Senior Software Engineer, Full-Stack Applications - Ratings Technology (Chicago)

Senior Software Engineer, Full-Stack Applications - Ratings Technology

As one of the world’s top three credit ratings agencies, Fitch Ratings plays a critical role in global capital markets by providing credit analysis, ratings, research, and commentary to financial market participants. For over 100 years, Fitch Ratings has been creating value for global markets through its rigorous analysis and deep expertise, which have resulted in a variety of market leading tools, methodologies, indices, research, and analytical products. Fitch Ratings is part of Fitch Group, a global leader in financial information services with operations in more than 30 countries, which also includes Fitch Solutions. With dual headquarters in London and New York, Fitch Group is owned by Hearst. Join our fast‑growing Toronto innovation hub, where you’ll help reinvent an industry using decades of deep proprietary data and a modern technology stack. Backed by strong enterprise support, you’ll build reliable, explainable intelligence at real scale within a collaborative, outcome-driven environment. If you’re looking for purposeful work, continuous learning, and a place where your impact and growth can accelerate, this is where you’ll thrive. Want to learn more about our Toronto Innovation Hub? Visit: Fitch Ratings is seeking a

Senior Software Engineer

to join our organization. This role is about leading the development of what comes next: intelligent applications, full-stack platforms that seamlessly integrate cutting-edge AI capabilities, and user experiences that will fundamentally change how Ratings analysts work and how Fitch delivers insights to global financial markets. We need

experienced full-stack engineers

who understand AI's potential and can

lead technical initiatives

—not AI specialists, but seasoned technologists who can

architect solutions

that capitalize on AI-driven development capabilities and intelligent automation. If you're energized by "let's architect this the right way and push what's possible" rather than "this is how we've always done it," this is a

high-impact role

where you'll

drive technical excellence

and

mentor engineers

in one of the most exciting areas of technology today. What We Offer: Lead transformative full-stack applications with AI at the core

– Drive architecture and implementation of net-new applications using Java/Springboot, Python, and REACT that integrate cutting-edge generative AI capabilities; own technical decisions that enable elegant user experiences and bring intelligent automation to life Toronto as Fitch's AI innovation hub

– Be part of our strategic investment in Toronto as a center of excellence for AI-driven innovation; work in one of North America's most vibrant tech ecosystems alongside talented full-stack engineers;

establish yourself as a technical leader

in this growing innovation center Strategic impact and high visibility

–

Own production applications

that analysts and financial professionals use daily;

drive systems that change

how global financial markets operate; gain visibility through

technical leadership

and meaningful contributions Technical leadership and influence

–

Drive engineering best practices

,

mentor team members

, participate in architectural reviews, and grow toward principal/architect/leadership tracks; opportunity to establish yourself as a

thought leader

with influence across teams Innovation-first culture with technical ownership

–

Drive experimentation

with emerging technologies and

shape technical direction

; work with talented engineers who celebrate curiosity, embrace experimentation, and value your

technical perspective and experience

; environment where your

leadership matters. We'll Count on You To: Architect and lead full-stack applications

–

Design and drive implementation

of scalable application features using Java/Springboot, Python, and REACT;

own architectural decisions

for user interfaces, backend services, APIs, and infrastructure. Champion engineering excellence

–

Establish and enforce

engineering best practices, conduct code reviews,

mentor engineers

on code quality, drive CI/CD pipeline improvements, and

lead technical discussions

that balance innovation with reliability;

own technical debt management

and architectural improvements Mentor and elevate team capabilities

–

Provide technical mentorship

to engineers,

lead knowledge-sharing initiatives

,

conduct design reviews

, drive technical growth through thoughtful feedback, and contribute to building a

culture of engineering excellence

and continuous learning Balance innovation with pragmatic delivery

–

Drive features

that move fast while

establishing engineering standards

;

lead technical discussions

on trade-offs;

proactively identify and solve complex technical challenges

; and

own building applications

that are both cutting-edge and production-ready Own production reliability and technical excellence

–

Lead troubleshooting

of complex issues,

drive system performance

and scalability improvements,

establish monitoring and observability practices

, and

own operational excellence

of systems you architect What You Need to Have: Deep full-stack engineering expertise

–

8+ years

of hands-on experience building web applications, with

expert-level proficiency

in Java, Springboot, Python, REACT, and modern web technologies;

proven track record

of delivering complex, production-quality full-stack solutions at scale Polyglot programming mastery

