excellence.
Leverage modern AI tooling (LLMs, agents, vector databases, orchestration frameworks)
Set the standard for AI-driven engineering productivity and development practices
Lead by example in coding, design reviews, and system debugging
Deliver Measurable Business Impact
Define and track AI-specific success metrics, including model quality, latency, cost efficiency, and business KPIs
Partner with Product, UX, and Data teams to translate AI capabilities into:
Increased conversion and revenue
Improved customer experience and engagement
Faster time-to-market for new capabilities
Drive experimentation (A/B testing) and ensure AI systems deliver quantifiable outcomes
Lead Across the Organization
Influence architecture and execution across multiple teams and domains:
Ecommerce platform (shopping, cart, checkout)
Creation flows and personalization systems
Marketing technology and lifecycle platforms
Mentor senior engineers and leaders; raise the bar on AI and system design excellence
Champion adoption of agentic AI and AI-first development practices across engineering
What Success Looks Like
Agentic AI systems measurably improve conversion, AOV, and engagement
AI capabilities are deeply embedded across customer journeys
Teams adopt AI-first development practices at scale
Platform enables rapid experimentation and innovation across orgs
Basic Qualifications
Bachelors degree in an Engineering discipline or Computer Science
12+ years of software engineering experience with deep expertise in distributed systems
Proven track record of architecting and delivering large-scale, high-impact systems
Experience influencing and leading cross-organizational technical strategy
Strong hands-on coding and system design skills
Experience operating large-scale, highly available cloud systems
Demonstrated ability to translate advanced technology into business impact
Preferred Qualifications
Masters degree in an Engineering discipline or Computer Science
Experience building 01 AI platforms or products in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
Experience building AI/ML systems, especially with:
LLMs, agent frameworks, and retrieval systems
Multi-agent architectures and orchestration
Experience in consumer-facing products or ecommerce platforms
The compensation package for this role is based on multiple factors, such as job level, responsibilities, location, and candidate experience. The base pay ranges included below are specific to the locations listed, and may not be applicable to other locations.
California : [$170,000-240,750]
Connecticut and New York: [$170,000-220,250]
Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and Washington: [$170,000-204,000]
Nevada: [$159,750-220,250]
Maryland and New Jersey: [$183,500-220,250]
This position may be eligible for a bonus incentive, health benefits, a 401K program, and other employee perks. More details about our company benefits can be found at https://shutterflyinc.com/benefits/.
This opportunity can be remote, but candidates must reside in a state in which Shutterfly is registered to do business. This includes all US states except District of Columbia, North Dakota, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming.
This position will accept applications on an ongoing basis until filled.
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