Lead Software Engineer, AI - Clear

Thomson Reuters•Eagan, MN

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Are you passionate about building AI-driven software that transforms how professionals work? Join our fast-moving, forward-thinking group that is creating AI-driven software for professionals through our investigative platform, CLEAR (Consolidated Lead Evaluation and Reporting), which empowers users to search and analyze billions of public and proprietary records from a unified interface. We invest deeply in AI technologies and explore emerging fields with the backing of Thomson Reuters, a global leader. As a Lead Software Engineer – AI, you will play a lead role in full-stack web development, focusing on AI solutions, agents, and RAG, as well as traditional application layers such as gateways, APIs, and user interfaces—developing intelligent systems that power the next generation of expert solutions across legal, tax, risk, and compliance domains. In this opportunity as a Lead Software Engineer, AI, you will: Build and architect AI-driven systems – Design and lead the implementation of enterprise-scale AI systems, including multi-component pipelines, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architectures, and autonomous AI agents with multi-step reasoning; lead full-stack development from AI orchestration and RAG through API gateways, microservices, and modern web UIs. Drive innovation and technical strategy – Lead evaluation and adoption of cutting-edge AI techniques; oversee proof-of-concept work and technical feasibility for new AI-driven features; stay current with AI research and translate insights into technical roadmaps; represent the organization at industry conferences and events. Provide senior technical leadership – Lead architecture decisions and translate business requirements into scalable technical specifications; mentor senior and junior software engineers; champion MLOps and LLMOps practices and governance for the AI model lifecycle. Ensure quality, security, and operational excellence – Design and implement testing, monitoring, and observability for AI systems at scale; lead compliance with ethical AI principles, security standards, and regulatory requirements; establish governance for AI model lifecycle management. Lead cross-functional collaboration – Partner with AI researchers, engineering leadership, design, and product to turn AI capabilities into market-leading applications; optimize performance for latency, cost, and user experience; influence product strategy through deep technical expertise.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience (Master's degree preferred), and 8+ years of software engineering experience with at least 4 years in senior or lead roles focused on AI/ML.
Proven track record as a software engineer with AI expertise (not primarily a data scientist or ML researcher), with experience in Generative AI, RAG, and LLMs—including solution discovery, architecture, agentic tools, evaluation, deployment, lifecycle, and metrics.
Strong proficiency in Java/Spring Boot for backend services and APIs; hands-on experience with modern front-end frameworks (React, Angular, or Vue.js) and full-stack web application development; experience building production RESTful APIs, microservices, and API gateways; solid understanding of web security, authentication/authorization, and API design.
Expert-level proficiency in Python and extensive experience with AI/ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX); deep understanding of ML principles, evaluation methodologies, and distributed systems; proven experience with MLOps/LLMOps and the full lifecycle of enterprise AI applications.
Advanced experience with AWS and orchestration tools (Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform); demonstrated ability to integrate AI models into large-scale production systems via APIs, data pipelines, and cloud-native architectures.
Strong leadership and mentoring experience; excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving; outstanding communication and presentation skills with experience influencing senior stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading teams building AI-driven systems, agent-based architectures, or enterprise integrations with AI APIs (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic).
Advanced knowledge of vector databases, embeddings, semantic search, and information retrieval; domain expertise in legal, tax, accounting, or regulated industries (e.g., investigative or large-scale search platforms).
Track record of successful AI product launches and scaling AI systems to enterprise customers; experience with AI governance, model risk management, and regulatory compliance; publications, patents, or speaking experience in AI/ML.

Responsibilities

Build and architect AI-driven systems – Design and lead the implementation of enterprise-scale AI systems, including multi-component pipelines, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architectures, and autonomous AI agents with multi-step reasoning; lead full-stack development from AI orchestration and RAG through API gateways, microservices, and modern web UIs.
Drive innovation and technical strategy – Lead evaluation and adoption of cutting-edge AI techniques; oversee proof-of-concept work and technical feasibility for new AI-driven features; stay current with AI research and translate insights into technical roadmaps; represent the organization at industry conferences and events.
Provide senior technical leadership – Lead architecture decisions and translate business requirements into scalable technical specifications; mentor senior and junior software engineers; champion MLOps and LLMOps practices and governance for the AI model lifecycle.
Ensure quality, security, and operational excellence – Design and implement testing, monitoring, and observability for AI systems at scale; lead compliance with ethical AI principles, security standards, and regulatory requirements; establish governance for AI model lifecycle management.
Lead cross-functional collaboration – Partner with AI researchers, engineering leadership, design, and product to turn AI capabilities into market-leading applications; optimize performance for latency, cost, and user experience; influence product strategy through deep technical expertise.

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.
market competitive health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance programs, as well as a competitive 401k plan with company match
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
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