Lead AI Software Engineer NYC AI Data Science Labs - Investment Management

Job Description

Job DescriptionLead AI Software EngineerNYC AI Data Science Labs – Investment Management

J Harlan Group is currently conducting a search for a Lead Software Engineer at a prominent Investment Manager in their NYC AI Data Science Labs.

They are seeking an experienced Lead Software Engineer to join their AI Labs Engineering team. In this role, you will lead the design and delivery of production-grade AI systems, guide technical direction across high-impact initiatives, and help define how AI products are built, hardened, and scaled across the firm.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role for someone who enjoys solving complex engineering problems, mentoring other engineers, and shaping best practices for responsible AI. You will contribute to reusable AI capabilities, influence engineering standards, and help set direction for modern AI engineering.

This opportunity is available in both their New York City offices and at their brand-new AI Data Science squad in their new Baltimore location. In either location, you will work closely with engineers, product owners, and business stakeholders to incubate new AI products, mature them for production, and enable broader adoption through a Build-Operate-Transfer model.

What makes the role unique is that some of these systems incorporate AI-powered components, such as retrieval, agent-driven workflows, and automation. The position does not involve AI research or model training. Instead, it focuses on practically integrating modern AI tools into enterprise-grade software systems in a responsible, scalable way.

The AI Data Science Labs is focused on building the firm's next‑generation data and AI platforms, aiming to seamlessly deliver on‑demand ML‑powered insights across their firm.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, deployment, and evolution of production-grade AI agents and intelligent systems within modern cloud-native architectures.

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers across squads, helping raise the bar on architecture, engineering quality, and execution.

• Drive the Build-Operate-Transfer model by incubating new AI products, hardening them for production, and partnering with business-aligned technology teams to transition proven solutions for long-term ownership and scale.

• Work closely with engineers, product owners, and senior partners to shape ambiguous problems into scalable AI solutions that deliver measurable business value.

• Guide the development of reusable AI capabilities and shared platform components across areas such as agent orchestration, tool use, retrieval-based systems, evaluation frameworks, observability, and guardrails.

• Champion engineering excellence through strong software design, code quality, automated testing, continuous integration, and continuous delivery practices.

• Ensure AI systems are built with measurable quality, production readiness, operational observability, and appropriate safety controls.

• Oversee technical debt and drive continuous improvement across AI platforms, services, and development standards.

• Identify and pursue opportunities to apply AI in ways that accelerate workflows, improve decision-making, and create scalable business impact across the firm.

Business Knowledge:

• Engage directly with business stakeholders, product owners, and senior partners to understand priorities, shape solution direction, and align technical decisions to business outcomes.

• Apply strong product and engineering judgment to balance innovation, scalability, risk, and long-term maintainability.

• Translate complex business needs into robust, scalable technical solutions that support both immediate value delivery and broader enterprise adoption.

The ideal candidate would have a background:

Required

• BS or MS in Computer Science or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

• 8+ years of progressive software engineering experience developing applications in object-oriented languages such as Java, Python, or JavaScript, including experience leading technical delivery across teams or major initiatives.

• Extensive hands-on experience architecting and delivering cloud-native solutions using AWS or equivalent, containerized microservices, and modern software delivery practices.

• Experience building or leading development of AI-enabled systems, intelligent workflows, or agentic applications in production or near-production environments.

• Strong familiarity with modern AI engineering patterns such as agent orchestration, tool integration, retrieval-based systems, evaluation approaches, monitoring, or guardrails.

• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and system design skills, with a proven ability to lead teams through complex technical challenges.

• Strong communication and influence skills, with the ability to work effectively across engineering, product, and business stakeholders.

• Demonstrated commitment to engineering excellence through setting and upholding standards for automated testing, code reviews, observability, and continuous delivery.

• Results-oriented leader with a passion for mentoring others, fostering innovation, and operating effectively in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.

Preferred

• Experience contributing to shared platform capabilities, workflow systems, retrieval-based services, or other reusable engineering components.

• Understanding of financial markets, asset management, or financial instruments.

An individual who loves solving deep and complex technical and business problems and wants to have an outsized impact with the services/ products they deliver. An individual with a passion for technology engineering high level of intellectual curiosity, a commitment to excellence and an unparalleled drive to deliver world-class services.

If you or anyone in your network would be interested in this opportunity, please send resume to Jerry Goldberg at jgoldberg@jharlan.com or directly contact us at (212) 792-0099

About the Client:

The firm is a publicly owned global asset management firm with $1.8 trillion dollars of AUM. The firm offers funds, advisory services, account management, and retirement plans and services for individuals, institutions, and financial intermediaries.

The talent and dedication of their people is critical to their success. They offer an opportunity for developing one's professional career while working with individuals trained in a variety of disciplines in a collegial and dynamic environment. They offer a broad range of competitive benefits on a global basis.

They seek candidates who are high-energy self-starters who want to join an investment management firm on the leading edge of the global markets. The management team needs individuals of the highest professional caliber who are leaders, problem solvers, analytic, detail-oriented, and entrepreneurial. Everyone at the firm works side-by-side with the firm's senior management in a highly collaborative and charged environment.

Successful candidates are:

• Analytic and relentless in pursuit of the right answer

• Strong communicators who excel at rapid synthesis

• Able to demonstrate sound business judgment

• Able to digest complexity while maintaining an understanding of the big picture of business needs

• Team players who are energized by a collaborative enterprise

The firm's employees maintain the highest professional and ethical standards. The firm has earned a reputation for honesty, fair dealing, and transparency in a competitive industry. They believe that these standards are the foundation for superior investment performance and are critical to delivering performance to clients

SALARY RANGE: The salary range in NYC is $181,000 - $309,000 plus employees may also be eligible for annual discretionary incentive compensation. Actual compensation within that range will be dependent upon the individual's skills, experience, qualifications, location, and applicable laws.

Work Flexibility: This role is eligible for hybrid work, with up to three days per week from home.

Benefits: The firm invests in their people through a wide range of programs and benefits, including:

• Competitive pay and bonuses as well as a generous retirement plan and employee stock purchase plan with matching contributions

• Flexible and remote work opportunities

• Health care benefits (medical, dental, vision)

• Tuition assistance

• Wellness programs (fitness reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program)

• Paid time off for vacation, illness, medical appointments, and volunteering days

• Family care resources, including fertility and adoption benefit