Senior AI Developer

Aquent is partnering with a leading financial services organization that is undergoing a significant technical transformation, redefining the future of financial technology. This is a unique opportunity to join a dynamic team at the forefront of cutting-edge AI technology and complex financial domains, where your work will make a tangible impact on critical systems that underpin operations, ensuring a secure, seamless experience for millions of people.

Are you ready to be at the forefront of innovation, shaping the next generation of financial technology? We are seeking a visionary individual to step into a pivotal role, leading AI-focused workflows across the System Development Life Cycle. This is your chance to drive innovation, enhance system reliability, and contribute directly to solutions that impact millions, all within a culture of continuous improvement. You will be instrumental in driving efficiency in how solutions are built and delivered, making a profound impact on the organization's technological landscape.

What You'll Do

• Lead the integration and application of Generative AI coding assistants throughout the System Development Life Cycle, encompassing implementation, refactoring, unit testing, regression support, code reviews, scripting, automation, troubleshooting, and documentation.
• Drive the adoption of AI assistance for common development tasks, including code suggestions, test generation, review support, and automation scripts, while maintaining clear ownership for correctness and quality.
• Pioneer the use of Generative AI to reduce context switching and accelerate delivery across various workflows, extending beyond just writing new code.
• Apply practical familiarity with leading AI coding tools within IDE/CLI-style workflows.
• Develop and implement agentic workflows and spec-driven development methodologies, translating low-level design artifacts into structured specifications that guide AI-assisted implementation.
• Establish team-level practices for effective AI-assisted development, including custom instructions and prompt engineering.
• Contribute to the modernization of core technology infrastructure and play a key role in IT transformations from legacy to distributed platforms.
• Collaborate with fellow developers, architects, and adjacent teams, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

Must-Have Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 7+ years of professional software engineering experience actively developing large-scale software using Java, Spring framework, cloud development, and Web Services supporting high-volume transactions in a highly available environment.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience with AI/ML implementation and production deployment.
• 6+ years of experience working with containers and microservices in the cloud.
• 6+ years of experience in cloud deployment within a continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) model.
• 2+ years of experience with major cloud platforms.
• 2+ years' experience working with various modern databases.
• 2+ years prior experience in IT transformations and system modernization initiatives from legacy to distributed platforms.
• Hands-on experience with Large Language Models.
• Demonstrated exposure to, or hands-on experience with, Generative AI coding assistants used across day-to-day engineering workflows in the SDLC, applying engineering judgment and validation.
• Working knowledge of agentic workflows, spec-driven development, and custom instructions and prompt engineering, with the ability to establish team-level practices for effective AI-assisted development.
• Excellent communication skills and a proven ability to communicate and lead other engineers in a collaborative environment.
• Collaborative mindset coupled with a bias for action to effectively engage with fellow developers, architects, and adjacent teams.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Master's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related degree, or related practical experience.
• Good knowledge of messaging technologies.
• Experience in Test Driven Development, QA Automation, and a strong quality mindset and behaviors.
• Proficient in developing diagrams, architectural and design documentations, functional and technical specifications, and automated test processes.
• Willingness to learn all aspects of the tech stack and document findings.
• Ability to research and document production and test environments along with architecture and design work.
• Knowledge of Agile methodology and experience in an Agile working environment.
• Experience with collaboration and project management tools.