AI Engineer

Zions Bancorporation; Midvale, Northern (UT, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

401(k) plan with company match

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Zions Bancorporation’s AI Engineering team in Utah is seeking an AI Engineer to join the Innovation Lab. You will build AI prototypes and production-ready apps, focusing on Generative AI, LLMs, and RAG, while ensuring solid engineering practices with RESTful APIs and microservices.

You will collaborate across product, IT, and customer service to improve workflows, deploy models, and contribute to software design reviews in a fully in-office environment at the Zions Technology Center in Midvale.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of software development with AI/ML and enterprise software.
• Experience with Generative AI, prompt engineering, and RAG alongside API design and CI/CD.
• Strong Python/Java programming and API-first thinking.
• Knowledge of SDLC, Agile/Scrum, SQL, and deployment on cloud platforms.

Responsibilities

• Develop AI/ML software solutions focusing on Generative AI and RAG architectures.
• Design and maintain RESTful APIs and microservices using Python or Java.
• Support testing, version control, and CI/CD processes.
• Deploy AI pipelines and ensure scalable, reliable systems.
• Review business processes and propose AI-enabled improvements.
• Contribute to product design reviews and collaboration across teams.

Skills

Generative AI

LLMs

RAG

Python

Java

API design

CI/CD pipelines

Git

Cloud computing

Agile/Scrum

SQL

WebSphere/Tomcat

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering

Tools

FastAPI/Flask

Spring Boot

Git workflows

Kubernetes

Terraform

GCP/AWS/Azure

WebSphere

Tomcat

Job description

Zions Bancorporation’s Enterprise Technology and Operations (ETO) team is transforming what it means to work for a financial institution. With a commitment to technology and innovation, we have been providing our community, clients, and colleagues the best experience possible for over 150 years. Help us transform our workforce of the future, today.

We are seeking a dynamic and motivated AI Engineer to join our newly established Innovation Lab. In this role, you will combine core software engineering excellence with advanced AI development to drive the creation of cutting-edge solutions. You will collaborate with cross-functional partners to develop AI prototypes and production-ready applications, ensuring they are built on solid engineering principles. You will contribute to requirements analysis, stakeholder collaboration, and the design, debugging, testing, and deployment of effective, scalable software solutions. Your expertise will help us review, analyze, and improve business processes by leveraging both standard application development and advanced machine learning techniques. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact within the financial sector, contributing to product design, user experience, and ongoing system enhancements.

Visa Sponsorship:

This AI Engineer position is currently not eligible for employment visa sponsorship (e.g., H-1B visa). This includes, for example, situations where a candidate may have temporary work authorization while enrolled in school or upon graduation (e.g., CPT, OPT) but would need H-1B visa sponsorship within a few years of employment in order to maintain employment eligibility.

Responsibilities:

• Develop innovative AI/ML software solutions, specifically focusing on Generative AI, LLMs, and RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) architectures, while adhering to enterprise software standards.
• Design, build, and maintain robust, scalable RESTful APIs and microservices to expose AI capabilities to internal and external applications using Python (FastAPI/Flask) and/or Java (Spring Boot).
• Support testing, configuration management, and source code/change management processes, ensuring strict adherence to Git workflows and version control best practices.
• Support and maintain AI pipelines and infrastructure to ensure optimal system performance, scalability, and reliability.
• Design, debug, test, and deploy software using Python and/or Java fundamentals, writing clean, maintainable, and efficient code.
• Participate in code reviews, ensuring code quality, security, and testability across the team.
• Review, analyze, and evaluate business processes, recommending improvements and changes using both standard software automation and AI.
• Participate in unit testing, integration testing, feasibility assessments, and systems documentation.
• Execute change and release processes (CI/CD), including model versioning and deployment, documenting solutions with clear, well-commented code.
• Build proof of concept (PoC) examples and graphical simulation software.
• Participate in product design reviews, offering creative and practical ideas and solutions.
• Collaborate with customer service, product managers, developers, and IT to enhance user experience and achieve product goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• 2 plus years of experience in software development, database technologies, version control systems, DevOps tools, cloud computing platforms, and microservices architecture. A combination of education and relevant experience may meet qualifications.
• Proven experience with Generative AI (prompt engineering, fine-tuning, RAG) combined with traditional software engineering skills (API design, CI/CD pipelines, Git).
• Hand on experience with modern programming languages—specifically Python and/or Java—and application development using various technologies, languages, databases, integrations, frameworks, and systems.
• Solid knowledge of software development lifecycles (SDLC), Agile/Scrum methodologies, SQL and database systems, Java/Python programming, and application servers (e.g., WebSphere, Tomcat), data modeling concepts, and integrated application development methodology.
• Proven track record in debugging and problem-solving, with comprehensive experience executing unit, integration, and end-to-end testing.
• Skilled at translating complex business requirements into strategic programs and aligning them with effective, validated solutions.
• Cloud experience: knowledge of modern cloud architectures (GCP preferred, AWS/Azure acceptable) and infrastructure-as-code.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and adapt to changing technology and priorities.
• Financial or banking services experience is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent required.

Work Location:

This position is fully in office (5 days a week) at the Zions Technology Center - 7860 South Bingham Junction Blvd, Midvale, UT 84047.

The Zions Technology Center is a 400,000-square-foot technology campus in Midvale, Utah. Located on the former Sharon Steel Mill superfund site, the sustainably built campus is the company’s primary technology and operations center. This modern and environmentally friendly technology center enables Zions to compete for the best technology talent in the state while providing team members with an exceptional work environment with features such as:

• Electric vehicle charging stations and close proximity to Historic Gardner Village UTA TRAX station.
• At least 75% of the building is powered by on-site renewable solar energy.
• Access to outdoor recreation, parks, trails, shareable bikes, and locker rooms.
• Large modern cafe with a healthy and diverse menu.
• Healthy indoor environment with ample natural light and fresh air.
• LEED-certified sustainable building that features include the use of low VOC-emitting construction materials.
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance - START DAY ONE!
• Life and Disability Insurance, Paid Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
• Health Savings (HSA), Flexible Spending (FSA), and dependent care accounts
• Paid Training, Paid Time Off (PTO) and 11 Paid Federal Holidays
• 401(k) plan with company match, Profit Sharing, competitive compensation in line with work experience
• Mental health benefits including coaching and therapy sessions
• Tuition Reimbursement for qualifying employees
• Employee Ambassador preferred banking products

This position will be open until filled.

All candidates, including those with criminal histories will be considered for employment. However, a background check adjudicated consistently with the FDIC Section 19 regulation will be completed on any candidate who accepts a conditional job offer from the Company. Because the Company is a financial institution, the FDIC guidelines apply to all positions within the company and as such any and all job duties have a direct relationship to a candidate’s criminal history and that criminal history would need to align with the FDIC Section 19 regulations.

Zions Bancorporation, National Association prohibits illegal discrimination and reaffirms its policy of providing Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), by extending equal employment and advancement opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, color, religion, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, gender, disability, national origin, ethnic background, citizenship, protected veteran status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

It is the Company’s policy not to discriminate because of a person’s relationship or association with a protected veteran. This includes spouses and other family members. Also, Zions will safeguard the fair and equitable treatment of protected veteran spouses and family members with regard to all employment actions and prohibit harassment of applicants and employees because of their relationship or association with a protected veteran.

Applicants Requesting Accommodations: If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting us at [e-mail] or 801/844-7618. Please email your resume/cover letter, indicate what position you are interested in and include "Accommodation needed" in the subject line to ensure your information is routed to the appropriate contact.

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