Principal AI Engineer – API Modernization (AI & Agent Systems)

26 days ago

Hyderābād, IndiaStaff+

Responsibilities

Lead modernization efforts for core APIs and platform interfaces supporting AI-native workflows and automated consumers.
Define company-wide standards for deterministic, observable, versioned, validated, and operationally safe AI-ready APIs.
Refactor legacy systems for structured machine consumption, orchestration layers, MCP integrations, and scalable agent workflows.
Design backend systems and APIs for high-concurrency automated traffic, orchestration loops, and resilient distributed workflows.
Establish architectural guardrails for idempotency, rate controls, validation, authorization, and failure containment.
Partner with AI orchestration, platform engineering, and domain engineering teams on scalable integration patterns.
Provide technical leadership across multiple engineering organizations, lead design reviews, mentor senior engineers, and improve architectural standards.
Develop pragmatic modernization strategies that balance future-state architecture with production constraints and incremental delivery.

Typically 10+ years of software engineering experience with deep expertise in backend systems, distributed architectures, and platform engineering.
Demonstrated success architecting, building, and evolving complex APIs and distributed systems at scale.
Experience modernizing legacy platforms and mission-critical production systems without disrupting business operations.
Deep knowledge of API contracts, schema design, deterministic behavior, observability, validation, versioning, authentication, authorization, and integration reliability.
Experience driving technical strategy and influencing architecture across multiple teams and organizations.
Strong fundamentals in resiliency, scalability, performance, operational excellence, and distributed systems design.
Ability to operate as a senior technical leader and subject matter expert in a complex engineering organization.
Experience mentoring senior engineers and leading architectural discussions.
Preferred experience with gRPC, Protocol Buffers, GraphQL, or other strongly typed API frameworks.
Preferred familiarity with Model Context Protocol, AI orchestration systems, LLM-powered tools and agents, event-driven architectures, workflow orchestration, and high-throughput distributed platforms.
Preferred experience with platform governance, enterprise modernization, advanced traffic management, resiliency, and AI-native product architectures.

Hybrid work arrangement requiring attendance at the Hyderabad office 2–3 times per week.
15 days of earned accrued leave, 12 sick leave days, 12 casual leave days, 11 holidays, and 4 quarterly Days of Disconnect per year.
Group mediclaim insurance coverage of INR 500,000 for the employee and eligible family members, including EAP counseling.
Life insurance and personal accident insurance.
Quarterly Best Life fitness reimbursement.
Calm App subscription for the employee and up to four dependents over age 16.
Financial support toward crèche facilities for working women.

GraphQLgRPC

1,001-5,000 employees