senior engineer, AI (Nashville, TN)

Starbucks; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with match

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Starbucks is seeking a Senior Engineer (AI) to lead end-to-end AI initiatives across the business, delivering reliable, scalable systems for partner facing applications and store operations.

You will design AI workflows, integrate LLMs, and collaborate across teams to drive customer-focused outcomes while maintaining security and compliance by design.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field.
• 4–10 years of professional software engineering experience.
• Hands-on experience with deep learning frameworks, vector databases, RAG pipelines, and LLM orchestration.

Responsibilities

• Design end-to-end AI and ML workflows, integrating LLMs into production applications.
• Enable engineering delivery by supporting teams and ensuring reliable builds/releases.
• Ensure security and compliance by design with secure architectures and baselines.
• Influence technical direction by researching tools, platforms, and best practices.

Skills

Deep learning

LLM orchestration

RAG pipelines

Vector databases

Cloud deployment

Python

Java

Go

C/C++

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Cloud platforms

Job description

Now Brewing – senior engineer! #tobeapartner

From the beginning, Starbucks set out to be a different kind of company. One that not only celebrated coffee and the rich tradition, but that also brought a feeling of connection. We are known for developing extraordinary leaders who share this passion and are guided by their service to others.

As a Senior Engineer (AI) , you’ll play a critical role in delivering high-quality, reliable, and secure Generative AI technology that enables coffee house partners and leaders to operate effectively, deliver results with quality and be more customer focused. This advanced role focuses on owning complex engineering capabilities end-to-end—partnering across business and technology teams to bring in AI capabilities where it matters most in a cost effective, performant way with reliability, scalability, and operational excellence at the core.

As an Engineer, you will…

• Design end-to-end AI and machine learning workflows, integrating large language models (LLMs) and multi-agent frameworks into production applications.
• Enable strong engineering delivery by supporting development teams, resolving complex technical and developer issues, and engineering robust build and release processes.
• Ensure security and compliance by design through stable, secure application and infrastructure solutions, maintaining hardened configurations and baselines, and upholding company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Influence technical direction and standards by researching and recommending tools, platforms, and best practices, and partnering across teams and vendors to improve outcomes.

We’d love to hear from people with…

• 4–10 years of professional experience in software engineering
• Hands-on experience with deep learning frameworks, vector databases, RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) pipelines, and LLM orchestration
• Experience deploying scalable AI services on cloud platforms.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field
• Preferred programming languages: one or more of Python, Java, Go, C/C++, Ruby, or Perl (especially for automation, tooling, and systems work)

As a Starbucks partner, you (and your family) will have access to medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, and other voluntary insurance benefits. Partners have access to short-term and long-term disability, paid parental leave, family expansion reimbursement, paid vacation from date of hire*, sick time (accrued at 1 hour for every 25 hours worked), eight paid holidays, and two personal days per year. Starbucks also offers eligible partners participation in a 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, a discounted company stock program (S.I.P.), Starbucks equity program (Bean Stock), incentivized emergency savings, and financial well-being tools. Additionally, Starbucks offers 100% upfront tuition coverage for a first‑time bachelor’s degree through Arizona State University’s online program via the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, student loan management resources, and access to other educational opportunities. You will also have access to backup care and DACA reimbursement. Starbucks will comply with any applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, and in accordance with its plans and policies. This list is subject to change depending on collective bargaining in locations where partners have a certified bargaining representative. For additional information regarding partner perks and more detailed information about benefits, go to starbucksbenefits.com.

• If you are working in CA, CO, IL, LA, ME, MA, NE, ND or RI, you will accrue vacation up to a maximum of 120 hours (190 in CA) for roles below director and 200 hours (316 in CA) for roles at director or above. For roles in other states, you will be granted vacation time starting at 120 hours annually for roles below director and 200 hours annually for roles director and above.

The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate will be based on multiple factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, and internal equity. At Starbucks, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the high end of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.

We believe we do our best work when we're onsite four days a week.

Starbucks Coffee Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicantswill receive considerationfor employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, orprotectedveteran status,or any other characteristic protected by law.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances.

Starbucks Coffee Company is committed to offering reasonableaccommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at applicantaccommodation or 1(888) 611-2258.