Principal AI Engineer

Principal AI Engineer

Full-Time 80000 - 100000 € / year (est.) No home office possible
Gravitee

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead AI initiatives, mentor teams, and shape the future of digital infrastructure.
  • Company: Join Gravitee, a leader in API management and AI security.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, stock options, and a hybrid work culture.
  • Other info: Embrace a culture of collaboration, growth, and innovation.
  • Why this job: Make a global impact by building cutting-edge AI solutions.
  • Qualifications: 7+ years in software engineering with a focus on Generative AI.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.

Gravitee is a 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ Leader, on a mission to govern the world’s intelligence. We deliver the industry’s most advanced platform for Any API, Any Event, and Any AI Agent, trusted by global leaders like Michelin, Roche, and Blue Yonder.

The Mission: We are the first to bridge traditional API Management with the new frontier of AI Agent Security.

The Momentum: A high-growth Leader - combining market credibility with startup speed.

The DNA: We hire people who Hold Nothing Back - passionate builders who want to redefine digital infrastructure.

Don’t just watch the AI revolution. Build the infrastructure that controls and secures it.

The Role

AI is reshaping how organisations build, ship, and scale digital products and APIs are the connective tissue that makes it possible. As a Principal AI Engineer, you’ll play a critical role in shaping our Builder Experience. As a founding AI leader, you will own the end-to-end playbook for operationalising intelligence, building both the technological infrastructure and the team culture from the ground up in a dedicated, greenfield environment.

What You’ll Be Doing

  • Mentorship: Foster a culture of technical excellence and user empathy, ensuring your team view internal Product Managers and Developers as their primary customers.
  • Resource Planning: Balance the roadmap between long-term R&D (e.g., experimenting with new LLM agents) and immediate tactical fixes that unblock the engineering organisation. Define the roadmap for the Internal Developer Platform (IDP) with a "Zero-Friction" mindset. Drive the adoption of AI-native workflows by bridging the gap between cutting-edge LLM capabilities and the operational realities of a high-speed development environment.
  • Platform Architecture & Context Engineering: Lead the technical implementation of the platform. This involves integrating LLMs into our version control, issue tracking (Jira/Linear), and documentation tools. Own Context Management: Ensure our internal AI tools have the right context (codebase knowledge, historical PRDs, architecture decision records) to provide accurate, hallucination-free assistance.
  • Workflow Acceleration: For Product: Build tools that ingest user feedback and assist in drafting rigorous Product Requirement Documents (PRDs). For Engineering: Integrate coding assistants that go beyond autocomplete, enabling entire scaffolding generation based on the PRDs created in the previous step.
  • Metrics & Reporting: Define and track the "Physics of Gravitee": Speed, Velocity, and Quality. Report on AI Adoption: usage rates of internal tools, acceptance rates of AI-generated code/specs. Report on Productivity: DORA metrics (Deployment Frequency, Lead Time for Changes) and "Time-to-Spec." Your impact will be visible, measurable, and global.

Qualifications:

  • 7+ years in software engineering with a recent, deep focus on Generative AI and LLMs.
  • Prior experience in managing engineering teams (DevEx, Platform, or Tooling teams preferred).
  • You understand that "building" involves writing specs just as much as writing code.
  • You have empathy for Product Managers and Designers.
  • Deep understanding of the SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle).
  • Familiarity with RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation), Vector Databases, and Context Engineering.
  • Data-Driven: You don't guess; you measure. You are comfortable defining KPIs and presenting them to executive leadership.

Who Thrives at Gravitee

At Gravitee, our growth is powered by people who bring passion to what they build, act with professionalism in how they work, and hold nothing back in their commitment to doing things well. You’ll do well here if you:

  • Care deeply about quality, clarity, and impact.
  • Are curious, adaptable, and excited by emerging technologies like AI.
  • Take ownership and follow through.
  • Value collaboration, openness, and continuous improvement.

Bonus points if you’ve worked with: APIs, cloud-native platforms, AI-enabled systems, or open source, but curiosity matters most.

Life at Gravitee

At Gravitee, we invest in humans, not just roles. You’ll get:

  • Competitive medical coverage.
  • Pension / 401k program options.
  • Stock options - you build it, you own it.
  • 25 days holiday + in-country national holidays.
  • 3 mental health days + wellness allowance.
  • Your birthday off.
  • Professional development budget to fuel your growth.
  • Hybrid work culture with hubs across regions.
  • Quarterly team events + annual offsite at an exciting location.
  • A meaningful, progressive, global company culture that is as fun as it is hardworking.
  • Endless growth opportunities.

At Gravitee, we believe diverse perspectives make better products and stronger teams. At Gravitee, no employee or applicant will be treated less favourably on the grounds of sex, marital status, race, color, nationality or ethnic or national origin, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy or maternity, marital or civil partner status, or religion or belief.

Principal AI Engineer employer: Gravitee

Gravitee is an exceptional employer that champions innovation and personal growth, offering a dynamic work environment where passionate builders can thrive. With competitive benefits including stock options, generous holiday allowances, and a commitment to professional development, employees are empowered to shape the future of AI and API management. The company's hybrid work culture fosters collaboration and creativity, making it an ideal place for those eager to make a tangible impact in a rapidly evolving industry.

Gravitee

Contact Detail:

Gravitee Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal AI Engineer

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with folks in the industry. Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who works at Gravitee. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or some projects that highlight your experience with AI and LLMs, make sure to share them. A hands-on demonstration of what you can do speaks volumes more than just words on a page.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for the interview by diving deep into Gravitee’s mission and values. Understand how your experience aligns with their goals, especially around building infrastructure for AI. Tailor your responses to show you’re not just a fit for the role, but for the company culture too.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Gravitee team. Let’s get you in the door!

We think you need these skills to ace Principal AI Engineer

Generative AI
LLMs (Large Language Models)
Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
Context Engineering
Data-Driven Decision Making
KPI Definition and Reporting
Technical Mentorship

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for AI and software engineering shine through. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you’re genuinely excited about building the future of digital infrastructure with us.

Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in generative AI and LLMs. We’re looking for someone who understands the nuances of the tech, so don’t be shy about showcasing your past projects and how they relate to the role.

Be Clear and Concise:We appreciate clarity! When detailing your skills and experiences, keep it straightforward. Use bullet points where possible and avoid jargon that might confuse us. We want to understand your journey without wading through fluff.

Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Gravitee!

How to prepare for a job interview at Gravitee

Know Your AI Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Generative AI and LLMs. Be ready to discuss how these technologies can be integrated into platform architecture and the impact they have on workflow acceleration. Show them you’re not just familiar with the concepts, but that you can also apply them in real-world scenarios.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills

As a Principal AI Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate your experience in managing engineering teams. Prepare examples of how you've fostered a culture of technical excellence and user empathy in your previous roles. Highlight your ability to balance long-term R&D with immediate tactical fixes, as this will resonate well with their mission.

Be Data-Driven

Gravitee values a data-driven approach, so come prepared with metrics from your past projects. Discuss how you've defined KPIs and tracked productivity metrics like DORA. This will show that you understand the importance of measuring success and can bring that mindset to their team.

Emphasise Collaboration and Curiosity

They’re looking for someone who values collaboration and continuous improvement. Be ready to share experiences where you worked closely with Product Managers and Designers, and how your curiosity about emerging technologies has led to innovative solutions. This will align perfectly with their company culture.