AI and Distributed Systems Backend Engineer - Manager - Consulting - Location OPEN

AI and Distributed Systems Backend Engineer - Manager - Consulting - Location OPEN

Location: Chicago

Other locations: Anywhere in Country

Date: Oct 16, 2026

Requisition ID: 1719599

Location: Anywhere in Country

At EY, we're all in to shape your future with confidence.

We'll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go. Join EY and help to build a better working world.

At EY, our purpose is to shape the future. The insights and quality services we provide help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and economies all over the world. We develop outstanding leaders who are teamed to deliver our promises to all our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

The opportunity

The Platforms Practice specializes in mission-critical, intelligent platforms for the world’s most ambitious organizations. Using our product-driven, AI-centric approach, we empower organizations to build for the intelligent digital future. Our elite team of product leaders, data scientists, designers, and software engineers enable our clients to solve their most complex product challenges and positively impact people and the world. Software engineers are problem solvers. While most have deep expertise in specific areas of the technology stack (front end, back end, data, security etc.), all are comfortable swimming across lanes. This is really important in delivering the product and platform outcomes that our customers expect.

In this role, you will be responsible for identifying and defining user/customer requirements while focusing on developing user interfaces (UI) across various platforms including mobile, web, and tablets. You will engage in coding, programming, and creating specifications to deliver development services that align with business requirements.

Your key responsibilities

As a Manager in Application Design and Development, you will lead the effective management and delivery of processes, solutions, and projects, ensuring a strong focus on quality and risk management. This role presents exciting challenges and opportunities for growth, allowing you to apply your expertise in guiding others and recommending quality solutions. You will engage regularly with external clients, actively participating in working sessions and leading workstreams from planning through execution and closure. Travel may be required as needed by external clients.

• Develop solutions to complex problems, recommending changes to policies and establishing procedures that impact your work area.
• Exercise judgment in selecting methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.
• Provide direction and feedback to team members, ensuring successful task completion.

Skills and attributes for success

To thrive in this role, you will need a blend of technical and business skills that will make a significant impact. Your ability to build and manage relationships, communicate effectively, and lead teams will be essential.

• Work on a team with a get-things-done attitude, so you'll have lots of autonomy to create impact while tackling complex technical challenges.
• Contribute to design and architecture investigations and decisions.
• Will work in an Agile/Scrum environment to deliver high quality software against aggressive schedules.
• Write clean, maintainable code, and perform peer code-reviews.
• Proficient in Agile delivery and development methodologies.
• Experienced in application delivery processes and application development tools.
• Strong understanding of quality assurance and testing practices.
• Knowledgeable in system development lifecycle and technology integration.

To qualify for the role, you must have

• Typically, no less than 4 - 6 years of relevant experience.
• Experience building successful production scalable software systems preferred.
• Programming languages: 4+ years of experience with Java or C#
• Frameworks: 4+ years of experience with Spring Boot, .Net or .Net Core
• Nice to have: Experience with AWS or GCP
• A solid grounding in Computer Science fundamentals.
• Experience with unit testing or TDD.
• A team player possessing strong communication skills with staff at all levels.
• You are a self- and quick learner, regardless of the languages and technologies used.
• Analytical mind with problem-solving aptitude.

Ideally, you'll also have

• A passion for delivering commercial software products and platforms to market
• Be deeply technical and constantly in a state of learning
• Able to communicate clearly and efficiently with a variety of audiences including developers, clients, customers, partners and executives
• Fearless in getting hands-on with technology and execution
• Strong understanding of modern software engineering processes
• Deep understanding and interest in cloud and distributed systems architectures
• Comfortable with ambiguity with a drive for clarity
• Experience leading and growing technical talent (for software engineering managers)
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Experience in managing change effectively.
• A track record of leading teams successfully.

What we look for

We seek individuals who are not only technically proficient but also possess the qualities of emotional agility, digital fluency, and commercial acumen. Top performers demonstrate the ability to build trust and value with clients while leading teams through change and innovation.

What we offer you

At EY, we'll develop you with future-focused skills and equip you with world‑class experiences. We'll empower you in a flexible environment, and fuel you and your extraordinary talents in a diverse and inclusive culture of globally connected teams. Learn more .

• We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package where you'll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to the business. The base salary range for this job in all geographic locations in the US is $142,600 to $261,500. The base salary range for New York City Metro Area, Washington State and California (excluding Sacramento) is $171,200 to $297,200. Individual salaries within those ranges are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills and geography. In addition, our Total Rewards package includes medical and dental coverage, pension and 401(k) plans, and a wide range of paid time off options.
• Join us in our team‑led and leader‑enabled hybrid model. Our expectation is for most people in external, client serving roles to work together in person 40-60% of the time over the course of an engagement, project or year.
• Under our flexible vacation policy, you'll decide how much vacation time you need based on your own personal circumstances. You'll also be granted time off for designated EY Paid Holidays, Winter/Summer breaks, Personal/Family Care, and other leaves of absence when needed to