Senior Director, Principal Engineer

Code and Theory; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Code and Theory is seeking a Principal Engineer to drive architecture and technical direction while leading a matrixed team of DevOps, infrastructure, and data engineers. You will set architectural vision, raise engineering quality and velocity, and guide how AI reshapes software development and operations.

This hands-on leadership role requires expertise in cloud architecture across providers, strong backend and data engineering skills, and a proven ability to lead engineers in cross-functional

Qualifications

• Deep cloud architecture expertise with at least one major provider (AWS, GCP or Azure).
• Strong backend systems design and production shipping experience.
• Broad data engineering knowledge across pipelines, storage, and processing.
• DevOps mindset focused on quality, efficiency, and flow, with AI as a lever.
• Experience leading engineers in matrixed or cross-functional structures.

Responsibilities

• Lead cloud architecture across the organization and translate patterns into multi-cloud environments.
• Direct DevOps strategy with a focus on quality, efficiency, and AI-powered production workflows.
• Shape backend architecture and set standards for development against defined decisions.
• Evolve data engineering practices to ensure reliable and scalable data infrastructure.
• Provide people leadership for DevOps, infrastructure, and data teams across reporting lines.

Skills

Cloud architecture

Backend development

Data engineering

DevOps mindset

People leadership

Job description

The Machine is the agentic operating system for marketing, built by Code & Theory. It plugs into the tools marketing teams use and turns disconnected workflows into a single intelligent system, connecting brand strategy, creative production, and media performance. The Machine helps power agencies across Stagwell's network and world-leading brands. We're looking for a Principal Engineer to help lead architecture and technical direction while directing a matrixed group of DevOps, infrastructure, and data engineering professionals.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role. You'll set the architectural vision, raise the bar on engineering quality and velocity, and drive how AI reshapes the way we build and operate software.

Our engineers are AI native and engage in and advance the state of the art in the practice of software development flow with AI.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Lead cloud architecture across the organization, bringing deep expertise in at least one major cloud provider and the ability to translate those patterns into multi-cloud environments
• Direct DevOps strategy with a relentless focus on quality, efficiency, and flow, treating AI as a core lever for improving how the team ships and operates -- this spans building AI tooling hands-on and influencing teams across engineering to adopt low-friction, AI-powered production workflows
• Help shape backend architecture and development, setting standards and making the key technical decisions that the team builds against
• Evolve the data engineering practice, applying broad and deep knowledge across pipelines, storage, and processing to keep our data infrastructure reliable and scalable
• Provide people leadership for a matrixed team spanning DevOps, infrastructure, and data engineering, mentoring engineers and coordinating across reporting lines to deliver as one team

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• Deep, demonstrated expertise in cloud architecture, with mastery of one major cloud provider (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and proven ability to design and reason about multi-cloud environments
• Strong backend development background with a track record of architecting and shipping production systems
• Broad and deep data engineering knowledge spanning ingestion, transformation, warehousing, and the tradeoffs between them
• A DevOps mindset oriented toward measurable improvements in quality, efficiency, and flow, with conviction about where AI accelerates engineering work
• Experience leading engineers, including in matrixed or cross-functional structures where influence matters as much as authority

ABOUT US

Born in 2001, Code and Theory is a digital-first creative agency that sits at the center of creativity and technology. We pride ourselves on not only solving consumer and business problems, but also helping to establish new capabilities for our clients. With a global client roster of Fortune 100s and start-ups alike, we crave the hardest problems to solve. We have teams distributed across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. The Code and Theory global network of agencies is growing and includes Kettle, Instrument, Left Field Labs, Create Group, Current, and TrueLogic.

Striving never to be pigeonholed, we work across every major category: from tech to CPG, financial services to travel & hospitality, government and education to media and publishing. We value the collaboration with our client partners, including but not limited to Adidas, Amazon, Con Edison, Diageo, EY, J.P. Morgan Chase, Lenovo, Marriott, Mars, Microsoft, Thomson Reuters, and TikTok.

The Code and Theory network is comprised of nearly 2,000 people with 50% engineers and 50% creative talent. We’re always on the lookout for smart, driven, and forward-thinking people to join our team.

The target range of compensation for this role is $180,000 - $250,000. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and location.