senior engineer, AI (Nashville, TN) at Starbucks

Starbucks; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) match

Starbucks College Achievement Plan

Job summary

Starbucks is seeking a Senior Engineer (AI) to lead end-to-end AI and ML initiatives that empower partners and leaders to operate with higher quality, reliability, and customer focus.

The role emphasizes building scalable, secure AI services, collaborating across business and technology teams, and delivering cost-effective solutions while maintaining operational excellence.

Qualifications

• 4–10 years of software engineering experience.
• Hands-on with DL frameworks, LLMs, and RAG pipelines.
• Experience deploying AI services on cloud platforms.
• Bachelor's degree in CS or related field.

Responsibilities

• Design end-to-end AI workflows with LLMs for production.
• Support development teams and ensure robust build/release processes.
• Ensure security-by-design and regulatory compliance in apps and infra.
• Influence tech direction by researching tools and best practices.

Skills

Deep learning

LLM orchestration

Cloud deployment

Python

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Vector databases

RAG pipelines

Cloud platforms

Job description

Role Overview

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Qualifications

• 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).

Benefits

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.

Diversity & Inclusion

Starbucks Coffee Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or protected veteran 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 reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at [e-mail] or 1(888) 611-2258.