As a Principal AI Engineer - Advanced AI at Target’s Data Sciences team, you will join a centralized group focused on developing and scaling advanced AI technologies to drive automation and optimization across core business workflows. Your primary responsibilities include providing deep technical leadership by partnering with engineering, product, and business teams to design, build, deploy, and scale end-to-end AI solutions, including agentic systems and LLM-powered applications. You will evaluate and select the right models and frameworks, establish robust observability practices, and ensure that solutions are production-ready and well-documented. The role requires extensive experience with Python, modern ML/DL frameworks like PyTorch or TensorFlow, and cloud-based AI engineering tooling such as model APIs, evaluation frameworks, and orchestration technologies. You will also stay current on emerging AI trends, recommend best practices, and influence technical direction across the organization while adhering to Agile principles and maintaining high-quality codebases through rigorous testing and documentation.
Skills
Python
PyTorch
TensorFlow
LLM-based systems
Agentic systems
AI engineering tooling
Cloud ML platforms
Containers
Orchestration technologies
CI/CD
Version control
Code review practices
Operational monitoring
Agile principles
Prometheus
Grafana
What you'll do
Design and deliver real-world AI solutions including LLM-based systems.
Evaluate and select appropriate models, frameworks, and tools for projects.
Establish observability, evaluation, and engineering practices for production-readiness.
Stay current with emerging AI technologies and recommend tooling approaches.
Influence technical direction and set engineering standards for Advanced AI initiatives.
What we're looking for
PhD or MS in Computer Science, Machine Learning, AI, Applied Mathematics or related field.
7+ years of hands-on experience in software engineering and applied AI/ML development.
Deep expertise in designing and delivering real-world AI solutions including LLM-based systems.
Extensive experience with AI engineering tooling, platforms, and cloud ML technologies.
Strong understanding of system design, model tradeoffs, performance optimization, and deployment.
Ability to translate business problems into technical approaches and create clear documentation.
Market check
Salary context
This
$168,000–$303,000
range sits above
62%
of similar postings on FindRole.
Peer median band
$171,300–$257,000
Median floor and ceiling across peers.
Typical midpoint (25–75%)
$168,250–$246,150
Middle half of comparable postings.
Based on 240 comparable postings.*
* 240 is the maximum number of comparable postings sampled.
Employer
About Target
Target Corporation is a large-format general merchandise and grocery retailer offering a wide assortment of everyday essentials, apparel, home goods, and electronics through stores and online. Industry: General Merchandise Retail
Target currently has
42 open roles
on FindRole.
Listed pay typically runs
$98,000–$176,000
across 42 roles with salary data.