Principal AI Software Engineer

Description

Summary: Seeking a Senior/Principal Engineer to join the Cognitive Sensing team, focusing on AI-driven sensing and decision systems for Smart Cities at the intersection of IoT, edge computing, classical AI/ML, and Generative AI. Highlights: 1. Work on cutting-edge AI-driven sensing systems for Smart Cities and IoT. 2. Opportunity for technical leadership and mentorship. 3. Innovate with Generative AI, LLMs, and RAG in a hands-on role. **Company Description** Do you want to join a company with a century\-old tradition of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that pushes the boundaries of the smart lighting industry? A company that requires employees to expand their expertise not only to light urban environments but also to provide services for engaging and interactive public spaces. With a rich heritage in engineering, environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable lighting has always been part of our DNA. With connectivity becoming increasingly vital, as Experts in Lightability™, we propose lighting infrastructures that will play a key role in building Smart Cities. We are a family\-owned multinational company of Belgian origin, headquartered in Brussels, and we are present in more than 70 countries across 5 continents. Do you accept the challenge? Let's illuminate the future together! **Job Description** **About the Role** We are looking for a **Senior / Principal Engineer** to join the **Cognitive Sensing team at Hyperion**, working on **AI‑driven sensing and decision systems** for Smart Cities and IoT platforms. This role sits at the intersection of **IoT, edge computing, classical AI/ML, and Generative AI**. You will design and build systems that combine **sensor data, machine intelligence, and contextual knowledge**, including the use of **Large Language Models (LLMs)** and **Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG)** to enhance observability, diagnostics, and decision‑making. The role is primarily **hands‑on and technical**, with the opportunity to **take on technical leadership responsibilities** depending on experience, interest, and team needs. **What You Will Do** **AI, GenAI \& Cognitive Systems** * Design, implement, and evolve **AI‑enabled sensing systems** from edge to cloud. * Build and integrate **AI/ML models** into production environments. * Design and implement **Generative AI solutions**, including: + LLM‑based services + **Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG)** pipelines + Vector databases and semantic search * Work closely with data scientists and engineers on evaluation, monitoring, and drift detection. **Software Development (Full‑Stack)** * Design, develop, and maintain production‑grade software services and applications: + **Front‑end:** Angular, TypeScript + **Back‑end:** .NET (C\#), Python * Build robust **REST APIs / microservices** and integrate with internal and external systems. * Apply strong engineering practices: clean architecture, testing, code reviews, documentation. **Data \& Storage (SQL \+ NoSQL)** * Design data models and persistence strategies for IoT telemetry, configuration, and AI outputs. * Work with relational and NoSQL databases, such as: + **SQL:** SQL Server, PostgreSQL (or similar) + **NoSQL:** MongoDB (or similar) * Optimize queries, indexing, and performance for high‑volume and time‑series‑like workloads (telemetry/event data). **Cloud \& DevOps (Azure / CI\-CD / Containers)** * Contribute to cloud‑native and hybrid deployments, preferably in **Azure**. * Build, maintain, or improve **CI/CD pipelines** using **Azure DevOps** (or similar tooling) * Containerize services with **Docker** and deploy/operate workloads in **Kubernetes** clusters (cloud or on‑prem) * Improve operational excellence: logging, monitoring, reliability, and cost awareness (FinOps mindset). **Collaboration \& Technical Influence** * Collaborate with Product, Data, and Business stakeholders to align technical solutions with product goals. * Communicate complex technical and AI concepts clearly to different audiences. * Identify technical risks and contribute to mitigation strategies. **Optional: Technical Leadership (Depending on Profile)** * Provide technical guidance and mentorship to other engineers. * Contribute to architectural decisions and technical standards. * Participate in hiring and technical interviews (if interested). **Note:** Prior experience as a Tech Lead is **not required**. Candidates with strong technical expertise who want to grow into a leadership role are encouraged to apply. **Qualifications** **Required Skills \& Experience** * Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field. * 8\+ years of experience in software engineering or systems development. * Strong software engineering skills with at least one of: **.NET (C\#)**, **Python**, **Angular/TypeScript**. * Experience designing and shipping **APIs / distributed services**. * Solid understanding of **Generative AI and LLM‑based architectures**, including: + Prompt engineering and evaluation + **Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG)** + Vector databases and embeddings * Experience with **databases** (relational \+ NoSQL), such as SQL Server / PostgreSQL and MongoDB * Experience with **Docker** and **CI/CD**; familiarity with **Azure DevOps** is a strong advantage * Exposure to **Kubernetes** deployment/operations is a strong advantage * Fluent English (required). **Nice to Have** * Experience operating **LLMs in production** (cloud or hybrid). * Knowledge of **MLOps / LLMOps** practices. * Event‑driven systems and streaming (Kafka, RabbitMQ, Azure Event Hub) * IoT protocols (MQTT, AMQP, CoAP, WebSockets) * Background in Smart Cities / Lighting / industrial IoT. **Additional Information** **Salary:** Remuneration package (along with meal allowance \+ health insurance)