Staff Product Engineer - AI Platform

Thomson Reuters Foundation; New York (NY); On-site; USD 136,000 - 253,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Flexible work policy

Career development

Job summary

Thomson Reuters Foundation is seeking a Lead Product Engineer (Full Stack) to drive backend-focused product development for AI-powered features. You will own end-to-end delivery, shaping APIs and scalable services while collaborating with design and product teams.

The role requires strong Python backend expertise (FastAPI/Django/Flask), experience across the stack (React/TypeScript), and a product-minded approach to building customer-facing capabilities at scale.

Qualifications

• 7+ years building web applications at scale with backend focus.
• Strong Python backend experience with FastAPI, Flask, or Django.
• Experience designing APIs and services that operate at scale.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain backend services powering AI products.
• Own complex projects from ideation to launch with cross-functional partners.
• Contribute to frontend development with Next.js and TypeScript when needed.
• Lead and mentor engineers; enforce quality standards across stack.

Skills

Python backend

API design

Leadership

React/TypeScript

Cloud infra

Scale systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Tools

FastAPI

Django

React

Next.js

TypeScript

Job description

Lead Product Engineer (Full Stack), Materia AI

This role is heavily backend focused (roughly 70% backend / 30% frontend). We are specifically looking for engineers who have built and shipped real products end-to-end, not just contributed small features within large organizations.

Strong preference for candidates with: Hands-on ownership building production products from 0 to 1 Python backend depth (FastAPI/Django/APIs/microservices) Scalable distributed systems Product engineering mindset Customer-facing feature ownership React/TypeScript capability to support full-stack delivery Startup or greenfield experience Engineers who can independently design, build, and deliver systems in production Frontend experience is required, but this is NOT a frontend-heavy/UI-focused role. We need backend-first engineers who can also contribute across the stack when needed.

About the Role:

In this role as a Lead Product Engineer, you will work on a backend-leaning full stack team building customer-facing product features. This role is a backend-leaning full stack position. The team is looking for engineers with strong Python backend experience who have worked on customer-facing product systems. While the role involves both backend and frontend development, the primary focus is building scalable backend services and APIs that power product features. Candidates should have strong experience building backend systems using Python frameworks such as FastAPI, Flask, or Django, and be comfortable designing APIs and services that operate at scale. On the frontend side, the team works with modern frameworks including React, Next.js, and TypeScript, so candidates should be comfortable contributing across the stack and connecting frontend interfaces to backend services. The ideal candidate has a product mindset, enjoys shipping features end-to-end, and works closely with product managers, designers, and engineering teams to deliver high-quality user experiences. While the role is full stack, deep backend expertise in Python is the priority, with the ability to contribute to frontend development when needed.

Develop

• Design, build, and maintain the backend services powering generative AI products such as Conversations, Accounting Research, Ready to Advise, and Workspaces
• Develop robust backend systems with Python, FastAPI, Pydantic, and cloud infrastructure, including API design, data modeling, system architecture, and AI service integration
• Own complex, 6+ month projects from beginning to end, including ideation, working with cross-functional partners in product and UX, testing, launching, measuring impact, and iteration
• Contribute to front-end development using Next.js, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS to connect interfaces to backend services
• Identify bottlenecks and optimize for speed, scalability, and responsiveness across the full stack
• Collaborate & Lead: Serve as a technical leader for backend-driven projects through prioritization decisions, scoping out timelines, guiding the work of engineers, and collaborating with cross-functional partners
• Contribute to technical design decisions across the stack, including architecture, API design, and system integration patterns
• Set and enforce team-wide frameworks, best practices, and code quality standards for both backend and frontend development
• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level engineers through code reviews, technical guidance, and career development
• Establish and maintain high engineering standards for code quality, testing, and architecture
• Lead by example in technical excellence, delivery accountability, and collaborative problem-solving
• Champion Product Quality: Drive high standards for backend reliability, API design, and system performance
• Apply strong product sensibilities to deliver polished, accessible, and user-centric experiences; proactively collect feedback from end users and internal stakeholders, and iterate accordingly

Experience & Skills

• 7+ years building web applications at scale, with deep experience in backend development and practical front-end skills (we're looking for backend-strong engineers who can work across the full stack)
• Strong proficiency in Python and backend frameworks (FastAPI, Flask, or Django), with experience designing APIs and services that operate at scale
• Comfortable contributing to front-end development with React, Next.js, and TypeScript
• Appreciation for good UI/UX and product design — you care about the end-user experience even when your primary focus is backend systems
• Self-driven with a proactive approach to problem-solving and prioritization
• Experience building new products or features from 0 to 1 or from ideation to release
• Excellent debugging skills and an eye for performance optimization
• Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration abilities
• Bonus Points: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field; Experience working in a startup or similar fast-paced setting; Experience building AI-native products, chatbot interfaces, or API-driven platforms; Familiarity with large language models (LLMs), AI agent design, and/or prompt engineering; Experience with cloud infrastructure, event-driven architectures, or observability tooling; Opinionated about testing methodologies, A/B testing, and safe rollouts

What’s in it For You?

