Senior Developer

Merkle Italia; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 139,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance (short/long term)

401k

Flexible PTO

15+ paid holidays per year

Paid sick leave

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Dentsu seeks a hands-on AI/Automation Development Lead in New York (hybrid) to drive architectural direction and deliver autonomous AI systems. You will write production code daily in Flask/Python and React, lead a mixed onshore/offshore team, and set standards for governance, testing, and delivery.

The role blends leadership with heavy coding, focusing on agentic AI workflows, data pipelines, and enterprise-scale applications within a structured compliance framework.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of full-stack development experience with Python/Flask and React or equivalent modern frameworks.
• Practical experience designing and building agentic AI workflows — autonomous agents, skills, tool-use patterns, and multi-step automation using LLM platforms (Claude, OpenAI, or equivalent)
• Proficiency with AI-assisted development tools (Claude Code, Cursor, or similar) as a daily working practice, not occasional experimentation.
• Strong experience with Azure cloud services, particularly Azure Container Apps, Key Vault, and containerized deployments.
• Expert-level SQL and hands-on experience with relational database administration, schema design, and performance optimization (MySQL preferred).
• Solid Git workflow management and CI/CD deployment fluency (Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions).
• Experience with ETL pipeline development using Azure Data Factory or equivalent platforms.

Responsibilities

• Hands‑On Development — AI & Agentic Systems: design and build agentic AI solutions including autonomous agents, skills, tool-use patterns, and multi-step automation.
• Develop AI-powered applications that integrate agentic capabilities into enterprise workflows.
• Build full-stack apps using Flask/Python backends and React frontends, deploying to Azure Container Apps.
• Develop with Claude Code or equivalent AI-assisted tools as the baseline workflow.
• Design and maintain MySQL database schemas and write performant SQL; build ETL pipelines.
• Implement end-to-end solutions across data pipelines, automation workflows, and AI capabilities.
• Participate in established CI/CD pipelines in Azure DevOps; enforce Git discipline.

Skills

Autonomous agents

Code reviews

Mentoring

System design

Full-stack development

Agile/Scrum

Clear communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

Python/Flask

React

Azure

MySQL

Azure Container Apps

Git/GitHub Actions

ETL pipelines

SQL optimization

LLM platforms (Claude/OpenAI)

Job description

Location: New York (Hybrid)

Reports to: Engineering Manager — AI, Automation & Tech Ops

Role Overview

The AI/Automation Development Lead is the hands‑on technical leader for a small, high‑output development team building AI‑native applications and agentic automation systems. This is a coding‑first role: you will write production code daily, lead by example in the codebase, and set the technical standard for a growing engineering function. The defining characteristic of this role is that AI is not a feature you bolt on — it is how you build. You develop with Claude Code or equivalent AI‑assisted tools as your default workflow. You design and implement agentic AI systems — autonomous agents, skills, tool‑use patterns, and multi‑step automation workflows — as core deliverables, not side projects. The stack (Flask/Python, React, Azure, MySQL) is the toolbox; agentic AI development is the craft. You will take architectural direction and scoped requirements from the Engineering Manager, then own the technical execution: building, shipping, reviewing code, and driving the team to deliver. Approximately 60–70% of your time is hands‑on development; 30–40% is technical leadership, code review, and team coordination.

Hands‑On Development — AI & Agentic Systems

• Design and build agentic AI solutions as a primary focus: autonomous agents, skills, tool‑use patterns, and multi‑step automation workflows using LLM platforms (Claude, OpenAI, Copilot)
• Develop AI‑powered applications that integrate agentic capabilities into enterprise workflows — replacing manual processes with intelligent automation
• Build full‑stack applications using Flask/Python backends and React frontends, deploying to Azure Container Apps
• Develop with Claude Code or equivalent AI‑assisted tools as your default workflow — AI‑assisted development is the baseline expectation, not a nice‑to‑have
• Design and maintain MySQL database schemas, write performant SQL, and build ETL pipelines for enterprise data workflows
• Implement end‑to‑end solutions incorporating data pipelines, automation workflows, and AI capabilities across multiple active codebases
• Work within established CI/CD pipelines in Azure DevOps, enforce branch protection policies, and own Git workflow discipline across the development team

Technical Leadership & Team Development

• Provide technical direction and hands‑on code review for a combined team of onshore and offshore developers
• Establish and enforce development standards: branching strategy, PR‑based workflows, test coverage expectations, and deployment procedures
• Drive adoption of AI‑assisted development practices across the team as a practical approach to accelerating delivery
• Conduct regular code reviews and pair programming sessions to raise the team’s technical bar
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and cross‑training across time zones to reduce single‑point‑of‑failure risks
• Participate in hiring and onboarding as the engineering function grows

