Sr/Lead AI Backend Data Engineering - GenAI

About the Role

The role entails working closely with cross-functional teams, including data scientists, ML engineers, and product teams, to develop microservices and APIs that enable intelligent, data-driven decision-making. You will be responsible for championing high data quality, system reliability, and stringent governance across all AI-driven initiatives. This is a chance to make a lasting impact on FICO's platform and drive meaningful innovation through your technical expertise.

FICO's Applied AI team is dedicated to leveraging AI and machine learning to drive business value. As a senior member of this team, you will have the opportunity to mentor and lead junior engineers, promoting best practices in software development, data engineering, AI integration, and systems design.

What You Will Do

• Design and deploy scalable backend systems and data pipelines that seamlessly integrate applied AI capabilities into FICO's analytics and decision management platform
• Build high-quality solutions for data ingestion, transformation, and storage, ensuring reliable, high-throughput data flow for real-time analytics
• Develop sophisticated prompting strategies and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures tailored to high-stakes, mission-critical applications
• Partner with data scientists, ML engineers, and product teams to develop microservices and APIs that enable intelligent, data-driven decision-making
• Optimize distributed architectures and implement real-time processing frameworks to support high-volume, low-latency workloads
• Implement advanced monitoring, testing, and performance optimization techniques to ensure system reliability, security, and scalability
• Define and evolve architectural patterns that support FICO's analytics and decisioning solutions at scale
• Lead and mentor engineering team members, promoting best practices in software development, data engineering, AI integration, and systems design
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and prioritize project requirements and deliverables
• Develop and maintain technical documentation for backend systems and data pipelines

What We Are Looking For

• In-depth experience in backend or data engineering, with a demonstrated track record of delivering complex, large-scale production systems
• Strong coding skills in Python, Go, Java, or equivalent languages, with a commitment to clean, maintainable, and well-tested code
• Hands-on experience with big data frameworks (e.g., Apache Spark, Kafka, Hadoop) and a strong understanding of both relational and NoSQL databases
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and container orchestration tools such as Docker and Kubernetes
• Proven ability to design, build, and maintain scalable, production-grade backend systems with a focus on reliability and performance
• Solid experience with testing frameworks (including A/B testing), performance optimization, and production monitoring/observability practices
• Demonstrated experience integrating AI/ML solutions into production systems, including working with Large Language Models (LLMs) and related techniques
• Experience with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures and familiarity with vector databases (e.g., Pinecone, Weaviate, pgvector)
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to mentor engineers, influence technical direction, and collaborate effectively across disciplines
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field

Nice to Have

• Experience with agile development methodologies and version control systems such as Git
• Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices and data encryption techniques
• Familiarity with DevOps tools such as Jenkins, Ansible, or Terraform
• Experience with data visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or D3.js

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive compensation package
• Opportunity to work with a world-class team of engineers and data scientists
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment
• Professional development opportunities, including training and conference sponsorships
• Flexible working hours and remote work options
• Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools
• Comprehensive health insurance and retirement benefits
• Generous paid time off and holidays

• Ensure your resume and online profiles showcase your technical expertise in backend engineering and AI integration, highlighting specific projects and achievements.
• Prepare to discuss your experience with big data frameworks, cloud platforms, and container orchestration tools, and be ready to provide examples of your work.
• Develop a strong understanding of FICO's products and services, and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with the company's goals and mission.
• Build a portfolio of your work, including examples of your code, architectural designs, and technical writing, to demonstrate your capabilities to potential employers.
• Research the market rate for your role and be prepared to negotiate your salary and benefits package.
• Be prepared to discuss your experience with agile development methodologies, version control systems, and DevOps tools, and highlight your ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.