Principal Software Architect

HP · Palo Alto, California; Spring, Texas · $165,450 - $259,750 USD · Posted 2026-09-11

Description -

HP is seeking a Principal Software Architect to define and guide the architecture of modern software platforms within HP’s device and services ecosystem. This role will provide technical leadership across client applications, backend services, cloud integrations, device interfaces, enterprise workflows, AI-enabled capabilities, and production-scale software systems.

In this role, you will help shape an incubation effort within HP’s PC ecosystem experience. You will work directly with customers to understand real-world needs, incorporate feedback into product and technical direction, and architect new edge AI-enabled experiences that have the potential to define the next generation of intelligent PCs and peripherals.

The ideal candidate is a highly accomplished, hands-on software leader with a demonstrated track record of architecting, building, and successfully shipping production-grade AI/ML-enabled products. Relevant experience may span several of the following areas:

Large language models, generative AI, and agentic systems
Speech, audio, and conversational AI
Computer vision and multimodal AI
Edge AI, local inference, and model optimization
Cloud-native and distributed AI platforms
Embedded systems and device-integrated software
Robotics, autonomous systems, or intelligent device control

This individual will combine deep system-level expertise with hands-on technical credibility and the ability to translate ambiguous product, customer, and business requirements into practical architecture strategies and executable implementation roadmaps

The architect must be able to communicate effectively with engineering teams and executive audiences, develop compelling technical and product narratives, build organizational support for new ideas, and advocate for the products and platforms they help create.

This role requires strong system-level thinking, hands-on technical credibility, and the ability to translate ambiguous business, product, and engineering requirements into practical architecture strategies and implementation roadmaps.

You will partner closely with software engineering, UX, product management, hardware engineering, security, manageability, validation, DevOps, systems engineering, and executive stakeholders to deliver high-quality software platforms that support long-term product evolution, operational reliability, and differentiated customer experiences.

Key Responsibilities

Define and own the end-to-end architecture for complex, AI-enabled software platforms spanning client applications, backend services, cloud workflows, local device interactions, connected hardware, and enterprise integrations.
Establish the architectural principles, system boundaries, design patterns, and technology choices required to deliver scalable, secure, reliable, maintainable, high-performance, and extensible platforms.
Lead the architecture of AI/ML capabilities, including generative AI experiences, LLM and agentic workflows, retrieval-augmented generation, embeddings, model orchestration, inference services, traditional machine learning, and edge AI execution.
Design production-ready AI/ML systems with robust approaches for evaluation, experimentation, model and prompt versioning, telemetry, monitoring, feedback loops, responsible AI, safety controls, and operational governance.
Align architecture across local applications, cloud services, enterprise identity, device management platforms, connected devices, firmware-adjacent interfaces, and backend systems.
Define and address critical non-functional requirements, including security, privacy, compliance, performance, resiliency, auditability, manageability, diagnostics, deployment readiness, and supportability.
Maintain strong hands-on technical engagement through prototyping, architecture and code reviews, technical investigations, performance analysis, and resolution of high-impact engineering challenges.
Guide senior engineers and technical leads, raising standards for architecture, code quality, testing, design documentation, technical decision-making, and software lifecycle practices.
Produce and maintain clear architecture artifacts, including system diagrams, architecture decision records, integration specifications, technical roadmaps, risk assessments, and platform evolution plans.
Evaluate emerging technologies, AI/ML frameworks, cloud services, and enterprise platforms, recommending adoption based on customer value, technical fit, risk, and long-term viability.
Influence executive and cross-functional stakeholders by clearly communicating technical strategy, architectural trade-offs, risks, dependencies, technical debt, and recommended investment priorities

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree/ PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering.
10+ years of software engineering experience, including significant experience designing and delivering complex software platforms, distributed systems, enterprise applications, cloud-connected products, or device-integrated software solutions.
5+ years of experience in a technical leadership, architecture, principal engineer, staff engineer, or equivalent role.

Knowledge and Skills

Deep experience designing end-to-end software architectures spanning frontend applications, backend services, desktop applications, cloud platforms, APIs, data systems, device interfaces, and enterprise integrations.
Strong technical depth in one or more frontend technologies such as Angular, React, TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
Strong backend and systems development experience with languages such as C++, Rust, Python, C#, Node.js, Go, or similar.
Experience with LLMs, Vision Language, and speech models
Experience defining architecture for Windows desktop applications, companion applications, background services, system tray applications, OS-integrated applications, or software that interacts with local system services.
Hands-on experience with AI/ML frameworks and runtimes such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, ONNX Runtime, or similar technologies, including model integration, inference, optimization, and production deployment.
Understanding of edge AI considerations, including model compression, quantization, hardware acceleration, latency, memory and compute constraints, and hybrid edge-cloud execution
Strong understanding of distributed systems, API design, service-oriented and event-driven architectures, asynchronous processing, messaging, caching, fault tolerance, and application state management.
Experience with AI service integration, LLM APIs, prompt workflows, model orchestration, embeddings, inference APIs, evaluation pipelines, and responsible AI development practices.
Experience integrating local software with cloud services, backend systems, enterprise identity providers, device management platforms, and enterprise software ecosystems.
Strong understanding of software security, privacy, authentication, authorization, compliance, audit logging, data protection, and enterprise governance requirements.
Experience with Git-based development workflows, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing strategies, release engineering, and production support practices.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with Tauri, WebView, WebRTC, COM interfaces, PowerShell automation, native application integration, or cross-platform desktop application frameworks.
Experience with Microsoft Graph, Microsoft Intune, Azure services, enterprise APIs, identity platforms, SSO, device management, or manageability workflows.
Experience with enterprise manageability solutions (MS Intune, ADMX/Group Policy, HP WXP or similar MDM/UEM platforms)
Experience with connected-device software, peripheral integration, local device discovery, firmware-adjacent workflows, or hardware/software co-design.
Experience building architecture for incubation products, proof-of-concept platforms, beta programs, early-stage software initiatives, or new product introductions.

The pay range for this role is $165,450 to $259,750 USD annually with additional opportunities for pay in the form of bonus and/or equity (applies to United States of America candidates only). Pay varies by work location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Benefits:

HP offers a comprehensive benefits package for this position, including:

Health insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Long term/short term disability insurance
Employee assistance program
Flexible spending account
Life insurance
Generous time off policies, including;
4-12 weeks fully paid parental leave based on tenure
11 paid holidays
Additional flexible paid vacation and sick leave (US benefits overview)

The compensation and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

Job -

Software

Schedule -

Full time

Shift -

No shift premium (United States of America)

Travel -

25%

Relocation -

Yes

Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO) -

HP, Inc. provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and prospective employees, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, age, disability, or status as a protected veteran, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic predisposition or carrier status, uniformed service status, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by applicable national, federal, state, and local law(s).

Please be assured that you will not be subject to any adverse treatment if you choose to disclose the information requested. This information is provided voluntarily. The information obtained will be kept in strict confidence.

For more information, review HP’s EEO Policy or read about your rights as an applicant under the law here: “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal"

About HP

HP is a manufacturer and seller of personal computers, printers, computer hardwares, and business solutions.

Principal Software Architect

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