Lead AI Engineer

EPAM Systems Inc; McLean (VA); Remote; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending Accounts

Disability Insurance

Life and AD&D Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

401(k) with matching

Paid Time Off

Job summary

EPAM Systems, Inc. is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to join a high-caliber product team building an AI-powered financial assistant platform.

You will work with global institutional clients and business users to rapidly test, refine, and deploy chat interfaces, reporting systems, and bespoke tools into core investment workflows. You will be part of an autonomous, startup-ready team with zero legacy code, shaping a cutting-edge product and influencing architecture and tooling decisions.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of software engineering experience with senior/lead autonomy.
• Strong proficiency in Python and/or React (TypeScript).
• Willingness to learn Python if primary background is not Python.
• Experience with FastAPI, AWS, Kubernetes, and Terraform.
• Frontend knowledge: TypeScript/JavaScript, React, Next.js, or Node.
• Experience with AI-assisted software development tools and coding agents.
• Experience with AI evaluation, automated testing, regression testing, failure analysis, and production monitoring.
• Strong understanding of AI security, data privacy, guardrails, and safe handling of sensitive information.
• Ability to optimize applications for quality, latency, reliability, and cost.
• High autonomy, strong product judgment, startup-ready attitude.

Responsibilities

• Architect and build next-generation AI-powered financial assistance workflows and bespoke chat/reporting interfaces.
• Gather requirements, design systems, and deliver production implementations independently.
• Integrate and optimize AI applications for quality, latency, reliability, and cost.
• Ensure high standards for software quality, reliability, security, maintainability, and data privacy.
• Review, test, and validate AI-generated code with critical evaluation.
• Handle AI evaluation and quality engineering, including automated evaluations and monitoring.
• Navigate AI security and production controls, including access control and guardrails.
• Learn and adapt to evolving AI technologies.

Skills

Python

React-TypeScript

Tools

FastAPI

AWS

Kubernetes

Terraform

TypeScript/JavaScript

Job description

We are looking for a Lead Software Engineer (7+ years of experience) to join a high-caliber product team building a next-generation AI-powered financial assistant platform. In this role, you will work closely with sophisticated global institutional clients and business users to rapidly test, refine, and deploy chat interfaces, reporting systems, and bespoke tools into their core investment workflows.

You will be part of a small, elite team of hands-on engineers where everyone is exceptionally competent in their respective areas. If you thrive in an autonomous, low-formality startup environment with zero legacy code and a chance to directly shape and influence a cutting-edge product, this is the place for you.

Responsibilities

• Architect and build next-generation AI-powered financial assistance workflows and bespoke chat/reporting interfaces

• Take high-level problem definitions, gather low-level requirements, anticipate edge cases, produce system designs, and deliver production implementations independently

• Integrate and optimize AI applications across quality, latency, reliability, and cost

• Ensure high standards for software quality, reliability, security, maintainability, and data privacy

• Leverage AI-assisted programming methods and coding agents while critically reviewing, testing, and validating AI-generated code

• Handle AI evaluation and quality engineering, including automated evaluations, test datasets, regression testing, failure analysis, and production monitoring

• Navigate AI security and production controls, including access control, prompt-injection risks, guardrails, and auditability

• Rapidly learn and adopt new technologies as the AI ecosystem evolves

Requirements

• Experience: 7+ years of overall software engineering experience, with a proven track record of senior/lead autonomy

• Core Tech Stack: Strong proficiency in Python and/or React (TypeScript)

• Note: If your primary background is not Python, a strong desire and readiness to learn and master it quickly is required

• Cloud & Infrastructure: Experience with FastAPI (strongly desired), AWS, Kubernetes, and Terraform

• Frontend Knowledge (Big Plus): Experience with frontend development (TypeScript/JavaScript, React, Next.js, or Node)

• Proficiency with AI-assisted software development tools and coding agents

• Experience with AI evaluation, automated testing, regression testing, failure analysis, and production monitoring

• Strong understanding of AI security, data privacy, guardrails, and safe handling of sensitive information

• Ability to optimize applications for quality, latency, reliability, and cost

• Mindset: High autonomy, strong product judgment, and a low-formality, startup-ready attitude

We offer

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance (Subsidized)

• Health Savings Account

• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care, Commuter)

• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability (Company Provided)

• Life and AD&D Insurance (Company Provided)

• Employee Assistance Program

• Unlimited access to LinkedIn learning solutions

• Matched 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

• Paid Time Off – the employee will be eligible to accrue 15-25 paid days, depending on specific level and tenure with EPAM (accrual eligibility may change over time)

• Paid Holidays - nine (9) total per year

• Legal Plan and Identity Theft Protection

• Accident Insurance

• Employee Discounts

• Pet Insurance

• Employee Stock Purchase Program

• If otherwise eligible, participation in the discretionary annual bonus program

• If otherwise eligible and hired into a qualifying level, participation in the discretionary Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Program

This Remote Position Cannot be Performed in New York City.

This posting includes a good faith range of the salary EPAM would reasonably expect to pay the selected candidate. The range provided reflects base salary only. Individual compensation offers within the range are based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: geographic location, experience, credentials, education, training; the demand for the role; and overall business and labor market considerations. Most candidates are hired at a salary within the range disclosed. Salary range: $150,000 - $200,000. In addition, the details highlighted in this job posting above are a general description of all other expected benefits and compensation for the position.

In accordance with the LA County Fair Chance Ordinance, you may find a copy of the Notice containing a summary of the Ordinance’s key provisions here: Concept FCO Posting 8 27 24 (lacounty.gov)

EPAM Systems, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We recognize the value of diversity and inclusion in creating success for our customers, business partners, shareholders, employees and communities. We are committed to recruiting, hiring, developing and promoting employees without discrimination. As a global employer, this commitment includes complying with all laws in the countries in which we operate. Nevertheless, we believe equal employment practices should not be limited to what the law requires. Equal opportunity and inclusion are essential to motivate, empower and recognize the best in everyone.

At EPAM, employment actions are based on individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, pregnancy status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital or familial status, national origin, ancestry, genetics, age, disability status, veteran status, citizenship status when otherwise legally able to work, or any other characteristic protected by law.