AI Engineer at Trace3 in Irvine, CA

Who is Trace3? Trace3 is a leading Transformative IT Authority, providing unique technology solutions and consulting services to our clients. Equipped with elite engineering and dynamic innovation, we empower IT executives and their organizations to achieve competitive advantage through a process of Integrate, Automate, Innovate. Our culture at Trace3 embodies the spirit of a startup with the advantage of a scalable business. Employees can grow their career and have fun while doing it! Trace3 is headquartered in Irvine, California. We employ more than 1,200 people all over the United States. Our major field office locations include Denver, Indianapolis, Grand Rapids, Lexington, Los Angeles, Louisville, Texas, San Francisco. Ready to discover the possibilities that live in technology? Come Join Us! Street-Smart- Thriving in Dynamic Times We are flexible and resilient in a fast-changing environment. We continuously innovate and drive constructive change while keeping a focus on the “big picture.” We exercise sound business judgment in making high-quality decisions in a timely and cost-effective manner. We are highly creative and can dig deep within ourselves to find positive solutions to different problems. Juice - The “Stuff” it takes to be a Needle Mover We get things done and drive results. We lead without a title, empowering others through a can-do attitude. We look forward to the goal, mentally mapping out every checkpoint on the pathway to success, and visualizing what the final destination looks and feels like. Teamwork - Humble, Hungry and Smart We are humble individuals who understand how our job impacts the company's mission. We treat others with respect, admit mistakes, give credit where it’s due and demonstrate transparency. We “bring the weather” by exhibiting positive leadership and solution-focused thinking. We hug people in their trials, struggles, and failures – not just their success. We appreciate the individuality of the people around us. JOB SUMMARY: The AI Engineer is responsible for designing, building, and deploying AI-powered applications, agents, and automation solutions across the organization. This role is central to Trace3’s internal AI strategy and will focus heavily on building AI agents and copilots that directly impact productivity across executive leadership, Sales, Operations, Legal, and IT. While initial priorities focus on internal AI agents and copilots, this role will expand to support a broader range of AI use cases, including workflow automation, integrations, and scalable AI-driven solutions. This role emphasizes end-to-end engineering of AI solutions—translating business needs into production-ready systems using modern AI frameworks and cloud platforms (primarily Azure). SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: AI Application & Agent Development Design and build AI-powered applications, including agents, copilots, and intelligent workflows. Develop solutions using LLMs, RAG architectures, and orchestration frameworks. Build reusable components and scalable AI patterns. Design agent behavior that adapts to user‑defined preferences, rules, and governance constraints. Integration & Automation Integrate AI solutions with enterprise platforms (NetSuite, ServiceNow, Microsoft 365, etc.) Develop APIs, connectors, and event-driven workflows. Embed AI capabilities into business processes to drive automation and efficiency. Governance, Security & Responsible AI Ensure AI agents and applications comply with Trace3 governance, security, and data protection standards. Design systems that prevent sensitive or restricted data from being exposed or misused. Partner with AI leadership to evaluate risks, controls, and guardrails for new AI capabilities before deployment. Balance speed of delivery with safe, responsible AI practices in an enterprise environment. Prompting, Evaluation & Optimization Design and refine prompts for consistency, accuracy, and reliability. Evaluate outputs and improve performance through iteration and testing. Implement guardrails, observability, and responsible AI practices. Cloud Engineering & Deployment Build and deploy solutions in Azure (preferred) or other cloud environments. Ensure scalability, performance, and cost optimization. Monitor, troubleshoot, and maintain production AI systems. Collaboration & Innovation Partner with AI leadership on roadmap execution and prioritization. Work with business stakeholders to translate requirements into solutions. Contribute to AI standards, reusable frameworks, and best practices. REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience) required. Minimum 4 years of experience building AI-powered applications or systems. Strong programming skills (Python preferred). Experience with APIs, microservices, and system integrations. Understanding of LLMs, prompt engineering, and RAG concepts. Experience with cloud platforms (Azure preferred, AWS/GCP acceptable). Experience with Azure OpenAI, Semantic Kernel, LangChain, or similar frameworks. Experience building AI agents, copilots, or automation solutions. Familiarity with vector databases, embeddings, and search architectures. Experience integrating with enterprise SaaS platforms. Understanding of security, governance, and responsible AI practices. Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with attention to detail. Ability to collaborate effectively within teams and communicate technical concepts clearly. Ability to operate independently, with minimal supervision. Comfortable managing multiple and changing priorities, and meeting deadlines in an entrepreneurial environment. Self-motivated with a strong desire to learn and grow in technical expertise. Actual salary will be based on a variety of factors, including location, experience, skill set, performance, licensure and certification, and business needs. The range for this position in other geographic locations may differ. Certain positions may also be eligible for variable incentive compensation, such as bonuses or commissions, that is not included in the base salary. Estimated Pay Range $121,000—$140,000 USD The Perks Comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans for you and your dependents 401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Match, 529 College Savings Plan, Health Savings Account, Life Insurance, and Long-Term Disability Competitive Compensation Training and development programs Major offices stocked with snacks and beverages Collaborative and cool culture Work-life balance and generous paid time off Our Commitment At the core of Trace3's DNA is our people. We are a diverse group of talented individuals who understand the importance of teamwork and demonstrating leadership, character, and passion in all that we do. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to grow. We recognize that embracing diversity drives innovation, improves outcomes, fosters collaboration, boosts teammate satisfaction, and builds a more inclusive culture. As an equal opportunity employer, Trace3 bases all employment decisions based on individual qualifications, merit, and business requirements. We do not engage in discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Any demographic information provided is strictly voluntary, kept confidential in accordance with Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations, and will not be used in employment decisions, including hiring, promotions, or mentorship programs. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process or participate in an interview, please email recruiting@trace3.com. ***To all recruitment agencies: Trace3 does not accept unsolicited agency resumes/CVs. Please do not forward resumes/CVs to our careers email addresses, Trace3 employees or any other company location. Trace3 is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/CVs.