Principal Software Engineer

What’s Under the Hood

Drive Time Family of Brands is the largest privately owned used car sales finance & servicing company in the nation. Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona and Dallas, Texas, we create opportunities and improve the lives of our customers and our employees by placing a focus on putting the right customer, in the right vehicle, on the right terms and on their path to ownership.

The Drive Time Family of Brands spans across Drive Time, Bridgecrest and Silver Rock. You can find us at the intersection of technology and innovation as we use our proprietary tools and over two decades of industry knowledge to redefine the process of purchasing, financing, and protecting your vehicle.

That’s Nice, But What’s the Job?

Silver Rock is accelerating its journey toward AI-driven innovation. We’re seeking a Principal Software Engineer —a strategic technical leader who drives experimentation, architectural excellence, and the long-term engineering vision. This individual will play a pivotal role in defining the next generation of Silver Rock’s technology capabilities, ensuring we remain at the forefront of velocity, innovation, and impact.

Responsibilities Lead AI Research & Experimentation

• Design, prototype, and operationalize advanced AI and machine learning solutions that transform business outcomes.
• Partner across engineering, analytics, and operations to identify, test, and scale high-value use cases.

Define and Drive Engineering Strategy

• Shape Silver Rock’s long-term technical roadmap, architectural principles, and standards in collaboration with senior leadership.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and integrate scalable innovations that enhance delivery speed and system reliability.

Accelerate Innovation and R&D

• Lead proof-of-concept initiatives and incubate next-generation capabilities aligned to enterprise priorities.
• Establish frameworks for rapid experimentation and continuous learning across engineering teams.

Mentor and Elevate Technical Talent

• Act as a “force multiplier” through coaching, design reviews, and architectural guidance for senior engineers.
• Cultivate a strong engineering culture focused on excellence, curiosity, and innovation.

Strategic Partnering

• Collaborate with product, data, and business intelligence teams to ensure technology direction aligns with organizational goals.
• Represent Silver Rock IT as a thought leader in internal and external forums on innovation and AI strategy.

So, What Kind of Folks Are We Looking For? The Specifics

• 12+ years of experience in software, data, or AI engineering, with at least 5 years in a senior technical leadership role (e.g., Principal Engineer, Distinguished Engineer, Chief Architect).
• Proven record of leading R&D or advanced technology initiatives that delivered measurable business impact.
• Expertise in AI/ML systems, distributed architectures, and scalable cloud solutions.
• Strong ability to translate technical strategy into actionable execution plans.
• Excellent communication and mentoring skills with a passion for developing engineering talent.
• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline or equivelant work experience.

Nice to Have

• Experience building and scaling AI platforms or frameworks within enterprise environments.

So What About the Perks? Perks matter

• Work From Home.Feel free to rock the casual wear while still being camera ready. You will be working from your home office (in an approved city & state) and make sure you have a conducive and quiet workspace with no distractions and reliable and secure internet.
• Medical, dental, and vision, oh my! Drive Time Family of Brands covers a sizable amount of insurance premiums to ensure our employees receive top-tier healthcare coverage.
• But Wait, There’s More. 401(K), Company paid life insurance policy, short and long-term disability coverage to name a few.
• Growth Opportunities. You grow, I grow, we all grow! But seriously, Drive Time Family of Brands is committed to providing its employees with every opportunity to grow professionally with roughly over 1,000 employees promoted year over year.
• Tuition Reimbursement. We’re as passionate about your professional development as…