Job Title: Lead Software Engineer
Location: Chicago, IL
Duration: 12 Months
Bill Rate: $80/hour
Job Type: C2C/1099 Contract
Client: To Be Discussed Later
Work Authorization: US-Citizen, H-1B, OPT-EAD, GC-EAD
Job Summary:
We are seeking a hands-on Lead Software Engineer – Emerging Technology & AI Cloud Solutions to design, develop, and scale innovative software solutions using modern engineering practices, cloud technologies, and emerging AI capabilities. The ideal candidate will combine strong software development expertise with technical leadership, solution architecture, and the ability to take proof-of-concept solutions into production.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the architecture, design, development, testing, and deployment of scalable software applications and cloud-native solutions.
Evaluate and implement emerging technologies, including Generative AI, LLMs, agentic AI, RAG, APIs, automation, and data-driven applications.
Translate business requirements into technical designs, architecture patterns, roadmaps, and implementation plans.
Develop secure, scalable, maintainable applications using modern programming languages, APIs, microservices, and distributed systems.
Guide and mentor engineers, conduct design reviews, and establish reusable engineering standards and best practices.
Collaborate with product, architecture, cybersecurity, infrastructure, data, and business teams.
Establish proof-of-concept success criteria, automated testing, performance metrics, monitoring, and production readiness standards.
Identify technical risks, security concerns, integration dependencies, and operational challenges throughout the SDLC.
Support responsible AI adoption, including model evaluation, governance, data privacy, security, and compliance.
Required Qualifications
8+ years of progressive software engineering experience, including hands-on development of complex applications, APIs, distributed systems, or cloud-native platforms.
Strong proficiency in one or more languages: Python, Java, JavaScript/TypeScript, C#, Go, or similar.
Experience leading technical delivery across the full SDLC, from requirements and architecture through development, testing, and deployment.
Strong knowledge of software architecture, API integration, automated testing, CI/CD, DevOps, and production support.
Working knowledge of cloud platforms, containerization, infrastructure automation, and modern integration patterns.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, communication, and technical leadership skills.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with Generative AI, LLMs, agentic workflows, RAG, vector databases, machine learning, or prompt engineering.
Experience moving emerging technology solutions from proof of concept to production.
Knowledge of responsible AI, model evaluation, guardrails, cybersecurity, data privacy, and enterprise governance.
Familiarity with AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform; Kubernetes; serverless computing; microservices; event-driven architecture; and infrastructure-as-code.
Experience mentoring engineers and influencing technical direction across teams.
Cloud, AI/ML, or Software Architecture certifications are a plus
Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, citizenship/ immigration status, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.
