Lead Software Engineer

The Phoenix Group; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Phoenix Group in Chantilly, VA is seeking a senior software development leader to architect, build, and maintain advanced AI-powered legal applications. You will guide a specialized tech team, shape system architecture, and drive responsible AI and secure release practices in a regulated environment.

Responsibilities include end-to-end design, CI/CD optimization, container orchestration, and mentoring engineers.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional software development experience with at least 2+ years in a senior or lead role.
• Extensive hands-on Python expertise with Django, FastAPI, and Flask.
• Proven track record across full SDLC including architecture, coding, testing, deployment, and support.
• Strong experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab CI).
• Deep expertise in Docker and Kubernetes for scalable, portable environments.
• Experience integrating AI APIs/models (OpenAI, Claude, Harvey) into production apps.
• Cloud deployment across Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud with security in regulated sectors.
• Familiarity with MLOps, model lifecycle, and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, Bicep, CloudFormation).
• Knowledge of security standards in legal/financial industries.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end design, development, and deployment of custom legal and AI‑driven applications.
• Architect and optimize CI/CD pipelines to enable rapid, reliable releases.
• Design, deploy, and manage containerized environments (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Champion responsible AI practices, including LLMs and RAG pipelines.
• Develop evaluation methodologies for AI system quality and security compliance.
• Mentor developers through code reviews and technical coaching.
• Collaborate with legal professionals and IT leaders to translate business needs into robust solutions.
• Identify and remediate technical debt, security vulnerabilities, and bottlenecks.
• Lead AI/LLM-powered features like document classification and e-discovery automation.
• Conduct comprehensive testing (unit, integration, end-to-end) in regulated environments.

Skills

Python

Django

FastAPI

Flask

CI/CD

GitHub Actions

Jenkins

GitLab CI

Docker

Kubernetes

OpenAI APIs

Claude

Harvey

Azure

AWS

Google Cloud

MLOps

Terraform

Bicep

CloudFormation

Security Standards

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or related field

Tools

GitHub Actions

Jenkins

GitLab CI

Job description

Join a leading legal technology firm at the forefront of AI-driven legal tools, where you'll play a critical role in designing and deploying innovative software solutions that empower attorneys and legal professionals across the industry.

Role Overview

This senior software development leadership position involves architecting, developing, and maintaining advanced legal applications, AI-powered features, and automation systems. The successful candidate will directly contribute to building scalable, secure, and efficient software solutions while guiding a specialized tech team. This role offers the opportunity to influence cutting-edge AI integration and system architecture in a dynamic, regulated environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end design, development, and deployment of custom legal and AI-driven applications, from requirements analysis to production support
• Architect, implement, and optimize CI/CD pipelines using tools like GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or GitLab CI to facilitate rapid, reliable software releases
• Design, deploy, and manage containerized environments (Docker, Kubernetes) supporting scalable and portable applications in cloud or hybrid infrastructures
• Champion responsible AI development practices, including integrating large language models (LLMs), RAG pipelines, and agentic workflows into legal software solutions
• Develop and refine evaluation methodologies for AI system quality, including accuracy assessment, hallucination risk mitigation, and compliance with security standards
• Mentor developers through code reviews, pairing, and technical coaching, emphasizing Python best practices and full lifecycle development skills
• Collaborate with legal professionals and IT leadership to translate business needs into robust technical solutions
• Identify, prioritize, and remediate technical debt, security vulnerabilities, and system bottlenecks within critical software environments
• Lead design and implementation of AI/LLM-powered features, such as document classification, e-discovery automation, and AI-assisted legal research tools
• Conduct comprehensive testing (unit, integration, and end-to-end) to ensure high-quality deliverables in regulated industry environments

Core Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or related field; equivalent practical experience acceptable
• 7+ years of professional software development experience with at least 2+ years in a senior or lead role
• Extensive hands-on expertise in Python, including frameworks such as Django, FastAPI, and Flask
• Proven track record across the full software development lifecycle—requirements gathering, architecture, coding, testing, deployment, and support
• Strong experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab CI)
• Deep expertise in containerization and orchestration technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) for scalable, portable environments
• Experience integrating AI APIs/models (e.g., OpenAI LLMs, Claude, Harvey) into production legal applications
• Cloud deployment experience across Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud, with a focus on security compliance in regulated sectors
• Familiarity with MLOps practices, model lifecycle management, and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, Bicep, CloudFormation)
• Knowledge of legal or financial industry security standards, with experience supporting sensitive data workflows and e-discovery processes

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field
• .NET development experience (C#, ASP.NET Core), especially in legacy or migration projects
• Experience with Microsoft 365 integrations, including Microsoft Graph and Copilot
• Building RAG pipelines, multi-agent systems, or agentic workflows
• Knowledge of legal, financial services, or other highly regulated industries with stringent security requirements
• Experience with MLOps pipelines and model lifecycle management tools

Core Technical Skills