Software Architect - Remote

## About the Role Mainspring Energy is seeking a **Principal Software Architect** to lead the company’s transition toward AI-agent-enabled engineering development workflows. This strategic architecture and technology leadership role will define the AI strategy for engineering development, establish governance and security guardrails, and architect scalable AI-driven automation with measurable return on investment (ROI). The Principal Software Architect will provide technical leadership across **Generative AI, LLMs, agentic workflows, cloud architecture, distributed systems, IoT, hardware-software integration, and cybersecurity**. The role will connect cloud intelligence with embedded edge systems and support applications such as autonomous fleet telemetry analysis, proactive diagnostics, and AI-enabled Digital Twin validation using Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) simulations. ## Key Responsibilities - Define and enforce AI governance frameworks within the **GCP/Vertex AI ecosystem**, including data privacy and security controls aligned with NERC CIP, ISO27001, and SOC2 requirements. - Provide technical leadership in selecting and maintaining the AI/ML technology stack. - Optimize AI and cloud technologies for latency, cost, and throughput constraints across cloud-to-device architectures. - Guide technology decisions that enable scalability, reliability, and availability. - Identify, architect, and guide implementation of **agentic workflows** addressing critical customer needs, including autonomous fleet telemetry analysis and proactive diagnostic resolution. - Bridge cloud-based intelligence with embedded edge constraints. - Design validation pipelines using agentic **Digital Twin simulations** to stress-test software stacks in laboratory environments. - Use **Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL)** simulations to validate reliability and safety under diverse, high-volatility grid-edge conditions before deployment. - Drive integration of **Generative AI** throughout product development lifecycle stages. - Apply expertise in distributed systems, data architecture, and IoT architecture. - Champion innovation and collaborate across cross-functional organizations. - Secure leadership buy-in for strategic technology initiatives and serve as a catalyst for organizational change. - Make technical trade-offs between short-term stakeholder requirements and longer-term product roadmap objectives. - Define the technical roadmap for transforming engineering development through AI. - Serve as a multiplier for organizational technical capability through AI strategy, architecture, mentorship, and leadership. ## Required Qualifications - Expertise with **GCP/Vertex AI, Generative AI, LLMs, and agentic workflows**. - Extensive backend, distributed systems, and production software development experience. - Deep experience with managed cloud services, including **GCS/AWS**, for scalable, reliable, and available systems. - Demonstrated experience with **hardware-software integration**. - Experience with IoT, industrial automation, energy-grid management, or power-generation/distribution environments. - Experience managing **cloud-to-device architectures** with edge constraints. - Experience with **Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) simulation**. - Experience with secure **Over-the-Air (OTA) update management**. - Experience building software subject to strong cybersecurity requirements, such as **NERC CIP, ISO27001, or SOC2**. - Strong focus on software quality attributes including reliability, maintainability, scalability, usability, testability, monitorability, deployability, and extensibility. - Extensive experience serving as a **team lead, mentor, and architect** on multi-year product deliverables. - Ability to make reasoned technical trade-offs between immediate stakeholder requirements and long-term product roadmaps. - Ability to communicate technology choices, technical architecture, and trade-offs to executive leadership, business stakeholders, and implementation teams. ## Preferred Qualifications - Demonstrated track record in **industrial automation, energy-grid management, or power-generation and distribution** industries. ## Skills & Competencies - AI architecture and strategy. - Generative AI and LLMs. - Agentic AI workflows. - GCP and Vertex AI. - Backend and production software development. - Distributed systems architecture. - Cloud architecture and managed cloud services. - IoT and data architecture. - Hardware-software integration. - Cloud-to-device and edge architectures. - Digital Twin validation. - Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) simulation. - Secure OTA update management. - Cybersecurity and compliance. - Reliability, maintainability, scalability, usability, testability, monitorability, deployability, and extensibility. - Technical architecture and roadmap development. - Technical leadership and mentoring. - Cross-functional collaboration. - Executive and stakeholder communication. - Strategic decision-making and technical trade-offs. - Innovation and organizational change leadership. ## Education & Experience **Education** - The source job description does not specify a formal education requirement. **Experience** - Extensive experience in backend, distributed systems, and production software development. - Deep experience with managed cloud services for scalable, reliable, and available systems. - Demonstrated experience in hardware-software integration and relevant IoT or industrial environments. - Extensive experience as a team lead, mentor, and architect on multi-year product deliverables. ## Work Arrangement & Schedule - **Work arrangement:** Both onsite and remote candidates are eligible. - **Location:** Menlo Park, California, with compensation adjusted based on employee location and local market conditions. - **Employment type:** Not specified in the source job description. - **Schedule:** Not specified in the source job description. - **Weekly hours:** Not specified in the source job description. - **Weekend requirements:** Not specified in the source job description. ## Compensation & Benefits - **Base salary:** $227,500–$280,000 per year. - Salary is adjusted based on local market conditions and employee location, as well as employee experience. - **Equity:** Pre-IPO stock options. - **Benefits:** Benefits are offered; specific benefits are not detailed in the source job description. - Compensation may vary based on location, relevant prior experience and/or education, and particular skills and expertise. - Mainspring generally does not negotiate salary after an offer is made. - New hires generally start within the stated base pay range, with opportunities to increase compensation over time based on development of additional skills, competencies, and company-specific knowledge. ## Compliance / Additional Information Mainspring Energy, Inc. is an **Equal Opportunity Employer**. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. The compensation and benefits information is based on Mainspring Energy’s estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future. Show more Show less