Lead Software Engineer (AI/LLM)

Prana Tree; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm is seeking an experienced Lead Software Engineer (AI/LLM) to guide a high-performing engineering team. The role requires 8+ years of experience and expertise in software engineering and cloud technologies. This hybrid position in Chicago involves leading product development, architectural design, and mentoring junior engineers. Immediate contract with potential for full-time conversion.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of software engineering experience, including 3+ years in technical leadership.
• Strong background in full‑stack development and cloud technologies.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem‑solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high‑performing engineering team to deliver scalable products.
• Oversee solution design and technical architecture.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate business needs into technical solutions.

Skills

Full-stack development

Cloud technologies

Distributed systems

Leadership

Problem-solving

API integrations

LLM engineering

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

CI/CD pipelines

Job description

Prana Tree is a fast-growing IT consulting and product innovation firm specializing in AI, Data Engineering, Blockchain, and Cloud solutions.

We’re currently hiring for a US-based global management consulting and technology client, a market leader in healthcare and life sciences. This role will start as a 6‑9 month contract with potential conversion to a full‑time position, or an extension of the contract if not converted.

Location and workplace type: Hybrid model (3 days onsite) in New York, Chicago, or Princeton, NJ.

Visa statuses accepted: USC, GC, GC EAD, H4 EAD.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Lead Software Engineer (AI/LLM) to guide a high‑performing engineering team in delivering scalable, innovative, and AI‑powered software solutions. This role requires deep technical expertise, architectural vision, and leadership skills to design and implement robust systems while mentoring talented engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a team of software engineers to deliver high‑quality, scalable products
• Oversee solution design, technical architecture, and system performance optimization
• Make strategic buy‑vs‑build‑vs‑OSS software decisions
• Develop applications that integrate LLM capabilities
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate business needs into technical solutions
• Ensure coding, architecture, and security best practices are followed
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Conduct design and code reviews; mentor junior engineers
• Drive Agile best practices, sprint planning, and ensure timely delivery

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
• 8+ years of software engineering experience, including 3+ years in technical leadership
• Strong background in full‑stack development, cloud technologies, and distributed systems
• Expertise in LLM engineering and API integrations (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini)
• Proven solution design and technical architecture expertise
• Strong technology evaluation skills for buy‑vs‑build‑vs‑OSS decisions
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem‑solving abilities

Good to Have

• Experience with microservices architecture
• Knowledge of MLOps and AI model deployment
• Familiarity with containerization (Docker/Kubernetes) and CI/CD pipelines
• Exposure to multi‑cloud environments (Azure, AWS, GCP)

Seniority Level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

Contract

Job Function

Engineering and Information Technology

Industries

Blockchain Services