Principal Agentic Architect - 11386

Coupa · Chicago, IL · Services

principal machine learning AI Engineer ic · Posted Apr 3, 2026

About this role

Coupa is hiring a principal-level AI Engineer in the machine learning function based in Chicago, IL. The posting calls out experience with Performance Optimization, Automation, AI Agents, Python.

Role
AI Engineer
Function
machine learning
Level
principal
Track
Individual contributor
Location
Chicago, IL
Department
Services
Posted
Apr 3, 2026

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Job description

from Coupa careers
Coupa makes margins multiply through its community-generated AI and industry-leading total spend management platform for businesses large and small. Coupa AI is informed by trillions of dollars of direct and indirect spend data across a global network of 10M+ buyers and suppliers. We empower you with the ability to predict, prescribe, and automate smarter, more profitable business decisions to improve operating margins.

Why join Coupa?

🔹 Pioneering Technology: At Coupa, we're at the forefront of innovation, leveraging the latest technology to empower our customers with greater efficiency and visibility in their spend.
🔹 Collaborative Culture: We value collaboration and teamwork, and our culture is driven by transparency, openness, and a shared commitment to excellence.
🔹 Global Impact: Join a company where your work has a global, measurable impact on our clients, the business, and each other. 

Learn more on Life at Coupa blog and hear from our employees about their experiences working at Coupa. 

The Impact of a Principal Agentic Architect at Coupa:

As the Principal Agentic Architect, internally known as the Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) is the technical engine of Coupa’s AI Transformation. Sitting at the intersection of Generative AI Engineering and Enterprise Systems Integration, you are responsible for the end-to-end technical orchestration of AI agents. You translate high-level “intents” defined by the Business Consultant into functional, interconnected AI solutions that drive measurable business outcomes. As a “forward deployed” resource, you act as the critical technical link between customer requirements and Coupa Product Management.

What You'll Do:

    1. AI Engineering & Agentic Orchestration

  • Own the build, configuration, and rapid prototyping of AI agents within Coupa Agent Studio, extending platform capabilities beyond standard out-of-the-box functionality

  • Specialize in prompt engineering, model tuning, and AI guardrails to ensure accuracy, reliability, and reduction of hallucinations within production AI workflows

  • Leverage multiple AI platforms, frameworks, and orchestration tools including Claude, OpenAI, MCP, and LangChain to design best-of-breed agentic workflows

  • Design and deploy extensibility frameworks including Embedded UI Assistant integrations and Model Context Protocol (MCP) capabilities for secure enterprise orchestration

  • Develop agent-to-agent communication logic and workflow orchestration across complex multi-step business processes

    1. Integration & Technical Leadership

  • Leverage deep API and integration expertise to support secure, low-latency connectivity between AI agents and enterprise systems including ERP, CLM, and CRM platforms

  • Partner directly with customer IT and security teams to address technical feasibility, risk assessments, governance, and enterprise security requirements

  • Understand and manage AI consumption strategies, platform resource utilization, and Coupa credit usage across agentic workflows

    1. The Field-to-Product Bridge

  • Act as the primary technical liaison between customer engagements and Product Management, identifying roadmap gaps and influencing future platform capabilities

  • Ensure technical delivery remains aligned to original architectural vision and “as-designed” specifications throughout implementation lifecycle

  • Support technical pre-sales initiatives by developing reusable Agent Blueprints and rapid deployment PoCs while serving as a technical feasibility expert

    1. Performance Tuning & Quality Assurance

  • Design authorization boundaries, simulation runs, and human-in-the-loop controls that govern autonomous AI decision-making and escalation paths

  • Develop evaluation frameworks and automated testing approaches focused on functional correctness and production-grade AI performance

  • Own ongoing monitoring, testing, health checks, and remediation of AI agents and workflow orchestration environments

  • Apply continuous improvement methodologies and human-in-the-loop best practices across AI-enabled technical solutions

What You Will Bring to Coupa:

    1. Must-Have Technical Expertise

  • Proven experience in technical integration roles including Middleware, API Engineering, or Systems Architecture with strong knowledge of REST, GraphQL, and JSON

  • Strong programming proficiency in Python and/or JavaScript (Node.js)

  • Experience building integrations and orchestration layers between non-deterministic AI systems and deterministic enterprise platforms

  • Understanding of Source-to-Pay (S2P) business requirements with the ability to map agentic workflows across procurement, invoicing, and payables processes

  • Hands-on experience with agentic frameworks and open-standard orchestration architectures including MCP, LangChain, AutoGen, or similar technologies

    1. Desired “Super Powers”

  • Strong builder mindset with the ability to rapidly move from concept to functional, deployable AI components

  • Advanced troubleshooting and debugging skills across complex AI systems, APIs, prompts, integrations, latency, and data quality issues

  • Ability to establish technical credibility and trust with executive stakeholders while acting as a strategic advisor on AI transformation initiatives

  • Experience supporting enterprise digital transformation and strategic consulting engagements within large-scale environments

  • Strong technical agility with the ability to quickly redesign and optimize agent logic within fast-paced implementation environments

  • Ability to clearly explain technical behaviors, limitations, and AI outcomes to non-technical stakeholders while building customer confidence

  • Deep understanding of Coupa APIs, Compose, configurations, and platform architecture with the ability to diagnose whether issues stem from AI logic, product limitations, data quality, or configuration setup

  • Proactive approach to customer education and expectation-setting throughout implementation and deployment processes

Coupa complies with relevant laws and regulations regarding equal opportunity and offers a welcoming and inclusive work environment. Decisions related to hiring, compensation, training, or evaluating performance are made fairly, and we provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and employees. 

Please be advised that inquiries or resumes from recruiters will not be accepted.

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