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Lead Ai Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Nextek, LLC

Lead AI Software Engineer

Shoreview, MN · On-site

$100K - $140K/yr

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 ...

Nextek

Be Seen First

Lead AI Software Engineer

Shoreview, MN · On-site

$100K - $140K/yr

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 ...

System One

Lead AI Software Engineer

Mclean, VA · On-site

Lead AI Software Engineer Employment Type: Contract-to-Hire Clearance Requirement: Candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Federal or DoD Public Trust. Approved adjudication is required ...

System One

Lead AI Software Engineer

Mclean, VA · On-site

Lead AI Software Engineer Employment Type: Contract-to-Hire Clearance Requirement: Candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Federal or DoD Public Trust. Approved adjudication is required ...

Guidehouse

Lead AI Software Engineer

Ability to Obtain Public Trust What You Will Do Guidehouse Technology is seeking a highly experienced, driven Lead AI Software Engineer to join our growing team supporting federal clients. This role ...

HP IQ

Lead AI Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

They are seeking a Lead AI Software Engineer to design and develop high-performance services for AI workloads across edge and cloud environments. Responsibilities : • Design, build, and maintain ...

HP IQ

Lead AI Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$190K - $270K/yr

We are looking for a Lead Software Engineer to design and develop high-performance, scalable services to support AI workloads across edge and cloud environments. What You Might Do * Design, build ...

Leidos LLC

Lead AI Software Developer

Gaithersburg, MD · On-site

$87K - $157K/yr

Lead AI Software Developer Leidos is seeking a Lead AI Software Developer to join the Air Traffic Business Area within the Homeland Sector, supporting the development of the Leidos Common Baseline.

HP IQ

Lead AI Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$190K - $270K/yr

We are looking for a Lead Software Engineer to design and develop high-performance, scalable services to support AI workloads across edge and cloud environments. What You Might Do * Design, build ...

HP

Lead AI Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA

$190K - $270K/yr

We are looking for a Lead Software Engineer to design and develop high-performance, scalable services to support AI workloads across edge and cloud environments. What You Might Do * Design, build ...

Bigcommerce

Lead AI Software Engineer

$182K - $259K/yr

We're seeking a highly accountable, and impact-driven AI Lead Software Engineer to play a pivotal role in shaping and executing our AI vision. As a key member of technical staff, you'll collaborate ...

Bigcommerce

Lead AI Software Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site +1

$182K - $259K/yr

We're seeking a highly accountable, and impact-driven AI Lead Software Engineer to play a pivotal role in shaping and executing our AI vision. As a key member of technical staff, you'll collaborate ...

Feedonomics

Lead AI Software Engineer

$182K - $259K/yr

We're seeking a highly accountable, and impact-driven AI Lead Software Engineer to play a pivotal role in shaping and executing our AI vision. As a key member of technical staff, you'll collaborate ...

Genesis10

Lead AI Software Engineer - Hybrid

Charlotte, NC · On-site

$59.53 - $67.53/hr

Genesis10 is currently seeking a Lead AI Software Engineer for a hybrid position with a Global Financial Institution located in Raleigh, NC, Charlotte, NC, or Irving, TX. This is a 12+ month contract ...

Klaviyo

Senior Lead AI Software Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

How You'll Make an Impact The Amplify team builds the internal platforms, automation, and AI-driven systems that power how Klaviyos work every day. As a Senior Lead Software Engineer on Amplify, you ...

Klaviyo

Senior Lead AI Software Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

How You'll Make an Impact The Amplify team builds the internal platforms, automation, and AI-driven systems that power how Klaviyos work every day. As a Senior Lead Software Engineer on Amplify, you ...

Leidos

Lead AI Software Developer

Gaithersburg, MD · On-site

$125K - $157K/yr

Leidos is seeking a Lead AI Software Developer to join the Air Traffic Business Area within the Homeland Sector, supporting the development of the Leidos Common Baseline . Common Baseline is a ...

Leidos

Lead AI Software Developer

Gaithersburg, MD · On-site +1

$125K - $157K/yr

Leidos is seeking a Lead AISoftware Developer to join the Air Traffic Business Area within the ... engineering and AI-augmented software development practices. You'll work on software that directly ...

Ports North

AI Engineering Team Lead (.NET / React) Overview We are seeking an AI Engineering Team Lead to lead a team of software engineers while remaining deeply involved in architecture, development, and ...

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All JobsTechnology JobsSoftware JobsSoftware Development Manager JobsLead Ai Software Engineer Jobs

Lead Ai Software Engineer information

See salary details

$83K

$145.9K

$198K

How much do lead ai software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead ai software engineer in the United States is $145,890.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $121,000.00 and $168,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Lead AI Software Engineer do?

A Lead AI Software Engineer oversees the design, development, and deployment of artificial intelligence solutions within an organization. They lead teams of engineers and data scientists, making technical decisions on AI models, algorithms, and system architecture. Their responsibilities include mentoring team members, ensuring project milestones are met, collaborating with stakeholders, and staying updated on the latest AI advancements. The role requires both deep technical expertise in AI and strong leadership and project management skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Lead AI Software Engineer?

