Principal AI Software Engineering Lead

About this role

Diversified Services Network, Inc. (DSN) is seeking a full-time Principal AI Software Engineering Lead to join our team in Irving, TX ( fully onsite ). We offer full benefits, PTO, 401k, and more! If you're looking to grow your career within an extremely reputable, stable Fortune 100 company - let's talk! Position Overview We are seeking a Principal AI Software Engineering Lead to drive adoption of AI-powered software engineering platforms and agentic development capabilities across enterprise engineering teams. This role's primary focus is AI-assisted software development, engineering productivity transformation, developer tooling strategy, and autonomous engineering workflows leveraging platforms such as Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, and emerging AI coding agents. The Principal AI Software Engineering Lead will establish AI engineering standards, evaluation frameworks, governance, and best practices while partnering with engineering teams to accelerate software delivery, improve quality, and enhance developer productivity. Strong experience in software architecture, cloud-native platforms, backend engineering, distributed systems, and AI-assisted development workflows is required. Key Focus Areas : • AI Coding Platforms (Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, etc.) • Agentic Software Development & Specification-Driven Development • Engineering Productivity & Developer Experience • Software Architecture & Technical Leadership • AI Evaluation, Governance & Adoption Strategy • Cloud-Native Platforms, APIs & Distributed Systems • Software Quality, Security & SDLC Modernization Key Responsibilities • Evaluate and benchmark AI software engineering platforms, including Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, and emerging agentic development tools • Define and implement AI-assisted software engineering best practices, standards, governance, and adoption frameworks • Partner with engineering teams to identify and execute high-value AI pilot initiatives across enterprise software development • Design and promote agentic development workflows, specification-driven development, and autonomous engineering practices • Measure and analyze developer productivity, software quality, SDLC efficiency, and engineering outcomes using data-driven metrics • Create reference architectures, implementation patterns, and engineering guidance for AI-native software development • Collaborate with software architects, engineering managers, product teams, and platform teams to integrate AI capabilities into the development lifecycle • Evaluate security, compliance, and governance considerations related to AI coding tools and developer workflows • Mentor engineering teams on effective use of AI-powered development tools and modern software engineering practices • Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on accelerating delivery velocity, improving code quality, reducing technical debt, and enhancing developer experience • Collaborate with vendors, strategic partners, and internal stakeholders to assess emerging AI engineering capabilities and industry best practices • Contribute to engineering strategy, roadmap planning, technology selection, and long-term AI transformation initiatives Team Interaction & Collaboration • Partner closely with Engineering Directors, Engineering Managers, Principal Engineers, Architects, and Technical Leads to define and execute AI software engineering strategy • Work with Product Owners, Product Managers, and business stakeholders to identify high-value engineering productivity opportunities and prioritize adoption initiatives • Partner with DevOps, Platform Engineering, Cybersecurity, and Enterprise Architecture teams to establish governance, security, compliance, and operational standards for AI coding platforms • Engage with engineering leadership to define success metrics, measure outcomes, and communicate the impact of AI-assisted software development initiatives • Lead technical workshops, architecture discussions, proof-of-concepts, and engineering enablement activities across multiple organizations • Present recommendations, findings, pilot results, and strategic roadmaps to senior leadership and executive stakeholders Requirements Education & Experience • 5+ years of relevant experience • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field OR • Master's degree with 3 years of experience OR • Associate's degree with 9 years of experience Top Skills • AI-Assisted Software Engineering & Developer Productivity • Backend/Platform Engineering (Java, Python, APIs, Cloud) • Technical Leadership, Architecture & Engineering Transformation Technical Skills Required : • Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or similar AI coding tools • Java/Spring Boot and Python development • Distributed systems, APIs, and cloud-native platforms • Software architecture and engineering best practices • Prompt engineering and agentic development workflows • Engineering metrics and productivity measurement Desired / Nice to Have : • Spec-driven development • Robotics, Physical AI, simulation, or digital twin exposure • AWS/Azure cloud platforms • Developer experience platforms and DevOps Soft Skills Required : • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills • Ability to work effectively in Agile/Scrum teams • Strong verbal and written communication skills • Collaboration across distributed and cross-functional teams • Ability to work in ambiguous and evolving environments • Ownership mindset with accountability for delivery • Strong technical documentation skills Desired / Nice to Have : • Experience mentoring junior engineers • Technical leadership and design review experience • Stakeholder management and vendor collaboration • Continuous improvement mindset • Experience working with global teams Benefits • 401(k) • Dental insurance • Vision insurance • Disability insurance • Employee assistance program • Health insurance • Health savings account • Life insuran