Fast Facts
Solara AI is seeking a Principal AI Engineer to design and implement AI-driven features that enhance educational experiences for K-12 settings.
Responsibilities: Design and build scalable AI systems; apply large language models for in-product assistance; prototype workflows; ensure timely delivery of secure and cost-effective systems; mentor engineers and guide technical decisions.
Skills: 8+ years in software engineering; backend systems experience; expertise with large language models; proficiency in Ruby on Rails, Vue.js, AWS; strong communication and leadership skills.
Qualifications: Experience at the Staff or Principal level; a proven track record in AI product delivery; a high-output mindset with the ability to simplify complex tasks.
Location: Position available in the United States, remote work options not specified.
Compensation: $315000 / Annually
About Solara AI
With the launch of Solara AI, we are building Panorama’s next market-defining product, focused on transforming how educators use AI to support students.
Solara AI has seen rapid early success, and we are growing our footprint across large school districts. To accelerate this momentum, we have launched the AI Incubator, a focused internal team building AI-first solutions for K-12 education with speed, creativity, and rigor. This team operates with autonomy, fast decision-making, and a mandate to lead Panorama’s efforts in a competitive, high-growth space.
We are looking for a Principal AI Engineer to join the team and help shape the next generation of AI-powered education technology.
About the Role
As a Principal AI Engineer in the AI Incubator, you will be a force multiplier across product and engineering. You will bring strong systems thinking, fast execution, and high-quality craftsmanship to the challenge of delivering production-ready AI experiences that feel magical to educators and students.
You will design and deliver production systems that make full use of large language models to power in-product assistance, summarization, personalization, and task automation. LLMs are a foundational part of our platform. You will be responsible for selecting the right models, structuring inputs and outputs, and building robust infrastructure that supports scalable and reliable usage in real-world settings.
This is a role for someone who thrives in high-trust, high-autonomy environments. You will ship quickly, raise the bar for those around you, and turn early-stage ideas into durable systems that create measurable value for educators and students.
Responsibilities
- Design and build scalable systems and AI-driven features across the Solara and Class Companion platforms
- Apply LLMs to power in-product assistance, summarization, personalization, and automation features
- Prototype and evaluate agentic workflows that support educators in real-time decision making
- Own the delivery of fast, reliable systems that are secure, observable, and cost-effective
- Collaborate across product, design, marketing, and client-facing teams to ensure what we build is timely and impactful
- Balance hands-on coding with broader technical leadership, including mentoring engineers and guiding architectural decisions
- Operate across the stack when needed, with strength in backend and infrastructure and fluency in full-stack development
- Drive continuous improvement in engineering standards, velocity, and product quality across the team
Our Ideal Candidate Has
- 8 or more years of software engineering experience, including time at the Staff or Principal level
- A strong track record of building backend systems and delivering AI-powered products in production
- Experience applying large language models in real-world applications, including prompt design, evaluation, and deployment
- Proficiency in Ruby on Rails, with additional strength in front-end (Vue.js) and cloud infrastructure, we use AWS
- A 10x mindset: high output, high standards, and a clear ability to simplify and accelerate complex work
- Clear and direct communication, and a collaborative, team-first approach to leadership
- A passion for building practical tools that help educators support student success
Base Salary: The starting base salary for this position is $ 315,000. Actual offers depend on experience, skill and location.
