Senior Software Engineer - Applied AI

At Stacklok, we’re an AI-first company led by Kubernetes co-founder Craig McLuckie, helping enterprise developers connect the data, systems, and services that power their businesses today with the agentic and assistive AI systems they’re building for tomorrow. We believe the shift from applications to agents is the next major evolution in software, and we’re building the foundation that helps teams make that leap with confidence.

Our open source platform, ToolHive, provides developers with a powerful yet simple way to securely connect AI systems to real-world environments, delivering the right context at the right time. It solves tough challenges like security, access control, and observability without adding friction to the developer experience. By using open protocols like MCP (Model Context Protocol) and a highly pluggable architecture, supported by a community first development approach, ToolHive allows enterprises to run AI agents safely behind firewalls, with full control over data flow, context, and decision-making.

Connect With Us!

Location

This is a hybrid role that requires in-person work three days a week: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We believe this approach balances flexibility with the value of in-person collaboration and community.

Our current office is located at:
3120 139th Avenue SE, Suite 500
Bellevue, WA 98005

Please note: we are planning to relocate to a more central location in the near future.

The Opportunity

Stacklok is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to build the future of our Applied AI platform. You’ll contribute to the design and development of advanced Tools and AI agents that transform conversational interfaces into autonomous systems capable of taking real-world action.

Operating at the intersection of LLMs, secure infrastructure, and enterprise systems, you'll turn AI’s theoretical promise into production-ready tools and solutions. These agents will integrate deeply with organizational tools and data, giving knowledge workers powerful new capabilities.

As a Senior Engineer, You'll contribute to technical strategy discussions, implement scalable architectures, and work hands-on across the stack. You'll mentor junior engineers, contribute to technical excellence within your team, and help implement the best practices that position us at the forefront of enterprise AI.

If you thrive in fast-moving environments, enjoy building high-leverage systems, and see versatility as a strength, not a stretch, this is your opportunity to lead with impact.

What Success Looks Like: First 6-12 months

• Technical Context Gained: You've developed a solid understanding of the architecture and codebase through code reviews, design discussions, and hands-on contributions. You're making meaningful contributions to AI agent development and can work independently on complex features.
  
  
• AI Agent Features Delivered: You've successfully shipped 2-3 significant AI agent features or improvements that demonstrably enhanced user experience or operational efficiency. You collaborated effectively with design partners and stakeholders throughout the development process.
  
  
• Testing and Quality Contributions: You've implemented comprehensive testing for your AI systems, including unit tests, integration tests, and basic evaluation metrics. Your code consistently meets quality standards and includes proper error handling and observability.
  
  
• Mentorship and Collaboration: You've successfully mentored 1-2 junior engineers, sharing knowledge about AI agent development patterns and best practices. You've built strong working relationships with Product, Design, and AI Research teams.
  
  
• Technical Problem Solving: You've independently resolved complex technical challenges in agent orchestration, RAG pipelines, or model integration. You've contributed to architectural discussions and proposed solutions that improved system reliability or performance.
  
  
• Customer Impact Understanding: You've gained a deep understanding of how your AI agent work impacts real users through customer feedback, usage metrics, and direct stakeholder interaction.

In This Role, You Will

• Build and Optimiz