Overview
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 build AI platforms for efficient, compliant, and high-performing applications. These platforms support customers in running inference models and empower developers to create advanced AI solutions effectively.
Partner with the best
The Principal Software Engineer will lead and design a globally distributed AI inference platform with OpenAI-compatible endpoints. This position requires broad experience, extensive knowledge of AI / ML systems, and a history of successfully delivering production AI platforms.
Responsibilities

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.
Mentoring engineers and collaborating with cross-functional teams to define technical requirements and elevate team capabilities.
Contributing hands‑on to critical path development, code reviews, and architectural implementations.

Qualifications

Have broad software engineering experience with deep expertise in AI inference optimization, model serving, and LLM deployment at scale.
Demonstrate mastery of inference frameworks (TensorRT, vLLM, TorchServe, Triton), containerization strategies, and hardware‑specific optimizations for AI workloads.
Show expert‑level proficiency with cloud‑native technologies, Kubernetes, distributed systems, and architecting services at global scale with strict SLOs.
Possess strong opinions and proven experience building platforms for AI developers (RAG, agents, fine‑tuning workflows).
Demonstrate excellent technical leadership with ability to mentor engineers, influence architectural decisions, and communicate effectively across teams.
Have deep knowledge of AI safety, responsible AI practices, and explainability frameworks.

Benefits

Your health
Your finances
Your family
Your time at work
Your time pursuing other endeavours

Working 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 a majority 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.
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!
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