To thrive as a Lead AI Software Engineer, you need deep expertise in machine learning, software development, and algorithm design, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch, cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure), and experience with data pipelines are commonly required, along with relevant certifications. Leadership, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are essential soft skills for guiding teams and collaborating with stakeholders. These skills ensure the successful delivery of AI solutions that meet business needs while fostering innovation and maintaining technical excellence.

How does a Lead AI Software Engineer typically collaborate with data scientists and other engineering teams?

As a Lead AI Software Engineer, you play a central role in bridging the gap between data science and engineering. You’ll frequently collaborate with data scientists to translate experimental models into production-ready code, ensuring scalability and reliability. You’ll also coordinate with backend, frontend, and DevOps teams to integrate AI solutions into larger systems, manage model deployment pipelines, and uphold coding standards. Strong communication and project management skills are essential for aligning technical efforts and driving cross-functional projects to success.

What is the difference between Lead Ai Software Engineer vs Ai Software Engineer?

AspectLead Ai Software EngineerAi Software Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS or related field, experience in AI/MLBachelor's/Master's in CS or related field, entry to mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentLeading projects, mentoring teams, designing AI solutionsDeveloping and implementing AI models, coding, testing
Industry UsageUsed across tech, finance, healthcare, and more for leadership rolesCommonly employed in tech companies, startups, research labs

The main difference between a Lead Ai Software Engineer and an Ai Software Engineer lies in their responsibilities and experience level. The Lead typically oversees projects, mentors team members, and makes strategic decisions, while the Ai Software Engineer focuses on developing AI models and coding. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and are vital in AI-driven industries.

What cities are hiring for Lead Ai Software Engineer jobs?

Cities with the most Lead Ai Software Engineer job openings:

What states have the most Lead Ai Software Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Lead Ai Software Engineer jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Lead Ai Software Engineer jobs?

For Lead Ai Software Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Lead Ai Software Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $145,890 per year, or $70.1 per hour.

Lead AI Software Engineer

Shoreview, MN • On-site

Nextek, LLC
See more jobs at Nextek, LLCexternal

$100K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 23 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Take ownership of complex AI development initiatives and shape architecture and technical direction.

  • Lead the design, development, and deployment of AI-powered applications, ensuring they are reliable and scalable.

  • Mentor engineers, make technical decisions, and remain hands-on throughout the development process.

Job description

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.
What You Bring
Required
  • 10+ years of professional software development experience
  • Significant experience designing, architecting, and delivering complex production software applications
  • Extensive hands-on experience building and deploying production AI-powered applications
  • Strong, hands-on experience with Laravel, Next.js, and React
  • Proven experience with OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Anthropic, or similar LLM platforms
  • Strong experience with prompt engineering, RAG, embeddings, and AI workflows
  • Experience integrating AI/LLM capabilities into production web applications
  • Proven experience making architectural decisions for complex applications
  • Demonstrated experience leading technical initiatives from concept through production
  • Experience mentoring engineers and establishing engineering best practices
  • Experience with .NET / C#
  • Experience with SQL Server and/or MySQL
  • Experience building and deploying applications in AWS and/or Microsoft Azure
  • Strong understanding of scalability, security, performance, and maintainability
  • Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
  • Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Ability to work independently, take ownership, and drive initiatives through completion
Preferred
  • Experience architecting relational databases
  • Experience with both AWS and Azure
  • Experience with both SQL Server and MySQL
  • Experience with AI agents, tool/function calling, vector databases, LLM orchestration, or AI evaluation
  • Experience establishing AI development standards, architecture, or best practices
  • Experience evaluating and selecting AI models, frameworks, and technologies
  • Experience mentoring senior and mid-level engineers
  • Experience in financial services or other highly regulated industries
Beyond Technical Skills, We Value Engineers Who
  • Handle change well and adapt quickly
  • Take initiative and ownership
  • Communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Lead by example and support team success
  • Stay curious and continuously learn emerging AI technologies
  • Are comfortable evaluating new technologies and determining where they can provide meaningful business value
  • Think strategically while remaining hands-on and execution-focused
  • Are confident making complex technical decisions and providing architectural direction
  • Balance innovation with security, reliability, scalability, and maintainability
  • Enjoy mentoring engineers and helping grow the technical capabilities of the team
  • Are motivated by building intelligent systems that real businesses depend on
Our Benefits
  • Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
  • 4 weeks of accrued PTO, plus 9 paid holidays
  • Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and 401(k)
  • 8 hours of paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO)
  • Ongoing professional development and AI training opportunities
  • A collaborative team that values expertise, initiative, and growth
Why You'll Love Working Here
  • Opportunity to lead AI solutions that solve real business problems
  • Collaborative environment where ideas and innovation are valued
  • Ability to influence architecture, AI strategy, and technical direction
  • Opportunity to lead technical initiatives and mentor other engineers
  • Ability to remain hands-on while having significant technical influence
  • Fast-moving organization where your work has visible impact
  • Opportunity 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

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