Senior AI Software Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Washington

INTRODUCTION

Guided by our purpose, core values, and leadership principles, we are creating an airline people love. Our corporate teams set the strategies and operational plans to ensure the success of our company. Whether we use our expertise in accounting, human resources, finance, planning, legal, marketing, or any of our operational divisions, our shared passion for travel and our guests is what motivates us to achieve excellence each day. If you share our passion for creating an airline people love, we want to hear from you.

ROLE SUMMARY

The Senior AI Engineer role is a subject matter expert in applied AI and ML systems including generative and agentic technologies at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. As an individual contributor, this role exercises considerable judgement to make decisions in AI product and feature implementation, from architecture and design through optimization and production deployment and provide recommendations to address operational efficiency, workflow automation, and high-impact AI opportunities across the enterprise.

KEY DUTIES:

• Build and ship AI/GenAI enabled solutions that deliver measurable business value, from rapid full-stack prototypes that validate business demand to robust production systems that automate workflows and drive operational efficiency.
• Design and optimize generative AI systems, including LLM- and multi-modal-based agents, ensuring continuous alignment with user feedback and enterprise standards for safety, security, and accessibility.
• With minimal direction from leadership, exercise considerable judgement to make decisions in implementation of AI products and features, from architecture and design through testing, optimization, and production deployment, partnering with product managers and engineering leaders to execute the strategic technical vision.
• Make recommendations to identify high-impact AI opportunities, translate business needs into technical designs, and integrate solutions seamlessly with existing enterprise systems and data sources.
• Influence others to implement best practices for data residency, observability, model evaluation, and system reliability, ensuring AI systems meet enterprise compliance, performance, and cost-efficiency targets.
• Foster technical excellence and knowledge sharing by mentoring engineers, documenting and communicating complex concepts clearly to diverse audiences, and contributing to a culture of continuous innovation and experimentation.
• Leverage and continuous improvement of the enterprise AI platform, tools, and engineering standards to build scalable, maintainable solutions that enhance developer experience and accelerate self-service business enablement and value delivery.

JOB-SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION & SKILLS:

Required

• 4 years of experience in software development in one or more programming languages.
• Bachelor’s degree with a focus in computer science or an additional two years of relevant training/experience in lieu of this degree.
• Experience in the following:
• Java, Python, Golang or C++
• JavaScript/TypeScript, HTML, CSS
• Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability introducing new ideas and technologies to communities of developers.
• High degree of professionalism and customer service orientation.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum age of 18.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Preferred

• Master's degree in Computer Science or related technical field.
• 2 years of experience building or integrating ML/AI systems, including at least 1 year with Generative AI (LLMs, multi modal models).
• Experience with data structures/algorithms.
• Experience building and delivering AI products, including considerations for AI safety, data residency & system integration.
• Experience in developing access.

JOB-SPECIFIC LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS:

Embody our values to own safety, do the right thing, be caring and kind, and deliver performance.

SALARY RANGE: $117,700-$176,550 / year

SALARY DETAILS:

Pay will be based on multiple factors, including and not limited to location, relevant experience/level and skillset while balancing internal equity relative to other Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon employees. Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon is committed to fair, unbiased compensation along with competitive benefits in all locations in which we operate.

Note: We don’t typically hire at the top of the range.

TOTAL REWARDS:

Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air pay and benefits can vary by company, location, number of regularly scheduled hours worked, length of employment, and employment status.

• Free stand-by travel privileges on Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines & Horizon Air
• Comprehensive well-being programs including medical, dental and vision benefits
• Generous 401k match program
• Annual bonus plans
• Generous holiday and paid time off

For more information about Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon Total Rewards please visit our career site and view benefits.

REGULATORY INFORMATION:

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement

It is the policy of Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment and to ensure equal opportunity in all terms, conditions, and benefits of employment or potential employment.

We also prohibit discrimination and harassment against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected categories.

We have established an EEO Compliance Program under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 503”) and the Vietnam Era Veteran’s Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (“VEVRAA”). All applicants and employees are treated without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. In addition, we have established an audit and reporting system to allow for effective measurement of its equal employment opportunity activities.

To implement this policy, we will:

(1) Recruit, hire, train and promote qualified persons in all job titles, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and any other legally protected categories;

(2) Ensure that employment decisions are based only on valid job requirements; and

(3) Ensure that all personnel actions and employment activities such as compensation, benefits, promotions, layoffs, return from layoff, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air sponsored programs, and tuition assistance will be administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected categories.

Employees and applicants for employment will not be subjected to harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion or discrimination because they have engaged or may engage in (1) filing a complaint, (2) opposing any act or practice made unlawful by, or exercising any other right protected by, any Federal, State or local law requiring equal opportunity, including Section 503 and the equal opportunity provisions of VEVRAA, or (3) assisting or participating in any investigation, compliance evaluation, hearing, or any other activity related to the administration of any Federal, State or local law requiring equal opportunity, including Section 503 and the equal opportunity provisions of VEVRAA.

Government Contractor & Department of Transportation (DOT) Regulations

Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines & Horizon Air are regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT – regulations, 49 CFR part 40) and all applicants are advised that post-offer and/or pre-employment drug testing will be conducted to determine the presence of marijuana, cocaine, opioids, phencyclidine (PCP) and amphetamines or a metabolite of these drugs prior to any offer or employment or transfer into a safety-sensitive position. Failure to submit to testing or positive indications of drug use will render the applicant ineligible for employment with Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines/Horizon Air and any employment offer will be withdrawn.

FLSA Status: Exempt
Employment Type: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Requisition Type: Management

LOCATION: Seattle - Hub