–

Extensive professional experience

with both Java and Python; ability to

drive technical decisions

across different technology stacks and

architect solutions

that span diverse codebases Strong architectural and design expertise

–

Proven experience

designing maintainable, scalable systems;

deep understanding

of design patterns, RESTful APIs, microservices, distributed systems;

ability to make and own architectural decisions

that impact multiple teams Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field

(or equivalent experience) Mastery of modern development practices

–

Expert knowledge

of software development fundamentals including test-driven development, advanced Git workflows, sophisticated CI/CD pipelines, and

driving code quality

across teams Leadership and collaboration skills

–

Proven ability

to lead cross-functional teams,

mentor engineers

,

influence technical direction

, communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences, and drive alignment across engineers, product, and stakeholders Strategic mindset with AI understanding

–

Solid understanding

and practical knowledge of AI-enabled development practices and how they can improve engineering productivity and software delivery. Advanced problem-solving and technical depth

–

Exceptional analytical skills

, experience navigating complex technical challenges, ability to

drive multiple strategic initiatives

, and proven success tackling sophisticated problems at the intersection of full-stack engineering and AI. What Would Make You Stand Out: Cloud-native architecture expertise

–

Deep hands-on experience

with Docker, Kubernetes/EKS, AWS/Azure, microservices architecture, sophisticated CI/CD pipelines, and

architecting cloud-native solutions

at scale API architecture and system integration expertise

–

Expert experience

designing scalable RESTful APIs, architecting complex integrations, designing asynchronous workflows, and

creating robust interfaces

between systems Advanced frontend architecture

–

Deep expertise

with modern REACT patterns, complex state management, performance optimization, and

architecting intuitive user experiences

for sophisticated functionality Technical leadership in innovation environments

– History of

leading technical initiatives

in fast-paced environments,

driving architectural decisions

for greenfield products, or

owning technical direction

in early-stage initiatives built from the ground up Mentorship and technical influence

–

Proven track record

of mentoring engineers,

driving technical growth

across teams,

leading code review culture

, and

establishing engineering best practices

; recognized as a

technical leader

by peers Financial services or complex domain expertise

–

Deep understanding

of analytical workflows, financial products, or complex business domains; experience

translating business complexity

into elegant technical solutions Technical thought leadership

–

Active participation

in Toronto's tech community, speaking at meetups or conferences, contributing to open source, or recognized expertise in relevant technical domains Passion for engineering excellence and architecture

–

Drive high standards

for architectural practices, clean code, comprehensive testing, and maintainable systems;

recognized for technical craftsmanship

and

establishing quality standards Track record of technical evolution

–

Demonstrated history

of driving technology adoption,

leading architectural transformations

, and

expanding technical capabilities

across teams and organizations. If you're ready to

lead the development

of innovative applications,

drive technical excellence

, and

make strategic impact

with cutting-edge technology—this is the moment to join us. Why Choose Fitch: Hybrid Work Environment: 2 to 3 days a week in office required based on your line of business and location 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, financial wellness and tuition reimbursement programs that empower you to achieve your short and long-term goals

Promoting Health & Wellness: Comprehensive healthcare offerings that prioritize a healthy body & mind

Supportive Parenting Policies: Family-first policies, including a generous global parental leave plan, designed to help you balance career and family life effectively

Dedication to Giving Back: Paid volunteer days and support for community engagement initiatives

At Fitch, AI is embedded in how we work every day—supporting smarter decision-making, streamlining workflows, and enabling new ways to create value for our business and clients. Intelligent solutions are increasingly part of our day-to-day operations, helping teams work more efficiently and think differently as we continue to evolve. We’re looking for colleagues who are comfortable operating in an AI-enabled environment—or who are curious, adaptable, and eager to build their AI literacy over time. We value professionals who embrace technology as part of continuous learning and who are committed to using it thoughtfully to enhance how work gets done. Fitch is committed to providing global securities markets with objective, timely, independent and forward-looking credit opinions. To protect Fitch’s credibility and reputation, our employees must take every precaution to avoid conflicts of interests or any appearance of a conflict of interest. Should you be successful in the recruitment process at Fitch Ratings you will be asked to declare any securities holdings and other potential conflicts prior to commencing employment. If you, or your immediate family, have any holdings that may conflict with your work responsibilities, you may be asked to divest yourself of them before beginning work. Fitch is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, and other statuses protected by law. FOR CHICAGO ROLES ONLY:

Expected base pay rates for the role will be between 115,000 USD and 145,000 USD. Actual salaries will be determined on an individualized basis and may vary based on factors including but not limited to education, training, experience, past performance, and other job-related factors. Base pay is one part of Fitch’s total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, discretionary bonuses, long-term incentives, and other benefits sponsored by Fitch.