Lead Google Cloud Platform Engineer: AI Platforms & Development

Apply Title: Lead Google Cloud Platform Engineer: AI Platforms & Development Location - Remote in USA Role Summary: As a Lead Google Cloud Platform Engineer, you are the resident expert and engineering heart of our AI & Agentic capabilities. You serve as the lead specialist and authority on building and scaling agentic systems specifically within the Google Cloud ecosystem. While you will collaborate with other specialists across our consultancy to share best practices and cross-platform insights, you own the technical standard for how we build in Google Cloud Platform. Your role is to bridge the gap between AI models and production-ready applications by building the scalable backend services, APIs, and data pipelines required for enterprise AI. Responsibilities • AI Service & Agent Engineering: Build and maintain production-grade microservices and APIs that orchestrate Agent workflows using tools like Gemini Enterprise (fka Agentspace), CX Agent Studio, Vertex AI Agent Builder, Generative Playbooks, and the Agent Development Kit (ADK). • Gemini Prompt & Behavior Engineering: Implement and optimize complex prompt templates, system instructions, and few-shot examples for Gemini models; tune agentic behavior through iterative testing and feedback loops. • Productionizing AI Systems: Lead the transition of AI prototypes to scalable production environments using Cloud Run, GKE, Vertex AI Agent Engine, and Cloud Functions, incorporating advanced patterns like Function Calling, Grounding with Google Search, and Vertex AI Extensions. • Data & Tool Integration: Implement the "glue code" and connectors required for Agents to interact with enterprise data via Gemini Enterprise (fka Agentspace), Vertex AI Search and Conversation (fka Gen AI App Builder), BigQuery, and specialized Vector Databases. • Engineering Standards & CI/CD: Establish automated deployment pipelines (Cloud Build) and MLOps-aligned engineering practices specifically for LLM applications (e.g., prompt versioning, evaluation pipelines). • Innovation Lab Asset Development: Serve as the lead engineer for the Google Cloud Platform Innovation Lab, responsible for the hands-on development of strategic accelerators, POCs, and high-fidelity demos; translate innovative IP and project-based learnings into reusable technical assets and "starters" that optimize delivery speed. • Cross-Practice Collaboration: Partner with AI specialists and lead developers from other technology practices to exchange cross-platform insights and ensure global best practices are translated effectively into optimized Google Cloud Platform implementations. • Asset Creation: Develop reusable "AI Starter Kits" and backend templates that allow our delivery teams to rapidly stand up secure, Gemini-powered applications on Google Cloud Platform. Required Qualifications • 8+ years of software engineering with a focus on backend development; 3+ years of experience building applications on Google Cloud Platform; expert proficiency in Python and/or Go. • Deep hands-on experience with Gemini (Pro/Flash), Vertex AI SDKs, Prompt Engineering, and Function Calling; familiarity with building RAG-based systems. Desired Qualifications • Google Professional Cloud Developer certification • Practical knowledge of the Agent Development Kit (ADK) and Vertex AI Agent Builder • Experience with Terraform for infrastructure-as-code; knowledge of LLM evaluation frameworks • Hands-on experience with other industry-leading models (e.g., GPT-4, Claude, Llama) for cross-model prompt engineering, supervised fine-tuning (SFT), and the implementation of AI safety guardrails and observability The base salary range for this position is $ 122,001 - $191,715 , plus incentives that align with individual and company performance. Actual salaries will vary based on work location, qualifications, skills, education, experience, and competencies. Benefits available to eligible employees in this role include medical, dental, and vision insurance, comprehensive employee assistance program, 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off and holidays. The deadline to apply for this position is: 03/18/2026. This position is for an existing, immediate vacancy. We are currently seeking to fill this role with an individual who can start as soon as possible. As part of the hiring process, candidates may be required to undergo background screening and identity verification, where permitted by applicable law and consistent with the requirements of the role. Certain verification processes used by the Company or its service providers may involve technologies that rely on biometric identifiers or biometric information, where permitted by law. If biometric identifiers or biometric information are collected, used, or stored, the Company will provide the legally required disclosures and obtain any required written consent prior to such collection, and will handle such information in accordance with applicable biometric privacy laws and Compan