Principal AI Engineer

Provides expert level software and application development services, including the direction, evaluation, selection, configuration, implementation, and integration of new and existing technologies and tools. Directs the business assessment and requirements analysis processes, for the development of hardware and operating systems across multiple teams.

At Vanguard, we’re building next-generation AI-powered platforms to drive innovation and impact. As a Principal AI Engineer, you’ll work with cutting-edge tools, large language models (LLMs), and emerging frameworks to develop intelligent systems. You’ll collaborate with senior engineers and product teams—gaining hands-on experience while contributing to real-world AI solutions.

As a Principal AI Engineer, you will be a pivotal technical leader driving the identification, design, and hands-on implementation of AI-powered solutions that directly address critical business and IT challenges. Your focus will include prompt engineering, guardrail design, and experimentation to ensure safe, scalable, and effective AI applications. You’ll also mentor junior peers and share practical insights gained through your work.

What You'll Do

• Develop and enhance AI agents and backend systems for Vanguard’s AI platform, integrated with relevant pipelines and observability

• Evaluate LLMs and emerging technologies to identify innovation opportunities

• Design and optimize prompts for LLMs

• Implement safeguards to ensure secure, ethical AI responses

• Build APIs, microservices, and data integrations for AI features

• Write clean, maintainable code following industry best practices

• Provide vision, direction and expertise to leadership on implementing innovative and significant business solutions

• Lead the development team to build and orchestrate scalable and resilient AI applications powered by AI models, in close collaboration with cross functional teams within the organization

• Stay current on AI best practices and emerging technologies; recommend impactful innovations

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of hands-on engineering experience with proven AI application development (LLMs, embeddings, vector search, RAG pipelines, and fine-tuning)

• 5+ years' hands on programming and/or scripting experience in one or more of the following: Java, Python, Shell scripting, etc.

• 5+ years’ experience with Infrastructure as code (IaC) implementation using Terraform, Crossplane or any other industry equivalent solutions

• 5+ years’ experience with AWS Cloud Platform, and/or Microsoft Azure hands on experience

• 5+ years’ experience with enterprise grade automation solutions design and implementation experience using tools such as Ansible, Harness CD, GitHub Actions, Playwright etc.

• 2+ years of experience with AI, Gen AI, Agentic automation solutions design and development

Desired Qualifications:

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects with limited supervision and high accountability

• Proven track record in enterprise-scale AI deployments, model migration projects, and innovation initiatives

• Demonstrated thought leadership through the publication of at least one white paper and/or presentation at well‑known industry conferences.

Special Factors

Sponsorship

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission—we're on a mission.

To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.