Fast Facts

Join SEI as a Principal Engineer specializing in Emerging Technology, focusing on designing and developing enterprise-grade conversational AI solutions. Collaborate with a multi-functional team to enhance technology solutions that align with business objectives.

Responsibilities: Lead the design, development, and architecture of conversational AI solutions, mentor engineers, and ensure adherence to security and compliance standards.

Skills: Expertise in conversational AI, Dialogflow CX, programming (Python/Node.js), cloud technologies (GCP), and microservices architecture.

Qualifications: Over 7 years in software development, with extensive experience in cloud technologies and conversational AI; a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science is preferred.

Location: Minneapolis, MN. Occasional travel may be required; remote work is possible depending on the role.

Compensation: $130300 - $195500 / Annually

As a Principal Engineer – Emerging Technology, you will be responsible for leading the analysis, design, and development of enterprise-grade conversational AI solutions and adjacent applications to support critical business needs. You will work closely with Architects, Systems Developers, Project Managers, Scrum Masters, Quality Assurance Analysts, Product Owners, Product Managers, and Business Analysts to develop and maintain systems as designed. You will promote continuous learning with the development team to improve skills and practice.

The Principal Engineer is expected to perform design activities with an enterprise mindset. This involves understanding the complex interplay between mission-critical applications, and the underlying architecture of applications themselves, along with the long-term objectives of the business to ensure technology solutions best fit the long-term vision of the organization. The Principal Engineer is the thought leader for the development team, understanding the architecture of the larger ecosystem and translating that to sound, forward-looking design decisions for all applicable applications and team members.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Strategy & Architecture:

oDefine vision, roadmap, and architecture for enterprise-scale conversational AI using Google Dialogflow CX and related AI/ML capabilities.

oEstablish standards for chatbot architecture, API patterns, performance, scalability, reliability, and observability; participate in platform/software selection.

oCreate reusable architectural patterns, accelerators, and best practices.

Design & Development (Chatbot):

oLead end-to-end design and implementation of virtual agents: flows, pages, intents, entities, parameters, state handlers, and fulfillment.

oDeliver experiences for both chat and telephony (call deflection, real-time support).

oOwn code quality (design reviews, code reviews), documentation, CI/CD, automated testing, and Level-3 support.

Integrations & Platforms:

oLead the design and integrations with back-end services via REST APIs and webhooks using Cloud Functions or Python/Node services.

oLead and collaborate with API development teams to design and develop APIs and with API gateway teams (e.g., Apigee).

Generative AI & LLMs:

oLeverage Vertex AI, RAG, prompt engineering, agentic workflows to enhance guided experiences.

oDefine evaluation strategies and governance for GenAI in Higher Education contexts.

Performance, Reliability & Operations:

 oImplement automated testing (NLU evaluation, regression, E2E), monitoring, alerting, and SRE practices.

oAnalyze conversation logs and NLU metrics to drive continuous optimization and ensure high-availability, scalability, and resilience.

Leadership & Collaboration

oLead and mentor onshore/offshore engineers; coach on best practices and modern techniques.

oLead PoCs, demos, and workshops. Propose new techniques and technologies for software development.

Risk, Security & Compliance:

oEnsure adherence to security, privacy, data governance, and compliance policies; define controls for conversational data handling and auditing.

Job Skills:

oConversational AI: Deep expertise in Dialogflow CX (design, build, test, deploy; voice & chat) including flow design, fulfillment, and agent configuration. 

oProgramming: Proficiency in Python and/or Node.js; experience with Java/C# a plus.

oCloud: Strong knowledge of GCP (Cloud Functions, IAM, Cloud Logging/Monitoring; BigQuery desirable).

oArchitecture & APIs: Microservices, REST API design, webhooks, eventing, scalability; API gateways (e.g., Apigee).

oAI/ML & GenAI: LLMs, RAG, prompt engineering, Vertex AI; evaluation and safety guardrails.

oWeb & Databases: HTML/JS fundamentals; cross-browser compatibility; database design and SQL with Oracle and other RDBMS (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL)

oEngineering: CI/CD, automated testing, observability, performance tuning, reliability engineering.

oSoft Skills: Excellent communication, leadership, mentoring, and cross-functional collaboration; proactive problem-solving.

Work Experience:

o7+ years software development, systems implementation, and integrations.

o5+ years with cloud technologies/infrastructure (GCP strongly preferred).

o5+ years’ hands-on experience in conversational AI with deep expertise in Dialogflow CX. (Dialogflow ES will be considered depending on the knowledge of Dialogflow CX)

oProven experience leading multi-year modernization projects (chatbot experience preferred)

oExperience with REST APIs, webhooks, and integrating external systems; delivery across multiple methodologies (Agile/iterative/waterfall).

oExperience leading geographically dispersed teams preferred.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent combination of education, experience, and area of expertise.

Other:

oMust be able to travel occasionally should a business need arise. For most roles travel would not be common. Travel may involve plane, car or metro. In accordance with ADA policies, reasonable accommodations regarding travel limitations can be provided. Travel will be more common for roles such as Account Executives (25 - 50%), senior leaders (10 – 20%) or Capella Core Faculty (5 – 10%).

oAbility to work onsite in Corporate or Campus location (in a typical office environment) may be required based on role. If so, this would include being mobile within the office, including movement from floor-to-floor using elevators or stairs.

oIf offsite or hybrid role, must have access to work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.) at a remote location.

oFaculty and Federal Work Study roles require access to work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including computer, privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.) at a remote location.

oThis role may require lifting, however reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with our ADA policies.

oMust be able to meet critical thinking and problem solving aspects aligned to job duties, as well as effectively communicating with co-workers.

oMust be able to work more than 40 hours per week when business needs warrant. Accommodations related to schedule may be considered.

oAble to access information using a computer.

oOther essential functions and marginal job functions are subject to modification.

#LI-JD1

SEI offers a comprehensive package of benefits to employees scheduled 30 hours or more per week. In addition to medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans, SEI employees may take advantage of well-being incentives, parental leave, paid time off, certain paid holidays, tax saving accounts (FSA, HSA), 401(k) retirement benefit, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, tuition assistance as well as entertainment and retail discounts. Non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime pay, if applicable.

Careers - Our Benefits, Strategic Education, Inc

SEI is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture where individuals can grow their careers and contribute fully. We strive to attract talent with broad experiences, skills and perspectives. We welcome applications from all. While it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top end of the pay range at SEI, we offer a competitive salary. The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate may vary depending on multiple factors including, but not limited to, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, geographical location, and internal pay equity. Our Talent Acquisition Team is ready to discuss your interest in joining SEI. The expected salary range for this position is below.

$130,300.00 - $195,500.00 - Salary

If you require reasonable accommodations to complete our application process, please contact our Human Resources Department at [email protected].