Principal Software Engineer - Akamai Inference Cloud (Remote)

Do you thrive on solving complex technical challenges in AI infrastructure?

Are you ready to architect the future of AI at the edge?

Join the Akamai Inference Cloud Team!

The Akamai Inference Cloud team is part of Akamai's Cloud Technology Group. We design, implement, deploy and operate AI platforms that enable customers to run inference models and developers to create AI applications with unmatched performance, compliance, and economics.

Partner with the best

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will serve as a technical leader and architect for our globally distributed AI inference platform. You will drive critical technical decisions, establish architectural patterns, and guide the team in building a platform that delivers OpenAI-compatible endpoints while orchestrating inference workloads across regions at massive scale.

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will be responsible for:

• Providing thought leadership, drive architectural decisions, and mentor engineers while delivering hands-on technical contributions
• Architecting and designing the core infrastructure of Akamai Inference Cloud, ensuring it is performant, compliant, economical, and explainable
• Providing thought leadership on AI inference optimization, model serving architectures, and establishing technical standards for the platform
• Making critical technical decisions on frameworks, tools, and approaches for AI workload deployment and global traffic orchestration
• Contributing hands-on to critical path development, code reviews, and architectural implementations
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to define technical requirements and elevate team capabilities

Do what you love

To be successful in this role you will:

• Have 12+ years of relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent
• Have a deep expertise in AI inference optimization, model serving, and LLM deployment at scale
• Provide thought leadership on AI inference optimization, model serving architectures, and establishing technical standards for the platform
• Show expert-level proficiency with cloud-native technologies, Kubernetes, distributed systems, and architecting services at global scale with strict SLOs
• Possess solid opinions and proven experience building AI platforms developers love, including API design and cost optimization for compute-intensive workloads
• Demonstrate excellent technical leadership with ability to mentor engineers, influence architectural decisions, and communicate effectively across teams
• Have experience with building platforms for AI application developers (RAG, agents, fine-tuning workflow)
• Possess working knowledge of AI safety and practices, MLOps practices and AI model lifecycle management

Work in a way that works for you

FlexBase, Akamai's Global Flexible Working Program, is based on the principles that are helping us create the best workplace in the world. When our colleagues said that flexible working was important to them, we listened. We also know flexible working is important to many of the incredible people considering joining Akamai. FlexBase, gives 95% of employees the choice to work from their home, their office, or both (in the country advertised). This permanent workplace flexibility program is consistent and fair globally, to help us find incredible talent, virtually anywhere. We are happy to discuss working options for this role and encourage you to speak with your recruiter in more detail when you apply.
Learn what makes Akamai a great place to work

#AIC

We power and protect life online, by solving the toughest challenges, together.

At Akamai, we're curious, innovative, collaborative and tenacious. We celebrate diversity of thought and we hold an unwavering belief that we can make a meaningful difference. Our teams use their global perspectives to put customers at the forefront of everything they do, so if you are people-centric, you'll thrive here.

Working for you

At Akamai, we will provide you with opportunities to grow, flourish, and achieve great things. Our benefit options are designed to meet your individual needs for today and in the future. We provide benefits surrounding all aspects of your life:

• Your health
• Your finances
• Your family
• Your time at work
• Your time pursuing other endeavors

Our benefit plan options are designed to meet your individual needs and budget, both today and in the future.

About us

Akamai powers and protects life online. Leading companies worldwide choose Akamai to build, deliver, and secure their digital experiences helping billions of people live, work, and play every day. With the world's most distributed compute platform from cloud to edge we make it easy for customers to develop and run applications, while we keep experiences closer to users and threats farther away.

Join us

Are you seeking an opportunity to make a real difference in a company with a global reach and exciting services and clients? Come join us and grow with a team of people who will energize and inspire you!
Akamai Technologies is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer that values the strength that diversity brings to the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, protected veteran status, disability, or other protected group status.
If no date is displayed, applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis until the job is filled.

Compensation

Akamai is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. For US based candidates only - the base salary for this position ranges from $148,200 - $307,800/year; a candidate’s salary is determined by various factors including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and location. Compensation for candidates outside the US will vary. The compensation package may also include incentive compensation opportunities in the form of annual bonus or incentives, equity awards and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). Akamai provides industry-leading benefits including healthcare, 401K savings plan, company holidays, vacation (in the form of PTO), sick time, family friendly benefits including parental leave and an employee assistance program including a focus on mental and financial wellness; Eligibility requirements apply.