Principal Software Engineer, AI Catalyst Platform team

Red Hat; Waterford; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in Waterford seeks a Principal Software Engineer to enhance AI innovation. You'll support the integration and optimization of AI platforms, lead system implementations, and mentor engineers. Ideal candidates have over 10 years of experience in software engineering, particularly in Python and Kubernetes. This role promotes high-speed experimentation and collaboration with cross-functional teams in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of software engineering experience.
• Strong background in Python and C/C++/Go/Rust.
• Proficiency in RHEL or other Linux distributions.
• Experience with upstream projects and Open Source communities.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain scalable, secure platforms.
• Provide expertise in Kubernetes and cloud platforms.
• Lead implementation of critical systems for speed and reliability.
• Mentor engineers and foster technical excellence.

Skills

Python

C/C++/Go/Rust

Kubernetes

Cloud platforms (GCP/AWS/Azure)

AI innovation

Job description

We’re looking for a Principal Software Engineer to join our AI Catalyst Platform team as a key enabler for rapid AI prototyping and operational efficiency. This role focuses on providing technical and operational support to the AI Catalyst team, which explores upstream AI initiatives and drives innovation across the organization.

You’ll help accelerate the development of AI prototypes by ensuring seamless platform integration, CI/CD pipelines, and other critical infrastructure to enable high-speed experimentation and iteration.

What you’ll do

• Platform Support and Optimization: Design and maintain scalable, secure, and efficient platforms to support AI Catalyst team initiatives, ensuring smooth integration of AI models and workflows.
• Infrastructure Management: Provide expertise in Kubernetes and cloud platforms (GCP, AWS, Azure) for container orchestration, scalable deployments, and real-time operations.
• Partner with the AI Catalyst team to identify bottlenecks, remove blockers, and optimize workflows for faster delivery of AI prototypes.
• Technical Leadership: Lead the implementation of critical systems (APIs, orchestration, observability, deployment) to ensure speed, reliability, and maintainability.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with engineering, product, and design teams to align technical priorities and drive impactful AI initiatives.
• Mentorship: Guide and mentor engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and rapid execution.
• Demonstrate proficiency in Kubernetes for container orchestration and scalable deployments.
• Mentor senior engineers and contribute to a culture of technical excellence, velocity, and pragmatic decision-making
• Proactively utilize AI-assisted development tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code) for code generation, auto-completion, and intelligent suggestions to accelerate development cycles and enhance code quality.
• Explore and experiment with emerging AI technologies from the open source communities relevant to software development, proactively identifying opportunities to incorporate new AI capabilities into existing workflows and tooling.

What you’ll bring

• 10+ years of software engineering experience
• Strong background in Python and background in C, C++, Go or Rust.
• Proficiency in RHEL or other Linux distributions.
• Good background with MCP and AI agents
• Experience in working with upstream projects and Open Source communities.
• PoC Experience: Proven ability to work on and deliver successful Proof of Concepts or initiatives, showcasing the ability to rapidly prototype and validate ideas.
• Communication Skills: Strong ability to communicate technical tradeoffs and bring clarity to ambiguous situations
• Passion for AI Innovation: Enthusiasm for enabling AI initiatives that drive real-world impact and accelerate prototyping efforts.
• Ability to move fast without compromising quality, thriving in environments where rapid iteration and high ownership are the norm

Nice to have

• Experience with cloud platforms such as GCP, AWS, or Azure.
• Experience in early-stage product incubation or 0-1 product delivery
• Contributions to internal AI platforms, model evaluation frameworks, or observability for AI systems

Why join us?

This is a rare opportunity to help shape how our company brings AI innovation to life - bridging research and real-world usage at a moment when speed, safety, and product quality matter most. If you're energized by rapid iteration, high autonomy, and making AI tangible for millions, we’d love to talk.

About Red Hat

Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of enterprise open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to deliver high-performing Linux, cloud, container, and Kubernetes technologies. Spread across 40+ countries, our associates work flexibly across work environments, from in-office, to office-flex, to fully remote, depending on the requirements of their role. Red Hatters are encouraged to bring their best ideas, no matter their title or tenure. We're a leader in open source because of our open and inclusive environment.

Inclusion at Red Hat

Red Hat’s culture is built on the open source principles of transparency, collaboration, and inclusion, where the best ideas can come from anywhere and anyone. When this is realized, it empowers people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to come together to share ideas, challenge the status quo, and drive innovation. Our aspiration is that everyone experiences this culture with equal opportunity and access, and that all voices are not only heard but also celebrated.

Equal Opportunity Policy (EEO)

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