Senior Learning Systems Engineer- Salt Lake City, Utah

Western Governors University; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 83,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses

Health insurance

Tuition discount

Paid time off

HSA/FSA

Job summary

Western Governors University (WGU) is seeking an experienced engineer to design and scale AI-powered learning systems for WGU Academy. The role sits at the intersection of applied AI, learning platforms, front-end engineering, and automation to translate learning intent into functional, reusable, intelligent systems.

You will develop AI-driven workflows, reusable components, and platform-level solutions that improve speed, quality, and scalability across the learning ecosystem, while

Qualifications

• Portfolio of AI/LLM-based applications or projects required.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in CS/AI/education technology.
• 5 years of software engineering, applied AI, or learning systems development.

Responsibilities

• Leads design and development of AI-powered learning systems and workflows.
• Builds and integrates AI-driven workflows using LLMs and AI platforms.
• Designs and implements RAG systems grounded in trusted content.
• Leverages orchestration frameworks to connect tools, context, and workflows.
• Mentors team members and promotes best practices in AI and learning systems.

Skills

LLM experience

Prompt engineering

Front-end development

APIs

Collaboration across teams

Troubleshooting

Learning science understanding

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Kiro

GitHub Copilot

Job description

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career. Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families. The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is: Grade: Professional 309 Pay Range: $82,700.00 - $124,000.00

Job Description

Responsible for designing, building, and scaling AI-powered learning systems that enable high-quality, scalable learning experiences across WGU Academy. This role operates at the intersection of applied AI, learning systems, front-end engineering, and automation to translate learning intent into functional, reusable, and intelligent systems. This role will play a key part in shaping how AI transforms learning at WGU Academy—enabling scalable, personalized education experiences that help students progress efficiently and successfully complete their courses. Combines hands‑on development with strategic thinking to define AI‑driven workflows, reusable components, and platform-level solutions that improve speed, quality, and scalability across the learning ecosystem.

What You'll Do

• Leads the design and development of AI-powered learning systems and workflows for course creation, transformation, and evaluation
• Builds and integrates AI-driven workflows using large language models and modern AI platforms
• Designs and implements Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems to ground AI outputs in trusted course content and knowledge sources
• Leverages orchestration frameworks (e.g., Model Context Protocol or similar) to connect tools, context, and workflows
• Uses AI-assisted development tools (e.g., Kiro, GitHub Copilot) to rapidly prototype and iterate on solutions
• Architects reusable AI components, templates, and workflows that scale across products and teams
• Partners with Learning Product Owners and Multimedia Developers to translate instructional designs into intelligent, user-centered experiences
• Leads efforts to standardize patterns, reduce redundancy, and increase efficiency across the portfolio
• Continuously identifies opportunities to improve speed, quality, and cost of production through AI and automation
• Evaluates emerging AI tools and technologies, recommending adoption based on impact, scalability, and cost
• Ensures solutions are maintainable, extensible, and aligned with long-term platform strategy
• Leads testing, debugging, and optimization to ensure reliable and consistent user experiences
• Identifies and mitigates risks that may impact quality or delivery timelines
• Mentors team members and promotes best practices in applied AI and learning systems development

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities You'll Need to Be Successful

• Strong hands‑on experience building applications with large language models (LLMs)
• Deep understanding of prompt engineering, evaluation techniques, and AI workflows
• Experience designing and implementing Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems
• Familiarity with orchestration approaches such as Model Context Protocol (MCP) or similar frameworks
• Strong proficiency in front-end development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
• Experience building reusable component systems and scalable front-end architectures
• Experience working with APIs, integrations, and third-party tools
• Strong debugging, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills
• Understanding of learning science and how instructional intent translates into interaction design
• Ability to balance technical constraints with user experience and learning effectiveness
• Strong collaboration and communication skills across technical and non-technical teams
• Ability to operate in ambiguous, fast-evolving environments
• Systems thinking with the ability to design for scale, reuse, and long-term sustainability

What You'll Bring (Minimum Qualifications)

• Portfolio Requirement: A portfolio or samples of relevant work must be submitted at the time of application to be considered for this position.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Instructional Technology, or related field, or equivalent experience
• 5 years of experience in software engineering, applied AI, or learning systems development
• Experience in EdTech, LMS platforms, or learning systems
• Hands‑on experience building and deploying AI/LLM-based applications
• Experience designing scalable systems or workflows
• Experience working on cross-functional teams delivering complex digital products

Bonus Point for (Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience implementing Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems in production
• Experience with AI orchestration frameworks or agent-based systems
• Familiarity with LLM providers such as Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google
• Experience with AI-assisted development tools (e.g., Kiro, GitHub Copilot)
• Experience defining standards, playbooks, or technical strategy
• Experience mentoring or leading technical initiatives

Visa Sponsorship: While we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, WGU is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this role.

Travel This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.

Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

Additional Information Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail].

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.