AI Application Engineer Lead

• Locations Sunnyvale, CA, United States (Hybrid)
• Job Schedule Full time

Fortinet is a fast-growing and dynamic cybersecurity company with a growing and hard-working IT business application team. We are looking for a Senior AI Engineering Lead to join our growing team. In this role, you will help design, build, and maintain intelligent AI agents that automate workflows, interact with users, and integrate with internal and external systems.

Job Responsibilities:

• Architect, design and implement scalable AI agent and backend systems for high-volume, real-time operational workloads, and build resilient user experiences.
• Design and implement robust data flows (e.g., event streams, message queues, job orchestration) to support next-gen SOC/NOC capabilities.
• Integrate LLMs and GenAI components into production workflows, including fine-tuning, prompt orchestration, retrieval pipelines, and evaluation loops.
• Integrate AI agents with databases, APIs, and third-party services.
• Develop, debug, test and troubleshoot the AI agent application and backend systems.
• Collaborate with business users and other developers to define the functional/non-functional system requirements, design workflows and decision logic.
• Collaborate with other departments for system security, compliance and reliability.
• Continuously maintain, monitor and improve the systems.

Required Qualifications:

• BS: 5+ years in backend or full-stack systems for high-availability, security-sensitive environments.
• MS: 3+ years in the same area.
• PhD: 0+ year in the same.
• Proven track record shipping data-intensive and AI-enhanced applications at scale.
• Experience owning features from system architecture through production delivery.
• Experience of project collaboration with multiple teams.
• Experience with LLM service, prompt engineering and evaluation techniques.
• Proficiency with Python and associated frameworks.
• Strong background in designing APIs (REST/Web Socket/Graph
  
  QL) and integrating with real-time/event-driven systems.
• Deep understanding of databases and storage.
• Experience with authentication/authorization, session management, and enterprise integrations.
• Familiarity with distributed systems, scalability, and observability best practices.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $183,000-$224,000. Fortinet offers employees a variety of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, 401(k), 11 paid holidays, vacation time, and sick time, as well as a comprehensive leave program.

Wage ranges are based on various factors, including the labour market, job type, and job level. Exact salary offers will be determined by factors such as the candidate's subject knowledge, skill level, qualifications, experience, and geographic location.

All roles are eligible to participate in the Fortinet equity program. Bonus eligibility is reviewed at the time of hire and annually at the Company’s discretion.

Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.

Fortinet is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity in our company, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, military/veteran status or any other applicable legally protected characteristics in the location in which the candidate is applying.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at