Principal Engineer, AI

NBCUniversal

Principal Engineer at DreamWorks, designing AI-enabled workflows to enhance animation production. Collaborating with teams to innovate and integrate technology across various projects.

Posted 7/21/2026full-timeRemote • California • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $190,000 - $230,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in AI/ML systems development and integration, with a strong focus on building production-ready tools and automation frameworks. Proven ability to collaborate across technical and creative teams while driving adoption and continuous improvement in workflows.

Highest-signal resume keywords

AI/ML Systems DevelopmentContainerization and OrchestrationPython and TypeScript ProficiencyLLM Model Integration and TuningEnterprise Software Deployment

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

AI FrameworksAutomation DesignProduction Systems ArchitectureOperational Telemetry ProcessingIntegration PatternsReusable AI ComponentsReference ImplementationsMetrics EstablishmentPrototyping SolutionsAsset Tagging

Soft Skills

Excellent CommunicationInfluencing Without AuthorityCollaborationTraining and Documentation CreationPassion for Animation and Storytelling

Tools & Technologies

DCC ToolsLangGraphSpring AIMCPActive Show Pipelines

Certifications & Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer ScienceBachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Industry Keywords

Creative ProductionAnimationContinuous ImprovementAutomation OpportunitiesMulti-Stakeholder Environments

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Open SourcePythonReactSpringTypeScript

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Collaborate and advise on next-generation AI-assisted agentic workflows strategy alongside product owners, developers and creatives.
Design and own the architecture for AI-powered frameworks and automation across the entire Studio pipeline and platforms.
Define the end-to-end architecture for ingestion, processing, and routing of operational telemetry (metrics, logs, traces).
Integrate solutions with popular industry DCC tools.
Prototype solutions for high-friction tasks: asset tagging, scene prep, render queue management, shot setup, and versioning.
Define technical standards and integration patterns for AI tooling across departments and shows.
Evaluate and select AI frameworks, foundation models, and automation technologies for creative production and operational stability.
Build and maintain a library of reusable AI components and automation patterns.
Partner with platform, systems and security teams to monitor model drift, system latency, and system security.
Write, test, and deploy production-ready tools that run reliably inside active show pipelines.
Develop reference implementations that set the canonical pattern for future pipeline AI work.
Partner with engineers and TDs to fold automation into existing artist-facing toolsets.
Maintain and iterate on deployed tools based on artist feedback and production data.
Drive adoption across both technical and creative departments so tools are understood, trusted, and used.
Create lightweight training and documentation for artists and engineers.
Establish metrics for automation impact and report results to studio leadership on a regular cadence.
Champion a culture of continuous improvement and surface new automation opportunities as workflows evolve.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field
10+ years building production systems, with 2+ years building AI/ML systems for real workflows
Hands-on experience deploying enterprise software in AI, data, or integration environments
Expertise with containerization, orchestration, Python, TypeScript, React, and AI frameworks such as LangGraph, Spring AI and MCP
Deep understanding of LLM model integration and tuning
Experience with designing automation that reduces manual work in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
Proven ability to influence senior engineers without authority and to be the person others learn from
History of building and supporting durable artifacts: frameworks, templates, training, open source that extend to other projects
Excellent communication skills and the ability to translate fluently between artists, production management, and engineers
Genuine passion for animation, storytelling, or creative production.

Benefits

Comp & perks

medical, dental and vision insurance
401(k)
paid leave
tuition reimbursement
a variety of other discounts and perks