Principal Software Quality Engineer – AI Model Serving

Red Hat; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 116,000 - 192,000; Full time

Job summary

Red Hat is seeking a Principal Software Quality Engineer to lead quality strategy for their AI Model Serving offerings. This role involves technical leadership in Kubernetes-native application testing, contributing to open-source projects, and mentoring across teams. Candidates should have deep experience with Kubernetes, Python, and CI/CD processes.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

Flexible Spending Account

Retirement 401(k) with employer match

Paid parental leave plans

Employee stock purchase plan

Qualifications

• Proven expertise with Kubernetes API development and testing.
• Strong programming and testing experience in Python, especially with PyTest.
• Excellent communication skills and comfort presenting to stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the quality strategy and implementation for Kubernetes-native components.
• Own and evolve automated test architecture focusing on PyTest.
• Design tests that validate system-level properties for AI workloads.

Skills

Kubernetes

Python

CI/CD

Testing Strategy

Observability

Job description

Principal Software Quality Engineer – AI Model Serving

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Principal Software Quality Engineer – AI Model Serving

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Job Summary
Are you ready to take a technical leadership role in shaping the quality of an open-source, Kubernetes-native AI platform that’s redefining hybrid cloud?

The Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI) team is seeking a Principal Quality Engineer with deep experience in Kubernetes-native application testing and a strong foundation in Python and PyTest to lead quality strategy across our AI Model Serving offerings. You’ll work in a highly collaborative team responsible for one of the core capabilities of OpenShift AI, contributing to open-source projects such as KServe, Kubeflow, and vLLM. Your work will directly impact enterprises running mission-critical AI workloads on hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

This role requires not only excellent engineering skills but also strategic vision, thought leadership, and the ability to mentor and influence others across multiple teams.

What You Will Do

1. Lead the quality strategy and implementation for Kubernetes-native components in Model Serving, including Custom Resources, Controllers, and Operators.
2. Own and evolve automated test architecture with a focus on PyTest, CI/CD, integration testing, and end-to-end testing in Kubernetes environments.
3. Partner with engineering, product, and community teams to define testability requirements, ensure early validation, and prevent regressions.
4. Design tests that validate system-level properties including scalability, autoscaling, observability, and reliability for AI workloads.
5. Participate and influence upstream communities (KServe, Kubeflow, ModelMesh, etc.), raising quality standards and sharing best practices.
6. Drive efforts to mock, simulate, and validate model serving use cases in hybrid cloud and on-prem environments.
7. Serve as a technical mentor and go-to expert for Python-based testing frameworks and Kubernetes-native validation strategies.
8. Take a lead role in debugging complex system-level issues, especially in multi-tenant, distributed AI systems.
9. Champion Shift-left testing and early validation practices across the RHOAI stack.

What You Will Bring

1. Proven expertise with Kubernetes API development and testing (CRs, Operators, Controllers). Experience working directly with Custom Resources and reconciliation logic is essential.
2. Strong programming and testing experience in Python, especially with PyTest in large, scalable codebases. Golang knowledge is a plus.
3. Deep understanding of Kubernetes internals, networking, and lifecycle hooks. Experience with OpenShift is a plus.
4. Extensive knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, especially in containerized or cloud-native ecosystems (e.g., GitHub Actions, Tekton, Jenkins).
5. Strong knowledge of test strategy for ML model serving systems, including considerations for runtime performance, isolation, and failure recovery.
6. Experience with troubleshooting distributed systems and validating observability via Prometheus, Grafana, OpenTelemetry, etc.
7. A proven ability to lead technical projects and mentor others across teams and time zones.
8. Excellent communication skills and comfort presenting to engineers, managers, and external stakeholders.

Preferred (Nice-to-Have)

1. Hands-on experience with KServe, ModelMesh, Ray, vLLM, or other model serving frameworks.
2. Familiarity with Red Hat Service Mesh, Istio, Knative, or similar serverless/K8s-native middleware stacks.
3. Experience with performance/load testing frameworks and chaos testing in Kubernetes.
4. Contribution history in open-source projects or technical leadership in community forums.

The salary range for this position is $116,270.00 - $191,840.00. Actual offer will be based on your qualifications.

Pay Transparency
Red Hat determines compensation based on several factors including but not limited to job location, experience, applicable skills and training, external market value, and internal pay equity. Annual salary is one component of Red Hat’s compensation package. This position may also be eligible for bonus, commission, and/or equity. For positions with Remote-US locations, the actual salary range for the position may differ based on location but will be commensurate with job duties and relevant work experience.

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. We hire creative, passionate people ready to contribute their ideas, help solve complex problems, and make an impact.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Flexible Spending Account - healthcare and dependent care
• Health Savings Account - high deductible medical plan
• Retirement 401(k) with employer match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Paid parental leave plans for all new parents
• Leave benefits including disability, paid family medical leave, and paid military leave
• Additional benefits including employee stock purchase plan, family planning reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, transportation expense account, employee assistance program, and more!

Note: These benefits are only applicable to full time, permanent associates at Red Hat located in the United States.

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. We hope you will join our celebration, and we welcome and encourage applicants from all the beautiful dimensions that compose our global village.

Equal Opportunity Policy (EEO)
Red Hat is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer. We review applications for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, veteran status, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Red Hat does not seek or accept unsolicited resumes or CVs from recruitment agencies. We are not responsible for, and will not pay, any fees, commissions, or any other payment related to unsolicited resumes or CVs except as required in a written contract between Red Hat and the recruitment agency or party requesting payment of a fee.

Red Hat supports individuals with disabilities and provides reasonable accommodations to job applicants. If you need assistance completing our online job application, email [e-mail]. General inquiries, such as those regarding the status of a job application, will not receive a reply.

Seniority level

• Not Applicable

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Software Development and IT Services and IT Consulting

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