Principal Engineer

About this role: Wells Fargo is seeking a Principal Engineer In this role, you will: • Act as an advisor to leadership to develop or influence applications, network, information security, database, operating systems, or web technologies for highly complex business and technical needs across multiple groups • Lead the strategy and resolution of highly complex and unique challenges requiring in-depth evaluation across multiple areas or the enterprise, delivering solutions that are long-term, large-scale and require vision, creativity, innovation, advanced analytical and inductive thinking • Translate advanced technology experience, an in-depth knowledge of the organizations tactical and strategic business objectives, the enterprise technological environment, the organization structure, and strategic technological opportunities and requirements into technical engineering solutions • Provide vision, direction and expertise to leadership on implementing innovative and significant business solutions • Maintain knowledge of industry best practices and new technologies and recommends innovations that enhance operations or provide a competitive advantage to the organization • Strategically engage with all levels of professionals and managers across the enterprise and serve as an expert advisor to leadership Required Qualifications: • 7+ years of Engineering experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education Desired Qualifications: Deep Hands‑On Engineering Expertise • Progressive engineering experience with sustained hands‑on design and development in Java (modern JVM stacks, microservices, distributed systems, performance engineering). • Proven experience architecting and building AI–powered solutions , including LLM integration, prompt engineering, RAG patterns, model orchestration, AI pipelines, and responsible AI practices. • Strong background in cloud‑native architectures (containerization, orchestration, CI/CD, DevSecOps) with experience operating systems at enterprise scale. • Principal‑Level Technical Leadership • Demonstrated ability to operate as a technical authority across domains (application, data, AI, platform, security), influencing architecture and engineering standards at an enterprise level. • Track record of translating ambiguous business problems into scalable, resilient, and future‑ready technical solutions . • Experience defining long‑term technology strategy, reference architectures, and engineering roadmaps aligned with business outcomes. • AI & Innovation Mindset • Strong understanding of GenAI trends, ecosystem evolution, and emerging capabilities , with the ability to assess vendor offerings versus build strategies. • Experience embedding AI into core business workflows to drive productivity, risk reduction, customer experience, and operational efficiency . • Passion for experimentation, rapid prototyping, and data‑driven decision‑making. • Influence & Communication Excellence • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills , with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts to executives, regulators, partners, and engineering teams . • Proven success influencing without authority across global, matrixed organizations . • Recognized as a trusted advisor who can challenge assumptions constructively and elevate technical conversations. • Outside‑In Perspective • Strong awareness of industry best practices, competitive landscape, and fintech/financial services technology trends . • Active engagement with external communities (conferences, forums, thought leadership, standards bodies) is highly desirable. Job Expectations • Enterprise Technical Stewardship • Act as a Principal Engineer and strategic advisor to senior leadership, shaping technology decisions that impact multiple lines of business and the broader enterprise. • Define and evolve enterprise‑scale architectures for Java‑based platforms and AI/GenAI solutions, ensuring alignment with security, risk, and regulatory requirements. • Hands‑On Leadership • Remain deeply hands‑on —designing, reviewing, and occasionally coding critical components to set a high engineering bar. • Lead by example in applying engineering rigor, automation, testing, performance optimization, and secure coding practices . • AI / GenAI Enablement • Drive the strategy, adoption, and governance of AI and GenAI capabilities across the organization. • Partner with product, data, risk, and security teams to ensure responsible, explainable, and scalable AI solutions . • Identify high‑value use cases and guide teams from proof‑of‑concept to production at scale. • Influence & Thought Leadership • Serve as a visible technical spokesperson internally and externally, presenting ideas, architectures, and innovation narratives with clarity and conviction. • Mentor senior engineers and architects, raising the overall technical maturity of the organization. • Foster a culture of engineering excellence, curiosity, and continuous learning . • Outside‑In Innovation • Continuously scan the external ecosystem to bring new ideas, technologies, and patterns into the enterprise in a pragmatic, value‑driven manner. • Challenge legacy thinking and advocate for simplification, modernization, and platform thinking . • Balance innovation with operational stability, risk management, and long‑term sustainability. • Outcome‑Driven Execution • Measure success through business impact , not just technical delivery—improved time‑to‑market, developer productivity, system resilience, and customer outcomes. • Partner closely with stakeholders to ensure technology investments deliver durable, enterprise‑wide value . Posting End Date: 30 Jan 2027 *Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants. We Value Equal Opportunity Wells Fargo is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected characteristic. Employees support our focus on building strong customer relationships balanced with a strong risk mitigating and compliance-driven culture which firmly establishes those disciplines as critical to the success of our customers and company. They are accountable for execution of all applicable risk programs (Credit, Market, Financial Crimes, Operational, Regulatory Compliance), which includes effectively following and adhering to applicable Wells Fargo policies and procedures, appropriately fulfilling risk and compliance obligations, timely and effective escalation and remediation of issues, and making sound risk decisions. There is emphasis on proactive monitoring, governance, risk identification and escalation, as well as making sound risk decisions commensurate with the business unit’s risk appetite and all risk and compliance program requirements. Candidates applying to job openings posted in Canada: Applications for employment are encouraged from all qualified candidates, including women, persons with disabilities, aboriginal peoples and visible minorities. Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process. Applicants with Disabilities To request a medical accommodation during the application or interview process, visit Disability Inclusion at Wells Fargo. Drug and Alcohol Policy Wells Fargo maintains a drug free workplace. Please see our Drug and Alcohol Policy to learn more. Wells Fargo Recruitment and Hiring Requirements: a. Third-Party recordings are prohibited unless authorized by Wells Fargo. b. Wells Fargo requires you to directly represent your own experiences during the recruiting and hiring process.