Principal AI Engineer — Own a Full Domain (Agentic AI) SF

Sarsfield Group; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Sarsfield Group in San Francisco is seeking a Principal/Staff+ Engineer to own architecture and delivery of an entire AI-driven fintech domain. You will build and ship production AI systems, lead a pod, and stay deeply hands-on with code.

This on-site role emphasizes fast execution, high ownership, and close collaboration with Product to align outcomes. Experience with distributed systems, frontier AI tools, and end-to-end ownership is essential.

Qualifications

• Staff or Principal-level Software Engineer with 6–14 years of experience.
• Experience scaling with an early-stage startup (Series A–C).
• Owned a critical system or product end-to-end from 0→1.
• Strong distributed systems and software architecture fundamentals.
• Deep, daily use of frontier AI tools such as Claude and Cursor.
• Strong hands-on engineering skills across Python, Node.js, and React.
• Comfortable leading technically without moving into pure management.

Responsibilities

• Own architecture and engineering for an entire technical domain.
• Architect, build, and ship production AI systems alongside your team.
• Lead a pod through technical credibility while remaining deeply hands-on with code.
• Build AI agents across voice, chat, retrieval, evaluation, and computer use.
• Own the technical bar for quality, reliability, and velocity.
• Partner with Product as an equal owner of outcomes.
• Use Claude Code, Cursor, and frontier models as part of the daily engineering workflow.

Skills

Python

Node.js

React

Distributed systems

Software architecture

Hands-on leadership

Technical founder experience

Education

BS in Computer Science

MS or PhD in a related technical field

Tools

Claude Code

Cursor

Frontier models

Job description

Sarsfield Group in San Francisco is seeking a Principal/Staff+ Engineer to own architecture and delivery of an entire AI-driven fintech domain. You will build and ship production AI systems, lead a pod, and stay deeply hands-on with code.

This on-site role emphasizes fast execution, high ownership, and close collaboration with Product to align outcomes. Experience with distributed systems, frontier AI tools, and end-to-end ownership is essential.