The Principal AI Engineer will architect AI backend systems, drive strategy, mentor engineers, and ensure compliance while embedding AI into Foodsmart's infrastructure.
About us:
Foodsmart is the leading telenutrition and foodcare solution, backed by a robust network of Registered Dietitians. Our platform is designed to foster healthier food choices, drive lasting behavior change, and deliver long-term health outcomes. Through our highly personalized, digital platform, we guide our 2.2 million members—including those in employer-sponsored health plans, regional and national Medicaid managed care organizations, Medicare Advantage plans, and commercial insurers—on a tailored journey to eating well while saving time and money.
Foodsmart seamlessly integrates dietary assessments and nutrition counseling with online food ordering and cost-effective meal planning for the entire family, optimizing ingredients both at home and on the go. We partner with national and regional retailers across the U.S., many of whom accept SNAP/EBT, making healthier food more accessible. Additionally, we assist members with SNAP enrollment and management, providing tangible access to nutritious food.In 2024, Foodsmart secured a $200 million investment from TPG’s Rise Fund, which supports entrepreneurs dedicated to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This investment will help us expand our reach, particularly to low-income workers who are disproportionately affected by diet-related diseases.
At Foodsmart, our mission is to make nutritious food accessible and affordable for everyone, regardless of economic status. We are committed to a set of core values that shape our culture and work environment:
Measured: We make data-driven, truth-seeking decisions.
Impactful: We are fueled by achieving our mission and vision.
Collaborative: We help each other be better and create a positive environment.
Hungry: We maintain a healthy growth mindset, seeking to overcome challenges with courage.
Joyful: We take joy in each other, our work, and the privilege of doing this work.
Whether you're a dietitian, a commercial leader, or a technologist, working at Foodsmart means being part of a team that is passionate, supportive, and driven by a shared purpose. Join us in transforming the way people access and enjoy healthy food.
About the role:
The Principal AI Engineer will serve as a key architect and thought partner in building the intelligent infrastructure that powers Foodsmart’s mission. At this level, you’ll lead platform-wide initiatives that embed AI into our backend systems—from predictive modeling for no-show prevention and real-time engagement personalization, to chat automation and intelligent routing in call centers. You'll shape long-term AI strategy, ensure performance and compliance at scale, and deliver systems that are secure, resilient, and deeply personalized. As a senior technical leader, you'll collaborate across engineering, data, product, and operations to ensure AI isn't just a feature—but a foundation. We’re looking for someone who can drive both innovation and execution while mentoring engineers and pushing the boundaries of what our platform can do.
You will
- Architect and deliver AI-powered backend systems that support millions of users in care, scheduling, and marketing workflows
- Lead AI integration across platform infrastructure—from no-show risk prediction and personalization to appointment automation and chatbot systems
- Drive technical strategy, security compliance (HIPAA, SOC2), and system resilience for ML systems at scale
- Mentor senior engineers and establish technical best practices for the AI/ML discipline
- Partner with leadership to align AI innovation with business goals and product vision
You are:
- A systems thinker and AI strategist who sees across the stack—from model to infra
- Adept at identifying opportunities where AI drives real business and member impact
- Technically deep across ML, backend architecture, and MLOps tooling
- Driven by outcomes, not hype—and always focused on building responsibly
- Comfortable influencing cross-functional priorities and mentoring at scale
You have:
- 8+ years of experience in backend and AI engineering, with large-scale architecture and delivery track record
- Deep knowledge of personalization, forecasting, and conversational AI models
- Strong experience in building secure APIs and ML pipelines integrated with business workflows
- Expertise in Python, ML frameworks (PyTorch, Hugging Face), and backend languages (Node.js, TypeScript)
- Proven history of deploying production AI with monitoring, retraining, and drift detection strategies
About our benefits and perks:
Remote-First Company
Unlimited PTO
Flexible & remote location
Healthcare Coverage (Medical, Dental, Vision)
401k, bonus, & stock options
Registered Dietitian Sessions
Wellness reimbursement
Foodsmart is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other protected class.
Top Skills
Hugging Face
Node.js
Python
PyTorch
Typescript
Similar Jobs
Automotive • Big Data • Information Technology • Robotics • Software • Transportation • Manufacturing
The AI Safety Principal Engineer leads the development of AI safety strategies for autonomous driving systems, ensuring compliance with industry standards and overseeing the training and validation of machine learning models.
Top Skills:
AWSDockerGitGoogle Cloud PlatformJavaJIRAKubernetesAzureMlflowNumpyPandasPower BIPysparkPythonPyTorchRScikit-LearnSQLTableauTensorFlow
Other
The role involves developing scalable AI orchestration frameworks, designing LLM powered AI agents, and mentoring engineering teams in AI system design.
Top Skills:
C++JavaLangchainLanggraphPythonPyTorchTensorFlow
Biotech
Lead AI initiatives focused on automation and decision-making, develop AI models, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive clinical genomics solutions.
Top Skills:
Aws BedrockAws SagemakerJavaKerasPythonPyTorchScikit-LearnSQLTensorFlow
What you need to know about the Charlotte Tech Scene
Ranked among the hottest tech cities in 2024 by CompTIA, Charlotte is quickly cementing its place as a major U.S. tech hub. Home to more than 90,000 tech workers, the city’s ecosystem is primed for continued growth, fueled by billions in annual funding from heavyweights like Microsoft and RevTech Labs, which has created thousands of fintech jobs and made the city a go-to for tech pros looking for their next big opportunity.
Key Facts About Charlotte Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 90,859; 6.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Lowe’s, Bank of America, TIAA, Microsoft, Honeywell
- Key Industries: Fintech, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, e-commerce
- Funding Landscape: $3.1 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (CED)
- Notable Investors: Microsoft, Google, Falfurrias Management Partners, RevTech Labs Foundation
- Research Centers and Universities: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Northeastern University, North Carolina Research Campus
