Principal Software Engineer - Python/AI Platform

SustainRecruit; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

SustainRecruit is looking for a Principal Software Engineer to lead the Python/AI Platform in Melbourne. You will stay hands-on while shaping engineering standards, architecture, and delivery practices for a growing team, enabling an AI-first platform to scale across the business.

You will combine expert Python skills with FastAPI, API design, and AWS cloud-native development to build scalable, reliable systems.

Qualifications

• Expertise in Python and modern development frameworks.
• Commercial experience with FastAPI, SQL and automated testing.
• Experience designing scalable APIs and maintainable platforms.

Responsibilities

• Remain hands-on while setting engineering standards, architecture and delivery practices.
• Lead a growing team and guide implementation of the AI-first platform.
• Contribute to development of automated, scalable AI-enabled workflows.

Skills

Python

FastAPI

SQL

Automated testing

API design

AWS

AI tools

GitHub Copilot

Claude

Cursor

Tools

GitHub Copilot

Claude

Cursor

Job description

Principal Software Engineer - Python/AI Platform

Do you want to join an organisation at a pivotal stage of its technology journey, where a platform that began as a proof of concept is now attracting executive sponsorship and being positioned for rollout across the wider organisation?

This is an opportunity to help shape the evolution of a strategic AI-enabled platform that is transforming how teams access insights, automate complex processes and make better decisions.

You'll remain highly hands-on while helping define engineering standards, architecture and delivery practices for a growing team.

You'll contribute to the development of an AI first platform that combines automation, intelligent workflows, agent-based capabilities and human oversight to solve complex business challenges at scale.

What you'll bring:

• Expertise in Python and modern development frameworks
• Commercial experience with FastAPI, SQL and automated testing
• Expertise designing scalable APIs, complex systems and maintainable platforms
• Cloud native development within AWS
• Experience with AI assisted development tools such as GitHub Copilot, Claude or Cursor