Principal Software Engineer

Job Summary Our client, a leading technology company, is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to design, code, test, debug and document software according to the client's systems quality standards, policies and procedures. This role involves analyzing business requirements, developing test plans and automated test scripts, executing testing procedures, identifying and resolving defects, and collaborating with business and development teams to deliver reliable software. Provides technical guidance on complex projects, manages project milestones and deliverables, and recommends process improvements to enhance software quality, performance, and scalability. May also mentor junior team members and serve as a technical subject matter expert.This position is W-2 only. We do not work with third-party firms or C2C arrangements for this role.Core ResponsibilitiesDevelop and maintain network device configuration scripts and supporting change documentation to meet project goals and deadlinesImplement network infrastructure changes during scheduled change windows, including after-hours maintenanceReview network engineering and change documentation prepared by other engineers and provide technical feedbackDevelop processes to test network applications and devices before production deployment, evaluate performance, and recommend optimization stepsProvide Tier 2 technical support to the network operations team and participate in an on-call escalation rotationTranslate business and technical requirements into actionable network solutions and deliverablesLead small- to medium-sized internal data network projects from design through implementationCreate detailed physical and logical network designs for complex enterprise environmentsServe as a technical resource and provide guidance on data, voice, mobile, and network technologies to help teams develop effective solutionsApply network automation and scripting to improve infrastructure deployment, configuration, and operational efficiencyPartner with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot issues, assess technical risks, and deliver reliable production network solutionsEvaluates and recommends software and hardware solutions to meet user needsResolves customer issues with software solutions and responds to suggestions for improvements and enhancementsWorks with business and development teams to clarify requirements to ensure testabilityDrafts, revises, and maintains test plans, test cases, and automated test scriptsExecutes test procedures according to software requirements specificationsLogs defects and makes recommendations to address defectsRetests software corrections to ensure problems are resolvedDocuments evolution of testing procedures for future replicationMay conduct performance and scalability testingRequired Skills/Experience (Must-Haves)Demonstrated experience developing and deploying AI-based solutions in production environments, with measurable business or operational impactStrong programming proficiency (e.g., Python, TypeScript/JavaScript, Go, or similar) and adherence to software engineering best practices, including testing, code quality, and maintainabilityHands-on experience with modern AI/LLM development, including context engineering, such as designing model context windows, agentic retrieval and search, memory architectures, enterprise data grounding, and structured outputsAgentic system design, including agent loop engineering, multi-agent and sub-agent orchestration, and tool/function callingContext window management and token budgeting, including cost and latency optimization for production workloadsEvaluation of AI system quality, reliability, and safetySolid understanding of software architecture and systems design, including API design, event-driven patterns, and data modeling for scalability and extensibilityExperience developing and/or deploying applications with large-scale impact (broad user base, high transaction volume, or organization-wide adoption)Experience integrating with multiple systems and platforms (REST/GraphQL APIs, CI/CD pipelines, cloud services, enterprise tooling)Demonstrated ability to work independently across the full delivery lifecycle - requirements analysis, solution design, implementation, deployment, and stakeholder engagement - with accountability for resultsStrong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to convey technical concepts to both engineering and business audiencesWorking knowledge of secure development practices and experience designing solutions that meet enterprise security and compliance requirementsPreferred Skills/Experience (Nice-to-Haves) Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or a related field, or equivalent practicalExperience applying AI within a security domain - application security, DevSecOps, code analysis, threat modeling, firmware security or software supply-chain securityFamiliarity with secure-by-design / secure-by-default principles and relevant frameworks (e.g., OWASP, including the OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications; NIST SSDF)Experience with MCP (Model Context Protocol), building agent skills and tools, or extending AI coding assistants (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Devin)Experience with AI evaluation frameworks, guardrails, prompt/response caching strategies, and LLMOps in productionWork Environment Location: Round Rock, TXFULLY ONSITEContract: 12 monthsCompensation & Benefits Pay Range: The approximate pay range for this position is between $52.00 and $75.00 per hour. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to background, knowledge, skills, and location. We comply with local wage minimums. Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance Plans Employee Stock Ownership Plan 401K offered About KellyMitchell At KellyMitchell, our culture is world class. We’re movers and shakers! We don’t mind a bit of friendly competition, and we reward hard work with unlimited potential for growth. This is an exciting opportunity to join a company known for innovative solutions and unsurpassed customer service. We're passionate about helping companies solve their biggest IT staffing & project solutions challenges. As an employee-owned, women-led organization serving Fortune 500 companies nationwide, we deliver expert service at a moment's notice.Marketing Disclosure By applying for this job, you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages, or emails from KellyMitchell and its affiliates, and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You can reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. You can access our privacy policy at https://www.careers.kellymitchell.com/privacy-policy[143499]