AI Principal Engineer

About the Position

We are looking for a Principal AI Engineer to join our Enterprise Productivity team, an agile, high-impact group building AI-driven solutions that transform how our company operates.

In this role, you will work at the intersection of AI, engineering, and business operations, partnering directly with teams across the company to identify inefficiencies, rapidly prototype solutions, and deploy scalable AI tools that drive measurable impact. You will operate globally, engage with diverse stakeholders, and tackle high-leverage problems that improve how we work every day.

This is a fast-moving, hands-on role for someone who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys solving real-world problems, and wants to see their work adopted quickly at scale.

Responsibilities

• Embed with business teams to deeply understand workflows, pain points, and opportunities for automation and optimization
• Design and build AI-powered tools that improve internal productivity across functions such as finance, HR, operations, sales, and marketing
• Rapidly prototype and iterate using modern AI/ML technologies (e.g., LLMs, Copilots, automation pipelines)
• Deploy solutions in production, ensuring reliability, usability, and measurable impact
• Bridge technical and non-technical teams, translating business problems into scalable engineering solutions
• Drive end-to-end delivery from problem discovery to implementation, rollout, and adoption
• Create reusable frameworks and platforms to accelerate future AI deployments across the organization
• Operate globally, collaborating with distributed teams and delivering solutions that scale across regions

Requirements

Core Skills

• 7–10+ years of experience in software engineering, machine learning, or applied AI
• Strong experience designing and deploying production-grade systems in cloud environments
• Experience building and deploying AI/ML systems, ideally with LLMs or generative AI
• Experience in building, orchestrating, monitoring agentic/multi-agentic AI workflows
• Ability to work across the stack (APIs, data pipelines, front-end interfaces when needed)
• Deep understanding of system design, distributed systems, and scalable architectures
• Solid system design skills with a focus on scalability, reliability, and security
• Knowledge of data engineering and analytics workflows
• Experience working in global, cross-functional teams
• Familiarity with governance, security, and compliance considerations for enterprise AI

Problem-Solving & Mindset

• Proven ability to navigate ambiguity and move quickly in fast-paced environments
• Strong product and user mindset focused on delivering practical, impactful solutions
• Excellent communication skills; able to work directly with stakeholders across all levels
• High ownership and bias for action, ability to support multiple workstreams in parallel
• Strong experience in mentoring and guiding team members to make good decisions

Nice to Have

• Familiarity with enterprise systems (ERP, CRM, workflow tools)
• Experience across Azure AI, Microsoft Copilot, and the broader Microsoft ecosystem
• Experience implementing AI tools, GenAI services, building and orchestrating agentic AI workflows in real-world business processes
• Experience in forward-deployed, solutions engineering, or consulting-style roles
• Background in process optimization, automation, or digital transformation initiatives

We Offer

• High impact: Your work will directly improve how the company operates
• Speed & autonomy: We are an agile team that ships quickly and iterates continuously
• Broad exposure: Work across all business functions and geographies
• Cutting-edge tech: Build with the latest AI technologies and shape how they are applied internally
• Ownership: Drive projects end-to-end and see immediate adoption of your work

About the Company

NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights-delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms-NIQ delivers the Full View™. NIQ is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population.

For more information, visit NIQ.com

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At NIQ, we are steadfast in our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace that mirrors the rich diversity of the communities and markets we serve. We believe that embracing a wide range of perspectives drives innovation and excellence. All employment decisions at NIQ are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We invite individuals who share our dedication to inclusivity and equity to join us in making a meaningful impact. To learn more about our ongoing efforts in diversity and inclusion, please visit the Diversity and Inclusion page.

Additional Information

This is a hybrid role. Candidates must be based in Chennai or Pune, with occasional in-person attendance required at one of our offices.

Our Benefits

• Flexible working environment
• Volunteer time off
• LinkedIn Learning
• Employee-Assistance-Program (EAP)

NIQ may utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools at various stages of the recruitment process, including résumé screening, candidate assessments, interview scheduling, job matching, communication support, and certain administrative tasks that help streamline workflows. These tools are intended to improve efficiency and support fair and consistent evaluation based on job-related criteria. All use of AI is governed by NIQ’s principles of fairness, transparency, human oversight, and inclusion. Final hiring decisions are made exclusively by humans. NIQ regularly reviews its AI tools to help mitigate bias and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. If you have questions, require accommodations, or wish to request human review were permitted by law, please contact your local HR representative. For more information, please visit NIQ’s AI Safety Policies and Guiding Principles: NIQ’s AI Safety Policies

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