• Hybrid Work Model: We’ve adopted a flexible hybrid working environment for our office-based roles while delivering a seamless experience that is digitally and physically connected
• Flexibility & Work-Life Balance: Flex My Way is a set of supportive workplace policies designed to help manage personal and professional responsibilities, whether caring for family, giving back to the community, or finding time to refresh and reset. This builds upon our flexible work arrangements, including work from anywhere for up to 8 weeks per year, empowering employees to achieve a better work-life balance
• Career Development and Growth: By fostering a culture of continuous learning and skill development, we prepare our talent to tackle tomorrow’s challenges and deliver real-world solutions. Our Grow My Way programming and skills-first approach ensures you have the tools and knowledge to grow, lead, and thrive in an AI-enabled future
• Industry Competitive Benefits: We offer comprehensive benefit plans to include flexible vacation, two company-wide Mental Health Days off, access to the Headspace app, retirement savings, tuition reimbursement, employee incentive programs, and resources for mental, physical, and financial wellbeing. Culture: Globally recognized, award-winning reputation for inclusion and belonging, flexibility, work-life balance, and more. We live by our values: Obsess over our Customers, Compete to Win, Challenge (Y)our Thinking, Act Fast / Learn Fast, and Stronger Together. Social Impact: Make an impact in your community with our Social Impact Institute. We offer employees two paid volunteer days off annually and opportunities to get involved with pro-bono consulting projects and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives
• Making a Real-World Impact:We are one of the few companies globally that helps its customers pursue justice, truth, and transparency. Together, with the professionals and institutions we serve, we help uphold the rule of law, turn the wheels of commerce, catch bad actors, report the facts, and provide trusted, unbiased information to people all over the world
• In the United States, Thomson Reuters offers a comprehensive benefits package to our employees. Our benefit package includes market competitive health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance programs, as well as a competitive 401k plan with company match. In addition, Thomson Reuters offers market leading work life benefits with competitive vacation, sick and safe paid time off, paid holidays (including two company mental health days off), parental leave, sabbatical leave. These benefits meet or exceeds the requirements of paid time off in accordance with any applicable state or municipal laws. Finally, Thomson Reuters offers the following additional benefits: optional hospital, accident and sickness insurance paid 100% by the employee; optional life and AD&D insurance paid 100% by the employee; Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts; fitness reimbursement; access to Employee Assistance Program; Group Legal Identity Theft Protection benefit paid 100% by employee; access to 529 Plan; commuter benefits; Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance; Tuition Reimbursement; and access to Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Compensation

Eligible office location(s) for this role include one or more of the following: New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and/or Irvine, CA; McLean, VA; Washington, DC. The base compensation range for the role in any of those locations is $136,000 USD - $253,000 USD. Base pay is positioned within the range based on several factors including an individual’s knowledge, skills and experience with consideration given to internal equity. Base pay is one part of a comprehensive Total Reward program which also includes flexible and supportive benefits and other wellbeing programs. This role may also be eligible for an Annual Bonus based on a combination of enterprise and individual performance.

About Us

Thomson Reuters informs the way forward by bringing together the trusted content and technology that people and organizations need to make the right decisions. We serve professionals across legal, tax, accounting, compliance, government, and media. Our products combine highly specialized software and insights to empower professionals with the data, intelligence, and solutions needed to make informed decisions, and to help institutions in their pursuit of justice, truth, and transparency. Reuters, part of Thomson Reuters, is a world leading provider of trusted journalism and news. We are powered by the talents of 26,000 employees across more than 70 countries, where everyone has a chance to contribute and grow professionally in flexible work environments. At a time when objectivity, accuracy, fairness, and transparency are under attack, we consider it our duty to pursue them.

To ensure we can do that, we seek talented, qualified employees in all our operations around the world regardless of race, color, sex/gender, including pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, citizen status, veteran status, or any other protected classification under applicable law. Thomson Reuters is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer providing a drug-free workplace. Thomson Reuters makes reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities, including veterans with disabilities, and for sincerely held religious beliefs in accordance with applicable law. If you reside in the United States and require an accommodation in the recruiting process, you may contact our Human Resources Department at [e-mail]. Disability accommodations in the recruiting process may include things like a sign language interpreter, making interview rooms accessible, providing assistive technology, or other relevant accommodations. Please note this email is not intended for general recruitment questions and we will promptly respond to inquiries regarding accommodations. More information on requesting an accommodation here. Learn more about Thomson Reuters can be found on thomsonreuters.com

At Thomson Reuters, we’re not riding the AI wave — we’re reshaping the future of professional work across law, tax, compliance, and journalism. Here, you will collaborate with smart, ambitious people who thrive on solving complex problems, delivering market-leading solutions, and innovating with curiosity and care. Learn more about a career with us Our Employer Story Inside Thomson Reuters Blog Awards and Recognition Join Our Talent Community Protect Your Job Search Future-ready careers Our focus on a skills-first approach ensures you’ll have the tools and knowledge to grow, lead, and thrive in an AI-enabled future.