Principal Engineer: AI-Driven Modernization & API Platform

Jobtailor; Ireland; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking a senior engineering leader to define and drive the architecture strategy across complex modernization programs in Ireland. You will set reference architectures, govern large-scale initiatives, and champion AI-enabled development while mentoring teams and shaping security, scalability, and developer productivity.

You will lead enterprise API governance, define standards for REST, GraphQL, and event streaming, and ensure secure, observable APIs while steering migration from

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or related field.
• 15+ years of software engineering experience.
• 5+ years in a Principal Engineer, Distinguished Engineer, Chief Architect, or similar senior technical leadership role.
• Proven experience leading large-scale architecture and modernization initiatives.
• Deep expertise in API Architecture, Microservices, Domain-Driven Design, Event-Driven Systems, Cloud Platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP), and DevSecOps and CI/CD.
• Strong software engineering background in Java, .NET, Go, Python, or similar enterprise technology stacks.
• Experience defining engineering standards and governance models at scale.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain engineering standards, reference architectures, and best practices.
• Lead architecture reviews and provide technical governance for strategic initiatives.
• Drive adoption of Domain-Driven Design, Event-Driven Architecture, API-First Design, Microservices, Cloud-Native Platforms, and AI-Augmented Software Engineering.
• Establish target-state architectures and technology roadmaps for modernization programs.
• Align technology investments with business strategy alongside Enterprise Architecture and Engineering Leaders.
• Champion Generative AI and AI-assisted development across engineering teams.
• Develop AI engineering standards, guardrails, governance models, and best practices.
• Coach teams on AI tools for code generation, refactoring, test creation, documentation, legacy modernization, vulnerability remediation, and developer productivity.
• Establish AI adoption metrics and foster an AI-native engineering culture.
• Lead enterprise API architecture, API governance, and domain modelling initiatives.
• Define standards for REST, GraphQL, event streaming, and integration architectures.
• Ensure APIs are secure, resilient, observable, and aligned with enterprise security requirements.
• Lead modernization of legacy applications and platforms.
• Define migration strategies from monolithic architectures to modern service-based and cloud-native solutions.
• Drive adoption of modern technology stacks, automation, CI/CD, DevSecOps, and platform engineering practices.
• Reduce technical debt and improve reliability, maintainability, scalability, developer experience, and engineering sustainability.
• Mentor engineers, architects, and engineering managers through coaching, workshops, design reviews, and communities of practice.
• Influence engineering decisions through technical expertise and support talent development and succession planning.
• Serve as a technical authority and trusted advisor to engineering leaders, architects, and development teams.
• Establish engineering standards, increase AI-enabled development adoption, improve delivery productivity and quality, define API governance, accelerate modernization, reduce vulnerabilities, improve developer experience, and build communities of practice

Skills

API Architecture

Microservices

Domain-Driven Design

Cloud Platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP)

DevSecOps & CI/CD

Java

.NET

Go

Python

Technical Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Kubernetes

Container-Based Architectures

AI Tools for Code Generation

API Management Platforms

Automation Tools

Job description

Jobtailor is seeking a senior engineering leader to define and drive the architecture strategy across complex modernization programs in Ireland. You will set reference architectures, govern large-scale initiatives, and champion AI-enabled development while mentoring teams and shaping security, scalability, and developer productivity.

You will lead enterprise API governance, define standards for REST, GraphQL, and event streaming, and ensure secure, observable APIs while steering migration from