Technology Lead Python Data Engineer - Vice President

Citi; Rutherford (NJ); On-site; USD 142,000 - 213,000; Full time

Job summary

Citi in Rutherford, NJ seeks a senior Technology Lead Python Data Engineer to build scalable credit risk platforms and lead architecture across risk, data, and platform teams.

You will design API-driven services, drive microservices adoption, and apply GenAI to workflows while mentoring engineers and ensuring governance and compliance.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in application development or systems engineering within complex environments.
• Advanced proficiency in Python and SQL, with strong software engineering fundamentals.
• Hands-on experience building API-driven services using FastAPI, Pydantic, and/or Django.
• Proven expertise designing and implementing microservices architectures, including service decomposition, inter-service communication, resiliency patterns, and observability.
• Strong experience with Docker and Kubernetes, deploying and operating containerized services in production.
• Deep understanding of system architecture, data flows, and distributed systems.
• Experience working in Linux environments, including shell scripting and operational troubleshooting.
• Strong track record implementing unit testing, TDD, and automated quality controls.
• Subject Matter Expert in at least one application, platform, or service domain.
• Working knowledge of large language models (LLMs) and modern AI platforms from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Meta.
• Experience designing or contributing to LLM-enabled solutions (copilots, workflow automation, analytics augmentation).
• Familiarity with prompt engineering, model integration patterns, and AI governance considerations in enterprise environments.
• Exposure to modern “vibe coding” practices—AI-assisted tooling to accelerate development while maintaining rigor.

Responsibilities

• Architect, design, and deliver scalable, Python-based applications supporting credit risk analytics, workflows, and reporting.
• Partner with risk, product, and technology leadership to integrate platforms, identify enhancements, and enable new products and processes.
• Resolve high-impact, complex initiatives through deep analysis of business processes, system flows, and industry standards.
• Ensure solutions adhere to enterprise architecture, data, security, and infrastructure blueprints.
• Establish and enforce engineering standards for coding, testing, CI/CD, debugging, and production readiness.
• Design and evolve microservices-based architectures, ensuring scalability, resiliency, observability, and maintainability.
• Apply AI and GenAI capabilities to modernize workflows, automate analysis, and unlock new insights in credit risk.
• Serve as technical leader and mentor, coaching mid-level engineers and analysts and allocating work as needed.
• Apply sound risk and control judgment, ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, and policies while safeguarding clients, data, and the firm.

Skills

Python

SQL

FastAPI

Pydantic

Django

Docker

Kubernetes

LLMs

AI governance

GenAI

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

Neo4j

Spark

PySpark

Hadoop

Hive

Job description

Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.

Discover Your Future in Credit Risk Technology

Build systems that shape credit decisions—at scale.

Job Overview

The Technology Lead Python Data Engineer is a senior engineering leadership role focused on building and evolving modern, scalable platforms for credit risk management. You will lead application design and development while partnering closely with risk, data, and platform teams to deliver systems that are performant, resilient, and compliant.

This role blends hands‑on development, system architecture, technical leadership, and AI‑enabled innovation, with a strong emphasis on microservices, cloud‑native design, and enterprise‑grade governance.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect, design, and deliver scalable, Python‑based applications supporting credit risk analytics, workflows, and reporting.
• Partner with risk, product, and technology leadership to integrate platforms, identify enhancements, and enable new products and process improvements.
• Resolve high‑impact, complex initiatives through deep analysis of business processes, system flows, and industry standards.
• Ensure solutions adhere to enterprise architecture, data, security, and infrastructure blueprints.
• Establish and enforce engineering standards for coding, testing, CI/CD, debugging, and production readiness.
• Design and evolve microservices‑based architectures, ensuring scalability, resiliency, observability, and maintainability.
• Apply AI and GenAI capabilities to modernize workflows, automate analysis, and unlock new insights in credit risk.
• Serve as technical leader and mentor, coaching mid‑level engineers and analysts and allocating work as needed.
• Apply sound risk and control judgment, ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, and policies while safeguarding clients, data, and the firm.

How You’ll Work

• Operate with a startup mindset: ownership, bias for action, and pragmatic innovation.
• Deliver with enterprise discipline: stability, controls, transparency, and audit readiness.
• Balance experimentation with responsibility in a high‑trust, high‑impact environment.
• Adapt quickly as priorities change while maintaining long‑term system integrity.

Qualifications

• 6 + years of experience in application development or systems engineering within complex environments.
• Advanced proficiency in Python and SQL, with strong software engineering fundamentals.
• Hands‑on experience building API‑driven services using FastAPI, Pydantic, and/or Django.
• Proven expertise designing and implementing microservices architectures, including service decomposition, inter‑service communication, resiliency patterns, and observability.
• Strong experience with Docker and Kubernetes, deploying and operating containerized services in production.
• Deep understanding of system architecture, data flows, and distributed systems.
• Experience working in Linux environments, including shell scripting and operational troubleshooting.
• Strong track record implementing unit testing, TDD, and automated quality controls.
• Subject Matter Expert (SME) in at least one application, platform, or service domain.
• Working knowledge of large language models (LLMs) and modern AI platforms from leading providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Meta.
• Experience designing or contributing to LLM‑enabled solutions (e.g., copilots, workflow automation, analytics augmentation).
• Familiarity with prompt engineering, model integration patterns, and AI governance considerations in enterprise environments.
• Exposure to modern “vibe coding” practices—leveraging AI‑assisted tooling to accelerate development, experimentation, and problem solving while maintaining engineering rigor.

Bonus / Differentiating Skills

• Experience with distributed data and compute platforms (e.g., Spark, PySpark, Hadoop, Hive).
• Hands‑on experience with graph databases, particularly Neo4j, for network, relationship, or dependency‑driven use cases.
• Background in credit risk, financial risk management, or banking platforms.
• Experience modernizing or decomposing legacy monolithic systems in large enterprises.
• Proven delivery of GenAI / AI‑driven solutions in regulated or large‑scale environments.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related STEM field.

Job Family Group

Technology

Job Family

Applications Development

Time Type

Full time

Primary Location

Rutherford New Jersey United States

Primary Location Full Time Salary Range

$142,320.00 - $213,480.00

In addition to salary, Citi’s offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.

Most Relevant Skills

Please see the requirements listed above.

Other Relevant Skills

For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

Anticipated Posting Close Date

Sep 04, 2026

Automated Processing and AI

We use automated processing, including artificial intelligence, for our legitimate business interests (or our reasonable and appropriate business purposes) to identify and align the candidate's skills and abilities with a specific job opening. Additionally, if you so choose, or consent, we can match your skills and abilities to other suitable roles at Citi.

Importantly, all our hiring processes and decisions, including determining your suitability for a role, are conducted, checked, and decided by individuals. Our automated processing and AI do not involve relying on automatic or autonomous decision-making. Please refer to any Jurisdictional Considerations, with specific provisions for your country (where relevant) for further details.

Illinois residents – AI Notice and Right

Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity review Accessibility at Citi. View Citi’s EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.