Staff Software Engineer (Python)
Explicitly references vibe coding and AI-assisted development (spec-driven development and agentic orchestration).
About the Role
Staff Software Engineer (Python) to architect, build, and scale cloud-native, real-time energy and grid management systems using Python and Microsoft Azure. The role leads technical design and production delivery, drives AI-enabled platform strategy (including agentic orchestration and AI-assisted development), and supports observability and incident response for mission-critical energy platforms.
Job Description
Role
Staff Software Engineer (Python) within the Grid & Energy Services division responsible for architecting, building, and scaling cloud-native, real-time energy management platforms for data centers and industrial environments. The role focuses on production-grade Python systems, distributed/event-driven architectures, and driving AI-enabled platform strategy and agentic orchestration patterns.
Location & Work Arrangement
This role is currently remote but the candidate is expected to relocate at their own expense to the onsite Houston, TX location by Q1 2027 (timeframe subject to change). The role is based out of the company’s Santa Clara, CA engineering organization initially.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and scale production-grade Python applications for energy and grid management systems with an emphasis on performance, reliability, and maintainability.
- Architect and deploy cloud-native solutions on Microsoft Azure, including serverless services, storage, messaging, and monitoring.
- Support containerized applications across Docker and Kubernetes environments.
- Build and maintain event-driven architectures using Azure Event Hubs and related technologies.
- Contribute to AI-enabled systems leveraging Azure Foundry agents and agentic orchestration patterns.
- Lead technical design efforts, conduct code reviews, establish engineering best practices, and own production support, troubleshooting, observability, and incident response.
- Apply modern AI-assisted development approaches (e.g., vibe coding, spec-driven development) to improve engineering productivity.
Required Qualifications
- 8+ years of experience in energy systems architecture, grid infrastructure, or AI-enabled industrial platforms (or equivalent experience).
- Demonstrated success building and operating production-grade software/platforms in regulated or mission-critical environments.
- Advanced proficiency in DevOps, CI/CD, and Agile development.
- Strong technical judgment, hands-on engineering capability, and experience delivering production-grade services in modern cloud environments.
- Willingness to travel up to 10% domestically and internationally.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience as a Staff Engineer, Principal Engineer, or technical lead for large-scale distributed systems or energy platforms.
- Expertise in BESS, DERs, renewables, and utility operations.
- Familiarity with cloud-native infrastructure automation, distributed orchestration systems, and scalable data/streaming architectures.
- Familiarity with Microsoft Fabric, time-series databases, and real-time telemetry processing systems.
- Exposure to AI/ML systems, LLM-enabled applications, agentic architectures, and AI-assisted engineering workflows.
- Experience developing software platforms connected to physical infrastructure, industrial systems, or operational technology (OT) environments.
Physical, Mental & Environmental Demands (summary)
- Typical office/desk-based requirements: majority sitting with some standing and walking. Light lifting and handling up to 10 pounds. Standard dexterity and mobility expectations for office work.