Introduction to Demandbase:Demandbase is the only pipeline AI platform that empowers GTM teams to automate growth at scale. With a unified view of data, insights, actions, and outcomes, B2B enterprises can seamlessly align and execute their account-based GTM strategies with confidence. Thousands of businesses trust Demandbase to maximize revenue, minimize waste, and consolidate their data and tech stacks – all in one platform. As a company, we’re as committed to growing careers as we are to building world-class technology. We invest heavily in people, our culture, and the community around us. We have also continuously been recognized as One of The Best Places To Work in the San Francisco Bay Area by Fortune, and One of The 60 Best Companies To Sell For by Selling Power. Our offices are located in San Francisco, New York, Austin, Seattle, India, and the United Kingdom. About the RoleAs a Principal Software Engineer, you will architect and deliver AI-native platforms that redefine how Demandbase builds and scales intelligent systems. You will serve as a technical north star, leading the transition from traditional SaaS architectures to autonomous, agent-driven systems powered by generative AI.This is a Staff/Principal-level individual contributor role with enterprise-wide technical influence. You will define architectural direction, partner closely with Product and Engineering leadership, and ensure our infrastructure and platforms are built to support large language models (LLMs), agentic workflows, and real-time AI-driven capabilities at scale.The base compensation range for this position are for candidates based in San Francisco, CA. For all other locations, the base compensation range is based on the primary work location of the candidate as our ranges are location specific. Actual compensation packages are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skillset, years of experience, and depth of experience.ResponsibilitiesCore EngineeringDesign and architect scalable, cloud-native microservices optimized for LLMs, agentic frameworks, and real-time AI data synthesis.Define and drive the technical roadmap for AI-native systems aligned with the company’s AI-first product strategy.Build and optimize production-grade AI/ML systems, including RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) pipelines and vector database architectures.Lead architectural planning for AI agents, inference optimization, and AI workload scaling (latency, reliability, and cost efficiency).Establish best practices for observability, resiliency, and cloud-native deployments in environments with non-deterministic AI outputs.Drive CI/CD modernization, automation, and AI-assisted engineering workflows to accelerate developer velocity.Leadership & Business AcumenTranslate the company’s AI-first vision into production-ready technical strategies and scalable infrastructure decisions.Partner with Product and Engineering leadership to align AI innovation with measurable business outcomes.Lead cross-team architectural initiatives that span multiple engineering domains and platform layers.Set engineering standards for modern AI system design, balancing experimentation velocity with operational discipline.Influence organizational technical direction, bridging emerging AI research and scalable product delivery.Collaboration & MentorshipCollaborate with Staff and Principal Engineers across teams to integrate multi-modal AI capabilities across the platform.Provide architectural guidance through design reviews, system-level discussions, and technical strategy forums.Mentor senior engineers on AI-native system design, distributed architectures, and scaling AI-heavy workloads.Contribute to documentation, architectural standards, and knowledge-sharing initiatives across the organization.Foster a culture of high-velocity experimentation, technical rigor, and AI-driven innovation.Qualifications10+ years of professional software engineering experience, with 3+ years operating in a Staff or Principal-level capacity.Proven track record of architecting and shipping complex, intelligent systems beyond traditional CRUD-based applications.Deep expertise in distributed systems, high-level and low-level system design, and performance optimization.Hands-on experience building or deploying production-grade AI/ML features utilizing LLMs, agentic frameworks, or similar technologies.Strong proficiency in Python (preferred for AI/ML workflows), Java, or Scala.Experience with Kubernetes, modern container orchestration, and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure).Hands-on experience with vector databases (e.g., Pinecone, Milvus, Weaviate) and scalable AI infrastructure.Strong understanding of CI/CD automation and AI-augmented development workflows.Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience building AI-first systems.Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence senior technical and business stakeholders.BenefitsOur benefits include options for up to 100% paid Medical and Vision premiums for employees, a flexible PTO policy, paid holidays, and access to mental health and wellness resources. We also provide a 401(k) with pre-tax, after tax, and roth options, as well as short-term/long-term disability, life insurance, and other great benefits.Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at DemandbaseAt Demandbase, we believe in creating a workplace culture that values and celebrates diversity in all its forms. We recognize that everyone brings unique experiences, perspectives, and identities to the table, and we are committed to building a community where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported. Discrimination of any kind is not tolerated, and we strive to ensure that every individual has an equal opportunity to succeed and grow, regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, background, marital status, genetic information, education level, veteran status, national origin, or any other protected status. We do not automatically disqualify applicants with criminal records and will consider each applicant on a case-by-case basis.We recognize that not all candidates will have every skill or qualification listed in this job description. If you feel you have the level of experience to be successful in the role, we encourage you to apply!We acknowledge that true diversity and inclusion requires ongoing effort, and we are committed to doing the work required to make our workplace a safe and equitable space for all. Join us in building a community where we can learn from each other, celebrate our differences, and work together.Unsolicited SubmissionsAt Demandbase, we value thoughtful partnerships and direct connections with candidates. We’re not accepting unsolicited resumes or outreach from third-party recruiting agencies. Any unsolicited submissions will not be reviewed, and no fees will be paid.