Lead Software Engineer

Fitch Group • Chicago, IL

16d • Hybrid

About The Position

Fitch Group is seeking a Lead Software Engineer - Associate Director to join their dynamic Technology & Data Team in Chicago. This team is at the forefront of innovation, leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI and cloud solutions to drive impactful projects for the organization and its clients. Fitch Group is a global financial information services provider with over 100 years of experience, delivering credit and risk insights, data, and tools to enhance financial markets. The Technology & Data Team includes various departments such as the Chief Data Office, Chief Software Office, and Chief Technology Office, and is recognized as a "Best Place to Work in Technology" by Built In for three consecutive years. The company offers a supportive environment for growth and innovation.

Requirements

• 5+ years of software development experience, with proven expertise in Java, javascript, Office.js, and TypeScript
• Strong knowledge of the Excel development ecosystem: COM Add-ins, Excel formulas, custom functions, named functions, and VBA
• Demonstrated ability to parse, validate, and generate Excel formula syntax programmatically
• Extensive experience designing and consuming REST APIs and microservices architectures
• Extensive experience with asynchronous pipeline architectures in Java
• Hands-on experience with AI/ML frameworks (LangChain, LlamaIndex, AutoGen, or similar) and understanding of Agentic AI workflows
• Proven track record of fine-tuning models with structured, code-based training data (formulas, function calls, structured outputs).
• Experience processing Excel files and VBA code as training inputs for machine learning models
• Strong data engineering skills: dataset construction, data cleaning, normalization, and quality assurance
• Proficiency in automated testing frameworks (Playwright, Selenium, Jest, or similar)
• Solid understanding of BDD/TDD methodologies and acceptance test-driven development

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with structured financial data and understanding of financial instruments (bonds, derivatives, etc.) is highly desirable
• Knowledge of financial modeling and quantitative analysis
• Familiarity with Python for data science and ML model development
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices
• Experience configuring github workflows for CI and CD
• Exposure to Code quality metrics, and shift-left principles
• Experience troubleshooting AWS hosted deployments
• Experience validating AI-generated outputs against business logic, and AI guardrails.
• Exposure to the financial industry domain and data platforms

Responsibilities

• Build cross-platform web-based add-ins that run inside Microsoft Office applications.
• Design and develop secure, performant data delivery tools integrated with multiple backend systems.
• Design and develop applications that enable internal and external client self-service analytical content creation.
• Implement BDD practices and frameworks to enhance test automation and acceptance criteria using cutting-edge AI techniques.
• Integrate code and test case execution and reporting within the CI/CD pipeline to align with the DevOps strategy, criteria, requirements, and user stories.
• Work with cross-functional teams including business analysts, developers, and users to build and expose data and analytics services.

Benefits

• Hybrid Work Environment: 2 days a week in office required.
• A Culture of Learning & Mobility: Dedicated trainings, leadership development and mentorship programs designed to ensure that your time at Fitch will be a continuous learning opportunity
• Investing in Your Future: Retirement planning and tuition reimbursement programs that empower you to achieve your short and long-term goals
• Promoting Health & Wellbeing: Comprehensive healthcare offerings that enable physical, mental, financial, social, and occupational wellbeing
• Supportive Parenting Policies: Family-friendly policies, including a generous global parental leave plan, designed to help you balance career and family life effectively
• Inclusive Work Environment: A collaborative workplace where all voices are valued, with Employee Resource Groups that unite and empower our colleagues around the globe
• Dedication to Giving Back: Paid volunteer days, matched funding for donations and ample opportunities to volunteer in your community

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed