Forward Deployed Engineering Lead (SVP - Applied AI & Engineering)

Citi • Irving, TX

13d • $156,160 - $234,240 • Onsite

About The Position

The Forward Deployed Engineering Lead is a strategic technical leader who will shape the future of AI-powered solutions for Client Network Services (CNS). This role sits at the nexus of cutting-edge applied AI, modern software engineering, and high-impact client engagement — demanding both technical depth and the ability to translate complex business challenges into transformative production systems. We're seeking an exceptional engineer-leader who thrives in ambiguity, operates with urgency, and brings the rare combination of hands-on technical excellence and proven people leadership.
In this role, you will drive the build-out and delivery of Chorus for CNS, working directly with stakeholders and end users to architect and deploy agentic AI solutions that deliver measurable business value. You'll lead cross-functional initiatives that span platform engineering, security, full-stack development, and AI innovation — ensuring every solution is production-grade, scalable, and aligned with enterprise standards. As both a builder and a leader, you'll mentor a high-performing engineering team while remaining deeply involved in architecture, code, and delivery. Your work will directly influence how Citi leverages AI to serve clients, streamline operations, and maintain competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Requirements

• Demonstrated success as a Senior Engineering Leader, Engineering Manager, or Technical Architect with a track record of building, leading, and scaling high-performing engineering teams.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and mentor engineers across all levels, fostering technical growth, career development, and succession planning within the team.
• Experience establishing engineering culture, defining team values, and driving accountability, innovation, and technical excellence across the organization.
• Strong leadership in SDLC best practices, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing frameworks, and engineering performance metrics including DORA (Deployment Frequency, Lead Time, Change Failure Rate, MTTR).
• Experience operating in customer-facing, consulting, embedded, or Forward Deployed Engineering environments, with the ability to translate business challenges into technical solutions.
• Deep hands-on experience Developing Agentic AI Solutions using Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) and Model Context Protocol (MCP) Servers, with demonstrated ability to architect and integrate AI capabilities into production workflows.
• Expert-level proficiency in Python and Java, with strong architectural skills in API design, microservices development, and distributed systems.
• Advanced Front-End development expertise using React, including component architecture, state management (Redux, Context API), performance optimization, and modern JavaScript (ES6+).
• Deep understanding of OAuth 2.0 authentication and Authorisation rrameworks, including implementation of token-based security, PKCE flows, SAML, OpenID Connect, and secure identity management patterns.
• Extensive hands-on experience architecting, deploying, and operating services on Kubernetes, including pod management, service mesh (Istio, Linkerd), ingress controllers, cluster autoscaling, and multi-cluster orchestration.
• Experience using HashiCorp Vault for secrets management, including dynamic secrets, encryption as a service, PKI certificate management, and secure credential rotation across environments.
• Proven experience managing Software Dependencies and Security Vulnerabilities using automated tooling such as Dependabot, Renovate, Snyk, WhiteSource, or equivalent Software Composition Analysis (SCA) platforms.
• Hands-on experience with Containerization technologies including Docker, multi-stage builds, container registries (Artifactory, Harbor, ECR), and container security scanning.
• Proficiency with Cloud-Native Architectures and Modern Deployment methodologies, including experience Architecting Solutions on AWS (EKS, Lambda, S3, RDS, DynamoDB) or Google Cloud Platform (GKE, Cloud Functions, Cloud Storage, BigQuery).
• Strong Networking Fundamentals including load balancing, service discovery, DNS, TLS/SSL certificate management, network security policies, and VPN/firewall configuration.
• Experience with Infrastructure-as-Code tools such as Terraform, Helm, CloudFormation, or Ansible, with the ability to define, version, and automate infrastructure provisioning and configuration management.
• Hands-on experience implementing Observability and Monitoring Solutions using tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack, Splunk, Datadog, or New Relic to ensure system reliability, SLO/SLI tracking, and operational excellence.
• Proficiency with Version Control Systems (Git, GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) and Branching Strategies including GitFlow, trunk-based development, pull request workflows, and code review best practices.
• Experience with Event-driven Architectures and Message Brokers such as Apache Kafka, RabbitMQ, AWS SNS/SQS, or Google Pub/Sub, including designing for fault tolerance and scalability.
• Strong understanding of Relational and NoSQL databases including PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, Cassandra, or DynamoDB, with experience in schema design, query optimization, replication, and data modeling.
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with evolving requirements, balancing strategic vision with tactical execution.
• Track record of delivering complex technical solutions with measurable outcomes, business impact, and demonstrated ROI.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences, including senior executives.
• Ability to build strong partnerships across engineering, product, business, and platform teams, fostering collaboration, alignment, and shared ownership.
• Experience driving talent acquisition, performance management, and organizational development, including hiring strategies, onboarding, and building diverse, inclusive teams.
• Proven ability to manage technical roadmaps, prioritize initiatives, balance short-term delivery with long-term architectural goals, and communicate trade-offs to stakeholders.
• Experience leading incident response, post-mortem analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives to drive operational resilience and learning culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Chorus Build-Out for CNS
• Own the technical strategy, architecture, and delivery roadmap for Chorus within CNS.
• Drive rapid, reliable deployment of solutions into production environments.
• Ensure engineering execution aligns with business objectives and client needs.
• Forward Deployed Engineering
• Work directly with clients, stakeholders, and end users to understand workflows and challenges.
• Identify high-value opportunities where AI and engineering can drive measurable impact.
• Deliver end-to-end solutions from concept through to production deployment.
• Engineering Leadership
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of engineers.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and accountability.
• Balance strategic leadership with hands-on technical contribution.
• Applied AI & Agent Development
• Design and build agentic AI solutions leveraging: Google Agent Development Kit (ADK), Model Context Protocol (MCP) Servers
• Integrate AI capabilities into enterprise production workflows.
• Full-Stack Engineering
• Develop scalable APIs and backend services using Python and Java.
• Build intuitive and responsive user interfaces using React.
• Contribute across the full software development lifecycle.
• Security & Identity Management
• Implement secure authentication and authorisation solutions.
• Design OAuth 2.0-based security controls.
• Manage secrets and credentials using Vault.
• Platform Engineering & Infrastructure
• Deploy, operate, and maintain services on Kubernetes.
• Apply strong networking and cloud-native architecture principles.
• Drive platform reliability, scalability, and operational excellence.
• Engineering Excellence & SDLC
• Champion best-in-class Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) practices.
• Drive continuous improvement through DORA metrics and engineering KPIs.
• Implement automated dependency management and vulnerability scanning using tools such as: Dependabot, Renovate, Snyk, Other Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tools
• Platform Migration & Integration
• Lead migration and integration initiatives across strategic internal platforms including: ARC, AgentFlow
• Ensure alignment with organisational standards and technology strategy.
• Stakeholder Management
• Partner with senior leaders across CNS and Technology.
• Communicate delivery progress, risks, and strategic recommendations.
• Align technical execution with business priorities.

Benefits

• medical, dental & vision coverage
• 401(k)
• life, accident, and disability insurance
• wellness programs
• paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior