Job Title

OverviewApply Digital is a global experience transformation partner. We drive AI-powered change and measurable impact across complex, multi-brand ecosystems. We enable clients to modernize their organizations and maximize value for their business and customers.Our 750+ team members have helped transform global companies like Kraft Heinz, NFL, Moderna, Lululemon, Dropbox, Atlassian, A+E Networks, and The Very Group. Apply Digital was founded in 2016 in Vancouver, Canada and has grown to ten cities across North America, South America, the UK, Europe, and India. We operate within a pod structure with senior leadership, subject matter experts, and cross-functional skill sets, aligned to a common tech and delivery framework. We follow SHAPE values (smart, humble, active, positive, excellent) to support each other and enable growth. Visit our Careers page to learn how we can unlock your potential.Location: Apply Digital is hybrid/remote friendly. The preferred candidate should be based in Canada, working in hours that align to ET (Eastern Timezone) or PT (Pacific Timezone).The RoleThe Principal Agentic Engineer (Back-end) is a senior technical leader responsible for designing, building, and scaling robust backend systems that support modern, AI-powered digital products. This role combines deep backend engineering expertise with strong architectural judgment, AI-system fluency, and client-facing leadership. You will lead technical direction across complex backend systems, mentor engineers, and partner with clients and internal teams to deliver production-grade solutions. You will design distributed, cloud-native architectures and integrate large language models (LLMs), vector databases, and AI agents into real-world applications. You will engineer teams of coding agents to implement system requirements.You bring proven leadership at a Staff or Lead level, with a track record of delivering complex software initiatives end-to-end. You operate with high autonomy and transform loosely defined goals into well-architected, shipped software.ResponsibilitiesLead the design and development of scalable, secure, and high-performance backend systems using Python and modern cloud-native patterns.Apply spec-driven development practices to ensure clarity, quality, and predictable delivery.Organize, distribute, and translate backlog requirements from Product, UX and other disciplines into detailed spec-driven requirements for Agents to implement.Coordinate teams of coding agents to deliver engineering requirements.Design and implement RESTful APIs to support frontend, mobile, and third-party integrations.Architect and deliver AI-powered backend solutions, including vector stores and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines, integration with LLMs (e.g., Gemini, Claude, GPT-4/5), and use of AI coding agents and developer copilots to improve delivery velocity.Develop and maintain systems using Google Cloud Platform (GCP), with hands-on experience in Vertex AI and Google Gen AI APIs.Leverage Agent Development Kits (ADKs) to design and implement intelligent agent-based systems.Ensure systems are observable, reliable, and debuggable in production environments.Collaborate with engineers to design well-architected, maintainable solutions aligned with business goals.Mentor and guide engineers, fostering technical excellence and continuous learning.Partner with Project Managers and cross-functional teams to manage delivery risks and timelines.Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including clients.RequirementsStrong experience with Python 3 for backend development.Experience designing and consuming RESTful APIs.Proven experience with spec-driven development.Hands-on experience using AI coding agents (e.g., Copilot, Claude Code).Strong prompt engineering skills.Experience working with LLMs (e.g., Gemini 3, Claude Opus, GPT-4.x/5.x).Experience implementing vector stores and RAG architectures.Experience with Agent Development Kits (e.g., Google ADK).Strong experience with Google Cloud Platform (GCP).Hands-on experience with Vertex AI and Google Gen AI APIs.Experience with relational and non-relational databases.Experience with Git and CI/CD pipelines.Strong system design fundamentals, including queues, caching strategies, database schema design, and API design. Ability to build systems that survive and scale in production.Experience designing AI agents, agent task planning, and reasoning patterns.Agent observability and debugging experience.Ability to articulate goals, constraints, and context for agentic systems; reason through edge cases and failure modes; and iteratively refine agent behavior based on observed outcomes.Comfort with full-stack understanding; knowledge of TypeScript and modern JavaScript is beneficial.Excellent English communication skills (written and verbal), with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.Experience working effectively with fully remote, distributed teams.Experience in a consultancy, agency, or professional services firm.Ability to thrive in a flexible, fast-paced delivery environment.NICE TO HAVEExperience with BMAD Method or similar spec-driven development frameworks.Familiarity with layered and distributed architectures.Experience with Terraform.Experience with additional backend languages.Experience with gRPC or other communication patterns.Experience with eCommerce platforms or complex integrations.Life at Apply DigitalAt Apply Digital, people are at the core of everything we do. We value your time, safety, and health, and strive to build a work community that can help you thrive and grow. Here are a few benefits we offer to support you:Great projects: Broaden your skills on a range of engaging projects with international brands that have a global impact.An inclusive and safe environment: Were committed to building a culture where you are celebrated and everyone feels welcome and safe.Learning opportunities: We offer generous training budgets, including partner tech certifications, custom learning plans, workshops, mentorship, and peer support.Generous vacation policy: Flexible personal time off to promote well-being.Customizable benefits: Tailor your extended health and dental plan to your needs and preferences.Flexible work arrangements: Remote, in-office, or a blend of both.Apply Digital is committed to building a culture where differences are celebrated and everyone feels welcome. For more information, visit the DEI section of our website. If you have accommodation needs, please inform us by emailing us at may use AI tools to support parts of the hiring process. Final hiring decisions are made by humans. If you would like more information about data processing, please contact us. #J-18808-Ljbffr