Principal Software Engineer, AI Enterprise Engineering (Remote, PA, US)

Position Summary
The AI Operations & Enablement team is the engine for Bentley Systems' internal AI transformation. Our mission is to accelerate the adoption and impact of artificial intelligence across every part of the organization. As a Principal Software Engineer, you will be a senior technical leader and visionary, shaping the future of our enterprise AI capabilities.

You will not only build the core platforms that empower our colleagues to create innovative, AI-powered solutions but also drive the overarching technical strategy and mentor the next generation of engineers. From developer-first agent build-pipelines and automation platforms to self-service features such as Gemini Enterprise, you will architect the foundational technology that underpins Bentley's transformation into an AI-fluent company.

Responsibilities

• Lead the engineering effort across a blended team, which includes internal engineers, external consultants, and key third-party vendors, fostering a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement whilst providing technical leadership and mentorship to senior and junior engineers, elevating the team's capabilities.

• Define and own the long-term architectural vision and strategy for our enterprise AI platforms. You will guide the design of the full solution, from sophisticated AI agents to the intuitive UIs that drive their adoption, ensuring solutions are scalable, resilient, and secure at an enterprise level.

• Own the full lifecycle of our technology partnerships and strategy. This includes leading complex build-vs-buy analyses, running strategic RFPs, negotiating high-value contracts and SoWs with vendors, and evaluating greenfield technologies to shape the future of our enterprise AI stack.

• Create well-designed, testable, and efficient code with a focus on solid technical designs. Set the standard for and champion advanced engineering practices like agent-driven development (ADD), test-first approaches, and secure coding practices across the development lifecycle.

• Partner with global product teams and business stakeholders to break down business needs into technical requirements and actionable tasks for the engineering team.

• Architect unified solutions and secure integrations at the AU level, leading complex projects involving cross-functional dependencies and managing end-user escalations to a successful resolution.

• Implement comprehensive unit tests and perform end-to-end testing to ensure quality and reliability. Architect and implement an operating model that allows the team to maintain high velocity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

• 10+ years of professional software development experience, with at least 4 years in a technical leadership, staff, or principal engineer role.

• Extensive experience leading hybrid software engineering teams, with a strong emphasis on managing external vendors to ensure accountability and value delivery.

• Proven expertise in architecting, designing, and building large-scale, complex, and distributed systems, with a deep knowledge of object-oriented programming and the proper application of design patterns.

• Deep expertise in one or more object-oriented programming languages such as Python, Java, or C#.

• Extensive and deep experience with cloud computing platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP) and architecting for the cloud.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven experience leading software teams in greenfield technology evaluations and successfully delivering proof-of-concept projects that have defined and influenced long-term technical roadmaps and business strategy.

• Demonstrated mastery in the commercial aspects of technology, including running RFPs, negotiating complex consultant SoWs or application licensing agreements, and managing strategic vendor relationships.

• A strong track record of influencing technology strategy far beyond your immediate team, establishing cross-functional architectural standards and best practices that are adopted company-wide.

• Significant experience in mentoring senior engineers and a passion for building a high-performing technical team, with a proven track record of contributing to their growth and development into future leaders.

What We Offer

• A great Team and culture – please see our colleague video.

• An exciting career as an integral part of a world-leading software company providing solutions for architecture, engineering, and construction - watch this short documentary about how we got our start.

• An attractive salary and benefits package.

• A commitment to inclusion, belonging and colleague wellbeing through global initiatives and resource groups.

• A company committed to making a real difference by advancing the world’s infrastructure for better quality of life, where your contributions help build a more sustainable, connected, and resilient world. Discover our latest user success stories for an insight into our global impact.