Lead Software Engineer, AI

Thomson Reuters • Ann Arbor, MI

35d • Hybrid

About The Position

Are you passionate about building AI-driven software that transforms how professionals work? Join a dynamic and highly skilled team at Thomson Reuters, where we invest deeply in AI technologies and explore emerging fields with the backing of a global leader. As a Staff Software Engineer – AI, you will play a lead role in developing intelligent systems that power the next generation of expert solutions across legal, tax, risk, and compliance domains. About The Role As a Lead Software Engineer, AI, you will: Spearhead the development of cutting-edge AI-powered solutions and driving technical strategy. You will collaborate with senior stakeholders, product leadership, and cross-functional teams to architect, build, and scale enterprise-grade AI systems that transform how our organization delivers value to customers.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience; Master's degree preferred
• 8+ years of experience in software engineering with at least 4 years in senior or lead roles focused on AI/ML
• Experienced with Generative AI/RAG/LLM
• Experience in areas such as: leading solution discovery for various planning and teams, Architecture, Agentic tools, Evaluations, Deployment, Lifecycle of Solution, Metrics
• Expert-level proficiency in Python and extensive experience with AI/ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX)
• Deep understanding of machine learning principles, advanced evaluation methodologies, and distributed system design
• Proven experience with MLOps/LLMOps and managing the complete lifecycle of enterprise AI-powered applications
• Demonstrated expertise integrating AI models into large-scale production systems using APIs, data pipelines, and cloud-native architectures
• Advanced experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and orchestration tools (Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform)
• Strong leadership experience driving technical initiatives
• Excellent strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to operate effectively in complex, fast-paced environments
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills with experience influencing senior stakeholders

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading teams in building AI-driven systems, agent-based architectures, or enterprise integrations with AI APIs from providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, and others
• Advanced knowledge of vector databases, embeddings, semantic search, and information retrieval systems
• Domain expertise in legal, tax, accounting, or other regulated industries
• Track record of successful AI product launches and scaling AI systems to enterprise customers
• Portfolio demonstrating leadership in innovative LLM-based solutions and AI product development
• Experience with AI governance, model risk management, and regulatory compliance
• Publications, patents, or speaking experience in AI/ML domains

Responsibilities

• Build & Architect AI-Driven Systems Design and lead the implementation of complex, enterprise-scale AI systems, including sophisticated multi-component pipelines, advanced retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architectures, and autonomous AI agents with multi-step reasoning capabilities • Architect scalable AI model integration strategies for production software through robust APIs, distributed data pipelines, and microservices architectures • Lead the adaptation and customization of AI models for specialized domains, driving innovation in expert systems for legal, tax, fraud and compliance• Define technical standards and best practices for AI system architecture across the organization
• Drive Innovation & Technical Strategy Lead evaluation and strategic adoption of cutting-edge AI techniques to solve complex business challenges • Oversee proof-of-concept projects and guide technical feasibility assessments for new AI-driven features • Stay at the forefront of AI research and emerging technologies, translating insights into actionable technical roadmaps • Drive innovation initiatives and establish the organization's position in emerging AI technology areas
• Provide Senior Technical Leadership Lead technical architecture decisions and translate high-level business requirements into comprehensive, scalable technical specifications • Mentor a team of senior and junior Software engineers, fostering technical growth and career development • Champion MLOps and LLMOps practices across the organization, leading both design and implementation initiatives • Serve as a senior thought leader, driving technical discussions in executive forums and representing the organization at industry conferences and events
• Ensure Quality, Security & Operational Excellence Design and implement comprehensive testing frameworks, monitoring systems, and observability solutions for AI model performance at scale • Lead compliance initiatives ensuring adherence to ethical AI principles, security standards, and regulatory requirements • Conduct advanced systems analysis and drive operational improvements across AI infrastructure • Establish governance frameworks for AI model lifecycle management
• Lead Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with AI researchers, senior engineering leadership, design, and product teams to translate AI capabilities into market-leading applications • Drive optimization of AI system performance across multiple dimensions including latency, resource usage, cost efficiency, and user experience • Lead strategic initiatives for application feature enhancements through advanced AI capabilities • Influence product strategy through deep technical expertise and market understanding

Benefits

• Hybrid Work Model: We’ve adopted a flexible hybrid working environment (2-3 days a week in the office depending on the role) for our office-based roles while delivering a seamless experience that is digitally and physically connected.
• Flexibility & Work-Life Balance: Flex My Way is a set of supportive workplace policies designed to help manage personal and professional responsibilities, whether caring for family, giving back to the community, or finding time to refresh and reset. This builds upon our flexible work arrangements, including work from anywhere for up to 8 weeks per year, empowering employees to achieve a better work-life balance.
• Career Development and Growth: By fostering a culture of continuous learning and skill development, we prepare our talent to tackle tomorrow’s challenges and deliver real-world solutions. Our Grow My Way programming and skills-first approach ensures you have the tools and knowledge to grow, lead, and thrive in an AI-enabled future.
• Industry Competitive Benefits: We offer comprehensive benefit plans to include flexible vacation, two company-wide Mental Health Days off, access to the Headspace app, retirement savings, tuition reimbursement, employee incentive programs, and resources for mental, physical, and financial wellbeing.
• Culture: Globally recognized, award-winning reputation for inclusion and belonging, flexibility, work-life balance, and more. We live by our values: Obsess over our Customers, Compete to Win, Challenge (Y)our Thinking, Act Fast / Learn Fast, and Stronger Together.
• Social Impact: Make an impact in your community with our Social Impact Institute. We offer employees two paid volunteer days off annually and opportunities to get involved with pro-bono consulting projects and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives.
• Making a Real-World Impact: We are one of the few companies globally that helps its customers pursue justice, truth, and transparency. Together, with the professionals and institutions we serve, we help uphold the rule of law, turn the wheels of commerce, catch bad actors, report the facts, and provide trusted, unbiased information to people all over the world.
• In the United States, Thomson Reuters offers a comprehensive benefits package to our employees. Our benefit package includes market competitive health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance programs, as well as a competitive 401k plan with company match. In addition, Thomson Reuters offers market leading work life benefits with competitive vacation, sick and safe paid time off, paid holidays (including two company mental health days off), parental leave, sabbatical leave. These benefits meet or exceeds the requirements of paid time off in accordance with any applicable state or municipal laws. Finally, Thomson Reuters offers the following additional benefits: optional hospital, accident and sickness insurance paid 100% by the employee; optional life and AD&D insurance paid 100% by the employee; Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts; fitness reimbursement; access to Employee Assistance Program; Group Legal Identity Theft Protection benefit paid 100% by employee; access to 529 Plan; commuter benefits; Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance; Tuition Reimbursement; and access to Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

What This Job Offers

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