Principal AI Engineer

Join us and experience Bunnings from the other side of the counter!

What’s in it for you when you’re part of our team:

• Team discount at Bunnings and other Wesfarmers brands including Kmart, Target and Officeworks to name a few

• Free standard OnePass membership

• Access to over 100+ exclusive team member benefits across health, shopping, travel and stay, wealth, work and leave

• 12 weeks paid parental leave, regardless of gender

• Fun stuff like annual festive gifts, discounted food and drinks at our Bunnings Cafe, and travelling store team member opportunities

• We’re genuinely invested in your career and no matter where you start with us, that pathway is yours to build

About the role:

Are you ready to architect the AI future of one of the largest DIY retail organizations? We’re establishing a brand-new pro-code AI engineering team, and we need an exceptional Principal AI Lead-Engineer to lead it.
This isn’t just another engineering role—it’s a rare opportunity to help build something from the ground up. You’ll establish integration frameworks, implement cutting-edge agentic AI protocols, and create complex integrated solutions that will provide significant value add to our Customers, Suppliers and Team Members.

What’s involved:

• Optimise and drive our AI systems development strategy and technical roadmap across complex cross-business AI implementations
• Design and implement integration frameworks for agentic AI systems across enterprise platforms
• Support the design and implementation of Azure AI, Power Platform and integration solutions
• Build and mentor a high-performing team of AI engineers
• Ensure thought leadership and continued understanding of emerging AI-related technologies, ensuring we remain competitive in our technology solutions offer
• Establish integration patterns using APIs, MCP, and emerging agentic protocols
• Transform business challenges and strategic intent into innovative AI-powered solutions
• Support technical governance, architectural reviews, and proactive management of technical debt
• Champion a culture of experimentation, knowledge sharing, and pragmatic engineering
• Influence recruitment, onboarding, and professional development across the technical community

Who we’re looking for:

You are a technical strategist and hands-on leader with the confidence to drive large-scale transformation. You thrive in ambiguity and enjoy solving deep technical challenges that unlock business value. You communicate with impact, whether you’re engaging an engineering squad, a senior executive, or a cross-functional working group.

You demonstrate:

• Depth in software and platform engineering, with the ability to shape system architecture, platform strategy, and delivery at scale
• Strong hands-on experience across core programming languages (e.g., Python, C#, or Java) and frameworks
• Experience with LLM’s, Generative AI and/or Agentic systems
• Understanding of emerging AI related protocols (eg MCP, AP2, A2A)
• Knowledge of RAG patterns, prompt engineering, and AI safety
• Expertise across Microsoft Azure, Azure AI, power platform and enterprise integration
• A strong grasp of SDLC, Agile, and DevOps, and the ability to elevate engineering discipline in others
• The ability to mentor, coach, and develop senior engineers and architects, creating a high-performance, high-trust culture
• A passion for learning, with an interest in emerging technologies such as automation platforms, AI/GenAI, orchestration tools, and enterprise data systems

You’ll need:

• Significant experience (ideally 10+ years) in software engineering, with a strong track record of technical leadership in AI/ML systems and platforms
• Demonstrated experience architecting and delivering high-value solutions in areas such as platforms, automation, or AI-driven systems.
• Deep hands-on experience with modern cloud environments, microservices, and CI/CD automation.
• Proven ability to influence technical direction and business outcomes at scale.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

You’ll be part of a workplace where you’ll feel like you belong.

We love the diversity across our teams, brought together in an inclusive culture guided by our values. We welcome applications from individuals of all ages, cultural backgrounds, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities. We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply and join us in shaping a workplace that celebrates First Nations voices, perspectives, and contributions. Please note, you must be age 15 or over to apply for a role at Bunnings.

We’re all about fairness at Bunnings, and our team’s here to support you every step of the way. If you need any adjustments, just let us know - we’re here to help. If you’ve got the experience, skills, and drive to grow - but don’t quite nail every part of the job description - we still want to hear from you. For support, contact us at jobs@bunnings.com.au.

Bunnings reserves the right to close job advertisements at any time, so we encourage you to apply early. We do not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies, as we have a dedicated internal Talent Acquisition team managing all hiring processes.

About Us

Bunnings is the leading retailer of home improvement and lifestyle products in Australia and New Zealand. We're proud to support project builders, commercial tradespeople and the housing industry through our network of stores, trade centres, frame and truss sites and online.

At Bunnings, our purpose is simple: we’re here to inspire people to have a red hot go! Whether that's backing our team to grow, supporting customers to take on new projects, or helping communities make a real difference. By joining our passionate and diverse team, you will be part of a culture that encourages you to roll up your sleeves and build something great together. If you’re ready to have a go, apply today.

Please note if you are offered a role with us, background checks may be required. This can include police, employment, medical and qualification checks. If a police check search returns a criminal record, Bunnings will assess whether the record impacts your ability to perform the key requirements of the role.