Principal Software Engineer - Snowflake Intelligence

Snowflake2 weeks ago

Location

US-CA-Menlo Park

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 264,000 – 379,500

Level

Principal

Role

Principal Software Engineer

Posted

Feb 26, 2026

Full TimePrincipal

The role

Summary

Snowflake is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to lead AI strategy for Snowflake Intelligence, defining the technical vision for enterprise AI data products. This role requires 10+ years of software engineering experience with 3+ years leading large-scale LLM application deployments, focusing on agentic reasoning, NL-to-SQL, and enterprise RAG systems.

What you'll do

Technical Strategy & Architecture: Define the long-term technical vision for Snowflake Intelligence and lead architectural design of multi-agent systems, complex tool-use frameworks, and self-correcting NL-to-SQL engines

Reliability Infrastructure: Build world-class automated 'hill-climbing' infrastructure and establish methodology for measuring and guaranteeing LLM performance across diverse customer schemas

Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner with Product and Engineering leadership to align AI capabilities with business goals, bridging the gap between Research and Production teams

Ecosystem Design: Design extensible 'context engineering' patterns including advanced function calling and semantic layer integration for use by other Snowflake teams and external developers

Technical Mentorship: Act as a force multiplier by mentoring Staff and Senior engineers, leading cross-functional strike teams on high-stakes projects, and fostering technical excellence culture

Frontier Problem Solving: Tackle complex problems in agentic reasoning, NL-to-SQL, and enterprise-scale RAG to ensure AI products are innovative, reliable, and scalable for Fortune 500 companies

What we look for

Technical

LLM OrchestrationDeep understanding of LLM orchestration with expertise in prompt optimization, semantic modeling, and building robust guardrails for non-deterministic systems

Systems IntegrationProven track record of designing complex systems that integrate AI with traditional data stacks including SQL, Retrieval Systems, and Semantic Layers

Multi-Agent SystemsExperience with architectural design of multi-agent systems and complex tool-use frameworks

Enterprise RAGExpertise in enterprise-scale Retrieval-Augmented Generation systems and agentic reasoning

NL-to-SQLDeep knowledge of Natural Language to SQL translation and self-correcting engine development

Education

Bachelor's DegreeBachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science, AI, or related field

Experience

Software Engineering10+ years of software engineering experience with proven impact in high-level IC roles

LLM Applications3+ years specifically leading deployment of LLM-based applications at massive scale

Technical LeadershipPreviously held Principal or equivalent high-level IC role, or led technical launch of major AI product used by millions

Communication SkillsExceptional ability to communicate complex technical trade-offs to both executive leadership and individual contributors

Skills

Required skills

Large Language ModelsDeep expertise in LLM deployment, orchestration, and optimization at enterprise scale

AI ArchitectureProven ability to design and implement complex AI systems and multi-agent frameworks

Python ProgrammingAdvanced proficiency in Python for AI/ML development and system integration

Data SystemsExperience with SQL, data warehouses, and traditional data stack integration

Technical LeadershipDemonstrated ability to lead technical teams and influence cross-functional stakeholders

System DesignExpertise in designing scalable, reliable systems for enterprise applications

Nice to have

Prompt EngineeringAdvanced techniques for LLM prompt optimization and reliability improvement

Semantic ModelingExperience with semantic layers and context engineering patterns

MLOpsKnowledge of machine learning operations, model deployment, and monitoring

Distributed SystemsExperience with large-scale distributed computing and cloud platforms

Research BackgroundExperience bridging academic research with production systems

Product StrategyAbility to align technical capabilities with business objectives and market needs

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 264,000 – 379,500 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Health Insurance

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

Equity Compensation

Stock options and equity participation in company growth

Flexible PTO

Unlimited paid time off policy for work-life balance

Professional Development

Learning and development budget for conferences, courses, and certifications

Remote Work

Flexible hybrid and remote work arrangements

Parental Leave

Comprehensive parental leave policies for new parents

Retirement Benefits

401(k) plan with company matching contributions

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Phone/video call with recruiter to discuss background, experience, and role alignment
2
Technical Phone Screen — 45-minute technical discussion focusing on AI/ML systems design and LLM experience
3
System Design Interview — Deep-dive session on designing large-scale AI systems, multi-agent architectures, and enterprise RAG
4
AI/ML Technical Round — Technical interview focusing on LLM orchestration, prompt engineering, and AI reliability challenges
5
Leadership & Strategy — Discussion with engineering leadership about technical vision, strategy, and cross-functional collaboration
6
Final Round — Panel interview with senior leadership covering cultural fit, technical depth, and long-term vision alignment