Consultant, Software Engineer — Forward Deployed Engineering

Nationwide•Columbus, OH

6d•$118,000 - $178,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Consultant, Software Engineer — Forward Deployed Engineering builds and continuously improves reusable enterprise capabilities that help teams deliver and operate AI solutions safely, quickly, consistently, responsibly, and economically. Working with cross-functional product and platform teams, this role designs, develops, integrates, deploys, and supports capabilities such as the AI Portal and Model Catalog, LLM-as-a-Service, model access, AgentCore, MCP services, HoneyHive, evaluation and observability tooling, guardrails, and developer enablement. The role consumes and extends capabilities provided by AI Platform Engineering, partnering with that organization on reusable patterns and service interfaces and avoiding duplication of platform capabilities in solution-specific implementations. It is accountable for the production readiness, reliability, security, privacy, observability, supportability, and cost effectiveness of the AI solutions and services it delivers. The ideal candidate has AI, software, cloud, and platform engineering skills, along with experience in model integration, agent development, DevSecOps, security and privacy, governance, reliability, and cost management. The position requires independently delivering outcomes, influencing technical decisions, and improving reuse, developer experience, cost visibility, and enterprise adoption. This hybrid role requires in-office presence two days per week at an office in Columbus, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; or Scottsdale, Arizona. Candidates must live within commuting distance of one of those locations. Current internal associates working remotely may also be considered. The position does not qualify for employer-sponsored work authorization, and Nationwide does not participate in the STEM OPT Extension program. As a Software Engineer, the associate mentors and guides others in delivering high-quality, cost-effective technology solutions for business partners by creating new software applications or modifying and supporting existing packaged or custom-built applications. The role applies secure software and systems engineering practices throughout the delivery lifecycle and champions DevSecOps adoption. The position reports to a Technology Manager/Director and is exempt from overtime eligibility. Associates may have on-call responsibility after normal working hours and/or on weekends.

Requirements

Six or more years of programming, software engineering, or systems analysis experience.
Hands-on technical leadership experience leading project teams and setting technical direction.
Proficiency in one or more programming languages such as Java, C++, Python, or JavaScript.
Knowledge of the software development lifecycle.
Proven ability to tackle sophisticated business and development problems.
Ability to thrive in a team environment.
Ability to independently deliver outcomes and influence technical decisions.
Role-specific experience with AI, software, cloud, and platform engineering; model integration; agent development; DevSecOps; security and privacy; governance; reliability; and cost management.
Ability to work in a hybrid arrangement with in-office presence two days per week, unless considered as a current remote internal associate.
Must be based within commuting distance of Columbus, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; or Scottsdale, Arizona, except that current internal remote associates may also be considered.
This role does not qualify for employer-sponsored work authorization; Nationwide does not participate in the STEM OPT Extension program.

Nice To Haves

Undergraduate studies in computer science, management information systems, mathematics, or a related field.
Three years of project management experience.
Insurance or financial services industry knowledge.
Experience improving reuse, developer experience, cost visibility, and enterprise adoption.

Responsibilities

Build and continuously improve reusable enterprise capabilities for delivering and operating AI solutions.
Design, develop, integrate, deploy, and support AI capabilities and services, including model access, agent and platform services, evaluation and observability tools, guardrails, and developer enablement.
Consume and extend shared capabilities from AI Platform Engineering; partner on reusable patterns and service interfaces, and avoid duplicating platform capabilities in solution-specific implementations.
Ensure production readiness, reliability, security, privacy, observability, supportability, and cost effectiveness of delivered AI solutions and services.
Apply secure software and systems engineering practices throughout the delivery lifecycle to protect data and technology solutions from threats and vulnerabilities.
Mentor and train team members on design techniques, tools, and coding standards.
Provide strategic technical advice on using technology to achieve business and technology goals and strategy.
Drive collaboration and project execution across multiple teams.
Analyze, develop, test, debug, document, and deploy moderately complex software according to standards and best practices.
Champion adoption and effective use of DevSecOps practices, tools, and techniques to improve software quality, security, automation, and delivery efficiency.
Manage multiple medium-to-large project priorities, deadlines, and deliverables proactively.
May perform other responsibilities as assigned.
Demonstrate Nationwide Values regularly and consistently.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
Paid time off: newly hired associates receive a minimum of 18 days per full calendar year, prorated quarterly based on hire date
Nine paid holidays
Eight hours of Lifetime paid time off
Eight hours of Unity Day paid time off
401(k) with company match
Company-paid pension plan
Business casual attire