Principal Software Engineering

This position requires office presence of a minimum of 5 days per week and is only located in the location(s) posted. No relocation is offered.

AT&T will not hire any applicants for this position who require employer sponsorship now or in the future.

Join AT&T and help shape the future of communications and technology that connect the world. We value innovators who seek to explore the unknown and challenge the status quo. Bring your bold ideas and fearless spirit to redefine connectivity and transform how people share stories and experiences. At AT&T, you won’t just imagine the future-you’ll build it.

What you’ll do:

As a Principal Software Engineering, you will be a lead architect for AT&T's AI-powered tools, automation platforms, and Agentic AI ecosystem, responsible for building and scaling the software foundation that enables converged wireline and wireless planning, intelligent automation, and AI-driven decision-making. The role combines strategic thinking, AI expertise, technical architecture, and execution capability to solve complex business problems. This leader will identify transformational opportunities, architect enterprise-scale solutions, and drive measurable outcomes through Artificial Intelligence, automation, modern platforms, and data-driven decision making.

An expert in their field, applying broad business knowledge and strategic insight surrounding emerging AI trends and technologies to solve complex problems and drive organizational results. Leads critical, high-impact projects and designs/implements innovative business strategies. Works with minimal oversight, frequently consulting senior leadership and influencing executive decisions. Serves as a mentor and assists others with challenging issues. The successful candidate is AI-first in their approach to problem solving. They instinctively evaluate how AI, automation, agents, copilots, and intelligent workflows can augment people, simplify processes, and accelerate business outcomes before defaulting to traditional solutions.

This role requires equal strength in strategy, leadership, architecture, and delivery. The ideal candidate can communicate with executives, influence business leaders, guide engineering teams, and personally build prototypes, proofs of concept, and production-grade solutions when necessary.

What you’ll bring:

• Enterprise AI Leadership
  • Champion responsible and scalable adoption of generative AI technologies across the organization.
  • Evaluate AI use cases and guide teams through ideation, prioritization, and implementation.
  • Ensure AI solutions align with governance, compliance, security, and risk management requirements.
  • Drive innovation programs, AI communities of practice, and organizational enablement efforts.
  • Represent AI and technology initiatives in leadership forums, steering committees, and strategy sessions.
  • Work closely with leadership and business stakeholders to define KPIs and success metrics.

• Solution Engineering & Architecture
  • Design and oversee enterprise-scale technology solutions that integrate business processes, data, applications, and AI capabilities.
  • Develop architecture patterns, standards, and reusable frameworks.
  • Ensure solutions meet requirements for security, scalability, reliability, maintainability, and performance.
  • Lead architecture reviews and provide guidance to implementation teams.
  • Evaluate technology platforms, tools, and vendors to support strategic objectives.
  • Drive architectural consistency across business units and initiatives

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement
  • Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive developments.
  • Pilot new capabilities and assess their business applicability.
  • Scale successful proof-of-concepts into enterprise-ready solutions.
  • Identify opportunities for AI agents, copilots, workflows, and automation solutions to improve productivity.
  • Capture lessons learned and institutionalized best practices.

What you’ll need:

• Required Experience:
  • 7+ years of related experience in area of professional responsibility
  • Building AI-enabled business solutions
  • Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and modern AI platforms.

• Desired Experience:
  • Technical Skills:
    • Strong software and AI development experience using one or more modern programming languages:
      • Python
      • Java
      • LangGraph
    • Git, CI/CD, and DevOps practices
    • Experience building and consuming APIs and web services.
    • Strong SQL skills, experience working with enterprise-scale datasets to build data pipelines and automation workflows.
    • Understanding of cloud platforms and data ecosystems.
    • Experience creating analytics solutions and data visualizations.

• • AI / Machine Learning Enablement
    • Integrate AI services, LLMs, predictive models, and intelligent automation capabilities into business workflows.
    • Support development and deployment of AI and machine learning solutions.
    • Prepare, transform, and engineer data for ML and GenAI use cases.
    • Partner with business teams to identify opportunities for AI-driven process improvements.
    • Evaluate emerging AI technologies and recommend practical business applications.
    • AI APIs, MCPs and model integration

• Desired Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree (BS/BA) in Computer Science or Engineering preferred.

Supervisor: No

Our Principal Software Engineering jobs earn between $174,100.00 - $261,100.00 USD Annual. Not to mention all the other amazing rewards that working at AT&T offers. Individual starting salary within this range may depend on geography, experience, expertise, and education/training.

Joining our team comes with amazing perks and benefits:

• Medical/Dental/Vision coverage
• 401(k) plan
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Paid Time Off and Holidays (based on date of hire, at least 23 days of vacation each year and 9 company-designated holidays)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Caregiver Leave
• Additional sick leave beyond what state and local law require may be available but is unprotected
• Adoption Reimbursement
• Disability Benefits (short term and long term)
• Life and Accidental Death Insurance
• Supplemental benefit programs: critical illness/accident hospital indemnity/group legal
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
• Extensive employee wellness programs
• Employee discounts up to 50% off on eligible AT&T mobility plans and accessories, AT&T internet (and fiber where available) and AT&T phone

Weekly Hours:

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AT&T and its subsidiaries are committed to equal employment opportunity. All hiring, promotion, and other employment decisions remain merit-based and free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, pregnancy, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. In addition, AT&T will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. AT&T is a fair chance employer and does not initiate a background check until an offer is made. Click here to learn more or request an application accommodation here.