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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Senior Principal Software Engineer - **Company:** Shutterfly, Inc. - **Location:** Charlotte, NC, United States (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $159,750.0 - $220,250.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** A/B Testing, Artificial Intelligence, Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems, Software Debugging, Distributed Systems, Software Engineering, Cloud Platform System, Large Language Models, Multi-Agent Systems, Build Management, AI Platforms, Information Technology, Low Latency, Machine Learning Operations, Virtual Agents, Software Coding - **Published:** July 31, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=1a988de2a3397909 ## About the Role * 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, * Masters degree in an Engineering discipline or Computer Science Experience building 0 * 1 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 ## 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 ## Related Videos - [This App Reached 10,000 Users in One Week. Here's How.](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100329-this-app-reached-10-000-users-in-one-week-here-s-how) - [The Software Engineer 2030: From Coder To AI Orchestrator? - Patrick Schnell](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1825-the-software-engineer-2030-from-coder-to-ai-orchestrator-patrick-schnell) - [Bringing the power of AI to your application.](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1010-bringing-the-power-of-ai-to-your-application) - [Swapping Low Latency Data Storage Under High Load](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/746-swapping-low-latency-data-storage-under-high-load) - [Building the Next Generation of Software](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100186-building-the-next-generation-of-software) - [Beyond Autocomplete: Local AI Code Completion Demystified](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/961-beyond-autocomplete-local-ai-code-completion-demystified) ## Related Articles - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [Navigating the AI Shift](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/629-navigating-the-ai-shift) - [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers) - [Fully Remote Software Engineer Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/447-fully-remote-software-engineer-jobs) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated)