About the Role
We are looking for a highly skilled and strategic Principal Platform Engineer to play a critical role in shaping our next-generation AI-powered content authoring and delivery platform . This content platform empowers authors, teachers, and professors to create dynamic learning experiences for students through cutting-edge AI, interactive assessments, asset management, APIs, and scalable content delivery solutions .
Reporting directly to the Director of Engineering , you will serve as a technical leader who deeply understands complex systems, ensures teams remain aligned with our mission, and drives the integration of AI across all aspects of our platform. You will spend 50% of your time coding (primarily front-end but full stack) and 50% leading technical direction , providing guidance, documentation, and solutions to ensure our platform is scalable, reliable, and innovative.
This is a hybrid role based out of our Durham, NC office , requiring in-person collaboration when needed.
What You'll Do
Lead & Direct - Provide technical leadership across the platform, ensuring engineering efforts align with AI integration, scalability, and our broader company initiatives.
Architect & Build - Design and implement AI-driven solutions while maintaining a strong hands-on coding presence (React, TypeScript, APIs, backend services) .
Drive AI Integration - Work with AI models, automation tools, and ML-driven content generation to enhance the authoring experience and optimize platform capabilities.
Cross-Team Collaboration - Engage with 20+ teams , ensuring alignment, surfacing risks, and advocating for efficient and scalable technical solutions .
Problem-Solve & Align - Negotiate, advocate, and push back when necessary to keep teams focused and solutions aligned with business priorities .
Guide & Influence - Lead technical discussions, ensuring teams understand the "why" behind AI-driven decisions while balancing trade-offs across usability, performance, and maintainability.
Communicate Clearly - Translate complex AI and engineering concepts into clear, actionable strategies for diverse stakeholders.
Document & Diagram - Create high-quality technical documentation and system diagrams that drive clarity and execution.
What Makes a Great Candidate?
AI-Driven Thinker - You have hands-on experience with AI-powered applications, LLMs, and ML-driven content workflows and can recommend, implement, and optimize AI solutions within an enterprise platform.
Full-Stack Expertise - You have strong front-end skills (React, TypeScript, CSS3, HTML5) but can comfortably work across the stack (backend, APIs, databases).
Systems Thinker - You understand complex ecosystems , anticipate challenges, and proactively find solutions before they become problems.
Excellent Negotiator - You can influence without authority , balancing competing priorities across multiple teams while maintaining a collaborative, fair approach .
Strong Communicator - You can distill complex technical and AI concepts into clear, actionable guidance for both engineers and business leaders.
Proactive & Independent - You take initiative, seek out information, and aren't afraid to ask tough questions to ensure teams are making the right choices.
Execution-Oriented - You balance high-level technical vision with hands-on coding , ensuring progress isn't just theoretical but results in real, working solutions .
Who we are:
At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. We are the world's lifelong learning company. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. To learn more: We are Pearson.
Pearson is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.
If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing .
Job: TECHNOLOGY
Organization: Corporate Strategy & Technology
Schedule: FULL TIME
Workplace Type:
Req ID: 18565
Date Posted: 08 April 2025
Apply for this Job