Senior Software Engineer - AI

JobSpace; Christchurch; Hybrid; NZD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Seequent is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to lead and build applied Gen AI capabilities for the Evo geoscience platform, based in Christchurch with an office-based model. You will mentor, shape architecture, and collaborate across teams while guiding AI integration at scale.

You will tackle complex challenges, drive releases, and help grow the new engineering team over the next year to empower global users with semantic data and AI-enabled workflows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or an equivalent technical field.
• 7+ years of professional software engineering experience, with at least 1 year building and operating Gen AI products in production.
• Deep knowledge of RAG, semantic search, vector databases, and production knowledge retrieval optimization.
• Familiarity with agentic frameworks like MCP or A2A to expose services to AI apps.
• Strong cloud development experience, containerized systems (Docker/Kubernetes), CI/CD, DevOps, and FastAPI services.

Responsibilities

• Architect and develop complex software applications and integration services using modern cloud tech.
• Research and implement Gen AI frameworks, including RAG, semantic search, and vector databases.
• Plan, schedule, and coordinate releases across teams, ensuring quality and security standards.
• Manage small projects or sub-projects with realistic plans, risk tracking, and schedule management.
• Mentor team members and lead design/code reviews to ensure robust software and security practices.

Skills

Gen AI

RAG systems

Semantic search

Vector databases

MCP/A2A protocols

Cloud development

CI/CD

DevOps practices

FastAPI

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or software engineering

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

FastAPI

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

At Seequent, we help organizations to understand the underground, giving the confidence to make better decisions faster. We build world-leading technology that is at the forefront of Earth sciences, transforming the way our customers work. Every day we help them develop critical mineral resources more sustainably, design and build better infrastructure, source renewable energy, and reduce their impact on the environment. We operate in 145+ countries while proudly maintaining headquarters in New Zealand.

The Role

The Senior Software Engineer is a leader within the engineering space, enabling their team and collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to build applied Generative AI capabilities for the Seequent Evo geoscience data platform. Based in Christchurch (working in an office-based model), you will solve complex technical challenges, provide mentorship, and directly influence how Gen AI is integrated and operated at scale. As the founding member of this brand-new team, you will also play a key role in hiring and growing the team over the next year to help our global users understand semantic data, automate workflows, and interact with AI agents.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Architect and develop complex software applications, components, and integration services, choosing appropriate modeling techniques and utilizing modern cloud services.
• Research and implement advanced Gen AI frameworks, including Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems, semantic search, vector databases, and Agent-to-Agent protocols.
• Plan, schedule, and coordinate software releases across multiple teams, managing the entire release lifecycle while ensuring deliverables meet quality and security standards.
• Manage small projects or sub-projects independently, preparing realistic plans, managing risks, tracking schedules, and ensuring alignment with organizational standards.
• Support engineering leadership by mentoring and guiding team members, driving personal development, and leading design and code reviews to ensure robust software construction.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• A Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or an equivalent technical field.
• 7+ years of professional experience in software engineering roles, with at least 1 year of hands-on experience building and operating Gen AI products using LLMs in production.
• Deep knowledge of RAG systems, semantic search, vector databases, and optimizing knowledge retrieval for production environments.
• Practical familiarity with agentic frameworks like Model Context Protocol (MCP) or Agent2Agent (A2A) protocols to expose services to AI applications.
• Strong experience in cloud development, containerized systems (Docker/Kubernetes), CI/CD pipelines, DevOps practices, and building FastAPI services.

Assets:

• The ability to work autonomously, leveraging discretion to address complex issues while planning, monitoring, and executing targets within time and quality constraints.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills to influence stakeholders, facilitate cross-functional collaboration, and make key technical decisions that impact project success.
• Proficient problem-solving skills to navigate diverse, complex technical or professional tasks using investigative, creative, and innovative approaches.
• Strong mentoring capabilities to share deep industry and domain knowledge effectively while evaluating and promoting software security, privacy, and ethical practices.
• Flexibility to work in our Christchurch office three days a week, with the adaptability to coordinate with global teams across different time zones when required.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Seequent, we champion the uniqueness of each individual. Our commitment to inclusiveness, equity, and accessibility is fundamental to who we are. If you require accommodation during our recruitment process, please let our Talent Acquisition team know. We are here to ensure a fair opportunity for all.

Research underscores that some individuals, especially women and underrepresented groups, may hesitate to apply for roles if they don't meet every requirement. Please don't count yourself out if you don't tick every box. We are committed to hiring a diverse team and encourage individuals of all background and abilities to apply. Thank you for considering us as your potential employer; we're excited to see what you can bring to our team!