Lead Developer - Data, AI, & Wealth Tech Platforms - Chicago, IL

Lead Developer - Data, AI, & Wealth Tech Platforms - Chicago, IL

Chicago IL Madison Ave - Chicago, IL 60606; Lincolnshire IL - Lincolnshire, IL 60069; Rockford IL Headquarters - Rockford, IL 61107

Overview

Salary Range $125,000.00 - $175,000.00 Salary Position Type Full Time

Description

From Complexity to Clarity Savant is growing fast—and with growth comes complexity. We're hiring a Lead Developer for our Data, AI, and Wealth Tech Platforms to help turn a fragmented ecosystem of systems into a single, trusted platform—one that supports scale, enables AI, and fundamentally improves the advisor experience. This role is about taking something messy and complex and building data infrastructure that actually works. Behind the scenes, wealth management is weighed down by a problem every advisor knows too well: too many tools, too much friction, and not enough time spent with clients. Advisors are forced to navigate dozens of systems just to do their jobs—and that complexity compounds as the firm grows. That's where you come in. We're building a unified advisor platform that brings client data, portfolio insights, tax planning, compliance, and AI-powered intelligence into one place. This is not a proof of concept or a side project. It's a core platform, directly tied to Savant's long-term growth strategy—and the data foundation you build will be part of it from day one. If you're an experienced data engineer who wants to build real systems, see your work used in the real world, and help shape how an organization operates at scale, this is a role where you can truly leave your mark.

What You'll Be Building As our Lead Developer – Data, you'll own the design, build, and reliability of enterprise-grade data pipelines that connect Savant's wealth technology ecosystem into our Microsoft Azure / Fabric data platform—fueling analytics, advisor dashboards, and AI use cases at scale. This is a hands-on, senior role for someone who can step in, make architectural decisions, and execute with confidence. You'll be working on things like:

• Production data pipelines integrating wealth platforms (Tamarac, eMoney, Salesforce FSC, tax tools, AI notetaking tools, and more)
• API-based and file-based ingestion patterns (REST, SFTP, vendor extracts, near-real-time feeds)
• Curated, analytics-ready datasets (dimensional and/or Data Vault-style)
• Data quality, reconciliation, monitoring, SLAs, and alerting
• Secure, compliant data movement and governance (lineage, access controls, retention)
• Preparing structured and unstructured data to support:
  • AI & ML initiatives
  • Vectorized content pipelines
  • Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) workflows

This role sits at the intersection of data engineering, AI enablement, and real business impact. How You'll Work

• Team: You'll be part of the Data Science & AI team, reporting directly to the Director.
• Collaboration: You'll work closely with partners across BI, Wealth, Compliance, Platform, and Analytics to deliver shared outcomes.
• Work Model: Hybrid, Chicago-area based. Expect ~1 day per week in the office, with flexibility beyond that.
• Schedule: Flexible overall, but this role supports offshore teams, so occasional early mornings or late evenings may be required to collaborate across time zones.
• Leadership & Ownership: There are no direct reports (yet), but mentorship and technical leadership are expected. You'll have autonomy, support, and visibility—without micromanagement. We trust senior engineers to own outcomes, make decisions, and raise the bar.

How Success Is Measured You'll know you're winning when:

• Data pipelines are reliable, monitored, and hitting SLAs
• New platforms integrate faster and cleaner than before
• Advisors spend less time navigating systems—and more time with clients
• AI and analytics teams can move faster because the data just works
• The platform you helped build becomes something the business depends on

Qualifications

Who We're Looking For (Non-Negotiables) This is a senior role. We're very intentional about what "qualified" means here. You must have:

• 7+ years of hands-on data engineering experience
• 1.5–2+ years of applied AI / advanced analytics engineering (Not workshops. Not demos. Real implementations)
• Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• Deep Microsoft Azure experience (required — not AWS-only, not GCP-only)
• Proven experience building production data pipelines that integrate complex enterprise platforms — ideally across tools like Tamarac, eMoney, Salesforce FSC, tax planning software, and AI notetaking tools (plus other vendor and internal feeds)
• Strong SQL & Python skills (Spark / PySpark experience highly valued)
• Experience with RAG, Prompt engineering, Multi-agent architectures, Memory patterns, Re-ranking, Semantic search / vector retrieval, Context augmentation, Human-in-the-loop patterns, Workflow routing or model routing, Chunking strategies for retrieval pipelines.
• Experience with Agentic Frameworks like CrewAI, Microsoft Agent Framework, LangGraph
• Real, production experience building and supporting data pipelines end-to-end in Microsoft Fabric
• Experience designing for reliability, scale, and operational ownership

Nice to have, but not required:

• Wealth management or financial services data experience

Dealbreakers: This role has a few non-negotiables, and we want to be transparent upfront so everyone's time is well spent.

• If you don't have hands-on Microsoft Azure experience, or your AI background is theoretical only (courses, workshops, proofs-of-concept without production work), this won't be the right fit—and that's okay.
• Location matters for this role. You must currently reside within 50 miles of a Savant office in the Chicago, IL area.
  • Preferred office locations include Lincolnshire, IL, our Downtown Chicago (Loop) office, and Rockford, IL.
  • This is a hybrid role and requires in-office presence once per week for connection, collaboration, and relationship-building.

We're intentionally looking for someone who can be embedded with the team and actively participate in both technical build work and in-person collaboration.

Why Join Us?

For nearly 40 years, Savant Wealth Management has served as a trusted advisor to established individuals, families, and businesses seeking clarity and confidence in their financial lives. Our name, rooted in the Latin word sapere—”to be wise”—reflects our commitment to evidence-based investing and the power of decision-making based on deep knowledge. We are a fee-only, independent, fiduciary wealth management firm providing comprehensive guidance on investments, financial planning, tax and business consulting, estate planning, trust services, and family office support. At the heart of our firm is a culture of lifelong learning—one that values curiosity, continuous improvement, and helps clients pursue their ideal future with purpose and discipline. Our Vision: Transform personal and financial dreams into goals and goals into reality. Our Mission: To build one million ideal futures for our clients, our team, and the communities we serve. Our Values: Excellence, Integrity, Lifelong Learning, Respect, Growth, Servant Leadership

The Perks: At Savant, we are committed to supporting our employees as well as investing in their well-being and growth. We take a market-based approach to compensation. The expected base salary range for this role for the Chicago market is $125,000 - 175,000. However, final base pay will be carefully determined based on several factors, including responsibilities, skills, relevant experience, geographic location, and market conditions. Additionally, this role may be eligible for other forms of compensation. We also offer a benefits package designed to enhance both your personal and professional life. Below is an overview of our total rewards offering. The benefits available for this