Execution & Delivery

• Take architectural direction and scoped requirements from the Engineering Manager and drive them through to production‑ready code
• Own delivery timelines for development workstreams, balancing speed with sustainability — the ability to “yes, and here’s what it’ll take” is valued over unconditional commitment
• Build solutions that work within established governance frameworks (Legal, Security, CIO approval chains) without treating compliance as an obstacle
• Ensure applications meet compliance requirements (ICF/JSOX, data privacy regulations) by design through code quality and testing discipline
• Participate in discovery sessions and requirements gathering alongside the Engineering Manager for complex projects

Requirements

• 5+ years of full‑stack development experience with Python/Flask and React or equivalent modern frameworks
• Practical experience designing and building agentic AI workflows — autonomous agents, skills, tool‑use patterns, and multi‑step automation using LLM platforms (Claude, OpenAI, or equivalent)
• Proficiency with AI‑assisted development tools (Claude Code, Cursor, or similar) as a daily working practice, not occasional experimentation
• Strong experience with Azure cloud services, particularly Azure Container Apps, Key Vault, and containerized deployments
• Expert‑level SQL and hands‑on experience with relational database administration, schema design, and performance optimization (MySQL preferred, Postgres or equivalent acceptable)
• Solid Git workflow management: branch protection policies, PR‑based promotion flows, merge conflict resolution, and the discipline to enforce them across a team
• Working knowledge of CI/CD deployment workflows in Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions — you won’t own pipeline development, but you need to work fluently within them
• Experience with ETL pipeline development using Azure Data Factory or equivalent platforms
• API development and integration experience (REST, webhooks, OAuth/SCIM flows)
• Leadership & Collaboration: Experience leading or mentoring a small development team, including distributed/offshore team members; Strong code review discipline and ability to raise the technical bar for others; Comfort working within structured governance and approval processes; Clear communication skills — able to explain technical decisions to non‑technical stakeholders and translate engineering constraints into plain language; Experience with Agile/Scrum practices and comfort with iterative delivery; Mindset Engineering fundamentals first; Ownership mentality; Genuine curiosity about emerging AI capabilities; Comfort with ambiguity in a team that is scaling and defining its processes as it grows

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with enterprise IAM systems (Okta, SCIM provisioning, Entra ID)
• Familiarity with containerized application deployment and Docker Azure or cloud platform certifications (Azure Developer Associate, Azure DevOps Engineer, or equivalent)
• AI platform certifications (OpenAI, Copilot, AWS AI/ML)
• Experience with data modeling techniques (Star Schema, dimensional modeling) and enterprise analytics
• Track record delivering compliance‑sensitive applications in regulated or enterprise environments
• Knowledge of DevOps and DataOps practices, infrastructure‑as‑code, and configuration management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.

What We Offer

• AI‑Native Development: Build agentic AI systems, intelligent automation, and AI‑powered applications as your primary work — not as a side initiative
• High‑Impact Engineering: Ship applications that directly drive efficiency and cost savings across a global organization
• Modern Stack: Work with AI‑assisted development tools, Azure cloud infrastructure, and emerging AI platforms daily
• Growth Trajectory: Join during a scaling phase with clear opportunities to take on more scope as the engineering group matures
• Technical Depth: Operate across the full stack — frontend, backend, data, infrastructure, and AI integration — not siloed into one layer
• Governance That Makes Sense: Work in an environment where compliance and security are built into the workflow, not bolted on as blockers

Additional Information

The annual salary range for this position is $139,289-165,000. Placement within the salary range is based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and other factors permitted by law.

Benefits available with this position include:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Short‑term and long‑term disability insurance
• 401k
• Flexible paid time off
• At least 15 paid holidays per year
• Paid sick and safe leave
• Paid parental leave

Dentsu also complies with applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies. For further details regarding Dentsu benefits, please visit www.dentsubenefitsplus.com.

About Dentsu

For over 120 years, innovation has been a core tenet of our offering – exploring new ways to reach, engage and nurture relationships with audiences. Together we drive a multiplier effect for clients at a global scale, through the development of Integrated Growth Solutions that are underpinned by our promise to clients: innovating to impact. Be a force for good. Sustainability is a vital part of our business and an important area of focus for our clients. We’re leading the way – helping to build a more sustainable planet. Dream loud. In this moment of transformation, we need our people to be fearless, embracing change and ambiguity, driven by the love for their work and excitement for the future. Team without limits. We create opportunities for connection and collaboration between our colleagues and clients, building a sense of belonging and having some fun along the way. Find out more about us Who we are Our Social Impact Our work

Brand: Dentsu

Time Type: Full time

Contract Type: Permanent

Dentsu is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. We do this without regard to race, color, national origin, sex , sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, political affiliation, religious practices and observances, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Dentsu is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with us, please send an e‑mail to [e-mail] by clicking on the link to let us know the nature of your accommodation request and your contact information. We are here to support you.