Senior Lead AI Developer

ZipStaff Inc.; San Antonio (TX); Remote; USD 165,000 - 248,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance.

Dental Insurance.

Vision Insurance.

401(k) + 401(k) matching.

Paid time off.

Referral Program.

Job summary

ZipStaff is seeking a Senior Lead AI Developer to join the Finance Technology AI Enablement team as a remote contract role. You will partner with business leaders and SMEs to design AI-driven solutions and lead the build-out of AI/ML architectures.

The role requires hands-on expertise in GenAI/ML, NLP, and high-volume data processing, with the ability to present roadmaps to senior IT and business stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in software/AI/ML with cloud and distributed architecture.
• Hands-on with Azure, GCP, AWS.
• Kubernetes and event-driven platforms experience.
• GenAI/ML solution design and implementation.
• Semantic layers with RAG and Knowledge Graphs.

Responsibilities

• Work with business leaders and SMEs to understand processes and objectives.
• Design AI-enabled solutions that automate processes end-to-end.
• Create automation and AI architecture, lead build-out of solutions.
• Design and implement Generative AI, ML, automation, and complex workflows.
• Build semantic layers using RAG, Knowledge Graphs, GraphRAG.
• Enable NLP-based querying against large relational databases.
• Architect and implement AI-enabled data processing and analytics.
• Develop analytics capabilities including forecasting and fraud detection.
• Drive AI-first architecture across data and business automation.
• Present designs and roadmaps to business and IT audiences.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship within the AI Enablement team.

Skills

Azure

GCP

AWS

Kubernetes

Event-driven

GenAI/ML design

NLP querying

Communication

Remote work

Tools

GraphRAG

RAG architecture

Knowledge Graphs

Job description

Job Title: Senior Lead AI Developer

Location: Dallas, TX (Remote)

Employment Type: Contract (W2 through Client — No C2C or 1099)

U.S. Citizen or Green Card only

About the Opportunity

ZipStaff is seeking a Senior Lead AI Developer to join the Finance Technology AI Enablement team of a leading financial services organization.

In this role, you will work independently and partner directly with business leaders and subject matter experts (SMEs) to understand current business processes and design AI-driven solutions that transform how those processes operate. This role requires a hands‑on technical leader who is equally comfortable architecting complex, distributed AI/ML systems and presenting solutions and roadmaps to business and IT leadership. This is a remote role. U.S. Citizen or Green Card only.

What You’ll Do:

• Work independently and collaborate directly with business leaders and SMEs to understand current business processes, pain points, and objectives.
• Design and propose AI-enabled solutions that transform and automate existing business processes end-to-end.
• Create automation, AI, and ML architecture, including detailed technical design, and lead the build-out of the resulting solutions.
• Design and implement Generative AI, Machine Learning, automation, and complex agentic workflow solutions.
• Build high-performing, complex semantic layers using advanced technologies such as RAG, Knowledge Graphs, and GraphRAG.
• Enable natural language querying (NLP) against large-volume databases with a large number of tables and complex relationships.
• Architect and implement financial data processing and analytics solutions enabled by AI/ML.
• Develop analytics AI capabilities, including forecasting, fraud detection, and prediction models using Machine Learning.
• Drive an AI‑first architecture approach across data processing automation and business process automation initiatives.
• Design solutions for high-volume processing using event‑driven frameworks and platforms.
• Present technical concepts, solution designs, and roadmaps clearly to business leaders and large IT audiences.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship within the AI Enablement team.

Required Qualifications:

• More than 8 years of experience in software/AI/ML development, including cloud and distributed architecture and platform solutions.
• Hands‑on experience with major cloud platforms: Azure, GCP, and AWS.
• Experience with Kubernetes and container orchestration.
• Experience with event‑driven frameworks/platforms and high-volume data processing.
• Extensive experience with Generative AI (GenAI) and Machine Learning solution design and implementation.
• Experience building complex agentic workflows and automation solutions.
• Experience with financial data processing and analytics enabled by AI/ML.
• Experience building semantic layers using RAG, Knowledge Graph, and GraphRAG technologies.
• Experience enabling NLP‑based querying against large, complex relational databases.
• Experience with analytics AI use cases such as forecasting, fraud detection, and prediction using ML.
• Strong ability to translate business processes into AI/automation architecture and detailed technical designs.
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight while managing multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage business leaders and large IT audiences effectively.
• Ability to work fully remote.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience in Finance Technology or financial services domains.
• Track record of leading AI transformation initiatives from concept through production deployment.
• Experience mentoring junior developers and driving technical best practices.
• Strong background designing and implementing production GenAI, RAG, and agentic workflow solutions for financial use cases.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance.
• Dental Insurance.
• Vision Insurance.
• 401(k) + 401(k) matching.
• Paid time off.
• Referral Program.

About ZipStaff

ZipStaff partners with leading organizations to connect skilled technology professionals with high-impact contract opportunities. We focus on quality matches, clear communication, and long‑term success for candidates and clients.