Principal AI Engineer

Foodsmart; California (MO); Remote; USD 231,000 - 256,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading telenutrition and foodcare solution provider is seeking a Principal AI Engineer to design and implement intelligent infrastructure supporting a large user base. The role involves driving AI integration, technical strategy, and mentoring engineers in a remote-first environment. With a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, this position offers the opportunity to significantly impact user health outcomes through advanced technology.

Benefits

Unlimited PTO

Flexible & remote location

Healthcare Coverage (Medical, Dental, Vision)

401k, bonus, & stock options

Registered Dietitian Sessions

Wellness reimbursement

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in backend and AI engineering.
• Deep knowledge of personalization, forecasting, and conversational AI models.
• Proven history of deploying production AI with monitoring and drift detection.

Responsibilities

• Architect and deliver AI-powered backend systems for millions of users.
• Lead AI integration across platform infrastructure.
• Drive technical strategy and security compliance for ML systems.

Skills

Python

ML frameworks (PyTorch, Hugging Face)

personalization

forecasting

conversational AI models

building secure APIs

ML pipelines

Tools

Node.js

TypeScript

Job description

About us:

Foodsmart is the leading telenutrition and foodcare solution, backed by a robust network of Registered Dietitians. Our platform is designed to foster healthier food choices, drive lasting behavior change, and deliver long-term health outcomes. Through our highly personalized, digital platform, we guide our 2.2 million members—including those in employer-sponsored health plans, regional and national Medicaid managed care organizations, Medicare Advantage plans, and commercial insurers—on a tailored journey to eating well while saving time and money.

Foodsmart seamlessly integrates dietary assessments and nutrition counseling with online food ordering and cost-effective meal planning for the entire family, optimizing ingredients both at home and on the go. We partner with national and regional retailers across the U.S., many of whom accept SNAP/EBT, making healthier food more accessible. Additionally, we assist members with SNAP enrollment and management, providing tangible access to nutritious food.In 2024, Foodsmart secured a $200 million investment from TPG’s Rise Fund, which supports entrepreneurs dedicated to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This investment will help us expand our reach, particularly to low-income workers who are disproportionately affected by diet-related diseases.

At Foodsmart, our mission is to make nutritious food accessible and affordable for everyone, regardless of economic status. We are committed to a set of core values that shape our culture and work environment:

Measured: We make data-driven, truth-seeking decisions.

Impactful: We are fueled by achieving our mission and vision.

Collaborative: We help each other be better and create a positive environment.

Hungry: We maintain a healthy growth mindset, seeking to overcome challenges with courage.

Joyful: We take joy in each other, our work, and the privilege of doing this work.

Whether you're a dietitian, a commercial leader, or a technologist, working at Foodsmart means being part of a team that is passionate, supportive, and driven by a shared purpose. Join us in transforming the way people access and enjoy healthy food.

About the role:

The Principal AI Engineer will serve as a key architect and thought partner in building the intelligent infrastructure that powers Foodsmart’s mission. At this level, you’ll lead platform-wide initiatives that embed AI into our backend systems—from predictive modeling for no-show prevention and real-time engagement personalization, to chat automation and intelligent routing in call centers. You'll shape long-term AI strategy, ensure performance and compliance at scale, and deliver systems that are secure, resilient, and deeply personalized. As a senior technical leader, you'll collaborate across engineering, data, product, and operations to ensure AI isn't just a feature—but a foundation. We’re looking for someone who can drive both innovation and execution while mentoring engineers and pushing the boundaries of what our platform can do.

You will

• Architect and deliver AI-powered backend systems that support millions of users in care, scheduling, and marketing workflows

• Lead AI integration across platform infrastructure—from no-show risk prediction and personalization to appointment automation and chatbot systems

• Drive technical strategy, security compliance (HIPAA, SOC2), and system resilience for ML systems at scale

• Mentor senior engineers and establish technical best practices for the AI/ML discipline

• Partner with leadership to align AI innovation with business goals and product vision

You are:

• A systems thinker and AI strategist who sees across the stack—from model to infra

• Adept at identifying opportunities where AI drives real business and member impact

• Technically deep across ML, backend architecture, and MLOps tooling

• Driven by outcomes, not hype—and always focused on building responsibly

• Comfortable influencing cross-functional priorities and mentoring at scale

You have:

• 8+ years of experience in backend and AI engineering, with large-scale architecture and delivery track record

• Deep knowledge of personalization, forecasting, and conversational AI models

• Strong experience in building secure APIs and ML pipelines integrated with business workflows

• Expertise in Python, ML frameworks (PyTorch, Hugging Face), and backend languages (Node.js, TypeScript)

• Proven history of deploying production AI with monitoring, retraining, and drift detection strategies

$231,000 - $256,000 a year

Role:Principal AI Engineer

Location:Remote

Base Salary Range: $231,000/yr to $256,000/yr + equity + benefits

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries at our headquarters in San Francisco, California. Individual pay is determined by work location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

About our benefits and perks:

Remote-First Company

Unlimited PTO

Flexible & remote location

Healthcare Coverage (Medical, Dental, Vision)

401k, bonus, & stock options

Registered Dietitian Sessions

Wellness reimbursement

Foodsmart is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other protected class.