Lead AI Engineer with Java 17

EPAM Systems; United States; Remote; USD 210,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

EPAM Systems is seeking a Lead AI Engineer to provide hands-on technical leadership of a delivery squad in the United States, owning end-to-end architecture, driving AI adoption, and mentoring engineers while contributing code daily.

The role requires 12-15 years of engineering experience, 3+ years leading AI deliveries, strong Java 17+ with Spring Boot, React with TypeScript, REST and event-driven APIs, and cloud/container skills. English at B2+ is expected.

Qualifications

• Leading AI-assisted delivery teams with measurable impact, ideally in regulated sectors.
• 12–15 years engineering experience with 3+ years leading AI delivery teams.
• Strong background in Java 17+ and Spring Boot 3.x with microservices architecture.
• Frontend development experience with React and TypeScript; component design.
• REST and event-driven APIs; OAuth2/OIDC; PostgreSQL.
• Messaging with Kafka and IBM MQ.
• Service pipelines using GitHub Actions, Docker, and Kubernetes/OpenShift.
• GITOps practices and automated testing experience.
• Proven ability to mentor teams on AI adoption and scale AI-native ways of working.
• English proficiency at B2 or higher.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on technical leadership of a delivery squad while contributing code.
• Own end-to-end architecture and lead architecture discussions with client architects.
• Drive specification quality, enforce engineering standards, and governance.
• Use AI coding tools daily for generating, refactoring, testing, and reviewing code.
• Configure MCP servers, multi-agent patterns, and AI/LLM gateways for routing and cost control.
• Evaluate AI outputs and continuously improve delivery practices.
• Mentor engineers on prompts, context management, and skill files.
• Step into full-stack or mobile roles to support squad delivery as needed.
• Present progress, architecture, and AI adoption outcomes to leadership.
• Promote AI-native approaches across the delivery organization.

Skills

AI leadership

Java 17+

Spring Boot 3.x

React

TypeScript

REST APIs

Kafka

IBM MQ

Docker

Kubernetes/OpenShift

GitHub Actions

GitOps

Testing/QA automation

Architecture design

Mentoring

Tools

GitHub Actions

Docker

Kubernetes/OpenShift

Job description

We are seeking a Lead AI Engineer who is genuinely AI-native and ready to drive hands‑on technical leadership of a delivery squad.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands‑on technical leadership of a delivery squad while actively contributing code
• Own end‑to‑end architecture within the squad and lead architecture discussions with client architects
• Drive specification quality, enforce engineering standards, and remain accountable for delivery quality and governance
• Use AI coding tools (such as Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or Cursor) daily for generating, refactoring, testing, and reviewing code — achieving 60%+ AI-assisted code output
• Configure MCP servers, apply multi-agent patterns, and set up AI/LLM gateways to manage routing, cost, limits, and fallbacks
• Leverage AI to evaluate agent output quality and continuously improve delivery practices
• Coach engineers on prompts, context management, and skill files, and review and approve skill-file contributions
• Step into any full‑stack or mobile role as required to support squad delivery
• Present progress, architecture, and AI adoption outcomes to senior leadership
• Mentor teams on AI adoption and promote AI‑native ways of working across the delivery organisation

Requirements

• 12-15 years of overall engineering experience, including 3+ years leading AI-assisted delivery teams
• Track record of leading delivery in a regulated sector (financial services preferred), with references available
• Background in Java 17+ and Spring Boot 3.x (mandatory) with microservices architecture
• Expertise in frontend development with React (mandatory), TypeScript, and component design
• Proficiency in responsive UI development and Figma-to-code workflows
• Skills in REST and event-driven APIs, OAuth2 / OIDC, and PostgreSQL
• Competency in messaging platforms, including Kafka and IBM MQ
• Capability to own service pipelines using GitHub Actions, Docker, and Kubernetes / OpenShift
• Qualifications in GitOps practices and automated testing
• Showcase of leading at least one programme where AI-assisted delivery was the primary engineering model (not a pilot)
• Familiarity with MCP server configuration, multi-agent patterns, and AI/LLM gateway configuration
• Proven ability to mentor teams on AI adoption and work comfortably across both Agile and project modes
• English proficiency at an Upper-Intermediate level (B2) or higher