Summary
Take ownership of engineering standards across architecture, infrastructure, and code quality while remaining an active contributor. Mentor teams, shape technical direction, and deliver complex cloud-based solutions.
Highlights
Lead technical strategy while remaining hands-on, mentor engineers, influence architecture, and work on advanced AI-related client projects with executive visibility.
Description
Reports to: COO (or designate)
Type: Full-time, Permanent
Location: Auckland, New Zealand (In-office, 4 days a week)
Principal Engineer
Set the technical bar across Supahuman — and never carry it alone.
The role
This role sits within AI Studio, Supahuman's applied AI practice.
We're looking for a Principal Engineer to set the technical bar across Supahuman — architecture, infrastructure, and code quality — while staying genuinely hands-on and billable.
You won't do it alone: you'll work as a true peer with our Principal AI Engineer, who owns the AI discipline alongside you.
Together you set the standard; separately, you each own your domain.
What you'll own
Architecture, infrastructure, and code quality standards across the business — cloud (Azure, Google Cloud, and AWS), distributed systems, security, deliveryJoint leadership of our Technical Authority Group (TAG), partnered with our Principal AI Engineer on anything touching both disciplinesHands-on client delivery — you're still building and billable, not just reviewingMentorship of engineers across the business, and a direct line to the COO on how engineering is really going
What's in it for you
Genuine seniority and autonomy, with a peer to share the load — not a solo mandateWe're aiming for a rhythm of around 70% billable, 30% protected for leadership and thinking time — and we'll have an open, honest conversation with you about whether that balance is actually giving you room to think, not just reactReal client work at the frontier of applied AI in the ANZ sectorDirect visibility with the COO — your read on engineering health matters and gets heard
What we're looking for
10+ years of software engineering experience across varied environments and architectures, with real seniority in technical decision-makingComfortable owning cloud infrastructure (Azure, Google Cloud, and AWS) and distributed systems architectureYou don't need deep AI specialisation on day one — bring the curiosity, and you'll build it working alongside our AI discipline lead
