Lead AI Software Engineer

Are you an experienced software engineer with a strong track record of building production applications and leading complex technical initiatives? Do you have deep hands-on experience with AI technologies and modern web development? If you're looking for an opportunity to lead AI development while staying hands-on, this may be an excellent fit. As our platform continues to evolve, we are looking for a Lead AI Software Engineer who can take ownership of complex initiatives, shape architecture and technical direction, and turn emerging AI capabilities into reliable, scalable solutions. This role requires someone who can make sound technical decisions, mentor other engineers, and remain hands-on throughout development. Nextek, LLC is a fully functioning software development company in the financial services industry. Nextek creates software applications and solutions to serve the needs of Financial Services Professionals. Required What You Bring 10+ years of professional software development experienceSignificant experience designing, architecting, and delivering complex production software applicationsExtensive hands-on experience building and deploying production AI-powered applicationsStrong, hands-on experience with Laravel, Next.js, and ReactProven experience with OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Anthropic, or similar LLM platformsStrong experience with prompt engineering, RAG, embeddings, and AI workflowsExperience integrating AI/LLM capabilities into production web applicationsProven experience making architectural decisions for complex applicationsDemonstrated experience leading technical initiatives from concept through productionExperience mentoring engineers and establishing engineering best practicesExperience with .NET / C#Experience with SQL Server and/or MySQLExperience building and deploying applications in AWS and/or Microsoft AzureStrong understanding of scalability, security, performance, and maintainabilityStrong problem-solving and troubleshooting skillsAbility to communicate technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholdersAbility to work independently, take ownership, and drive initiatives through completion Preferred Experience architecting relational databasesExperience with both AWS and AzureExperience with both SQL Server and MySQLExperience with AI agents, tool/function calling, vector databases, LLM orchestration, or AI evaluationExperience establishing AI development standards, architecture, or best practicesExperience evaluating and selecting AI models, frameworks, and technologiesExperience mentoring senior and mid-level engineersExperience in financial services or other highly regulated industries Beyond Technical Skills, We Value Engineers Who Handle change well and adapt quicklyTake initiative and ownershipCommunicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholdersLead by example and support team successStay curious and continuously learn emerging AI technologiesAre comfortable evaluating new technologies and determining where they can provide meaningful business valueThink strategically while remaining hands-on and execution-focusedAre confident making complex technical decisions and providing architectural directionBalance innovation with security, reliability, scalability, and maintainabilityEnjoy mentoring engineers and helping grow the technical capabilities of the teamAre motivated by building intelligent systems that real businesses depend on Our Benefits Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits4 weeks of accrued PTO, plus 9 paid holidaysMedical, dental, vision, life insurance, and 401(k)8 hours of paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO)Ability to work in-office four days per week with one remote workdayOngoing professional development and AI training opportunitiesA collaborative team that values expertise, initiative, and growth Why You'll Love Working Here Opportunity to lead AI solutions that solve real business problemsCollaborative environment where ideas and innovation are valuedAbility to influence architecture, AI strategy, and technical directionOpportunity to lead technical initiatives and mentor other engineersAbility to remain hands-on while having significant technical influenceFast-moving organization where your work has visible impactOpportunity to grow alongside a rapidly expanding AI platform At Nextek, we set high expectations, but we back them with support, collaboration, and opportunities to grow. If you are a Lead AI Software Engineer with extensive experience who enjoys building intelligent applications, solving complex problems, leading technical initiatives, and mentoring engineers, we encourage you to apply. Check out more amazing opportunities here: www.careers.gradientfinancialgroup.com