Lead Software Engineer, Full-Stack Applications - AI Innovation squads

Lead Software Engineer, Full-Stack Applications – Innovation SquadsFitch Ratings is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to join our Innovation Tiger Team in Toronto—a greenfield initiative at the forefront of how AI will transform financial analysis. This isn't about incremental improvements to existing systems. This is about building what comes next: agentic systems, intelligent platforms, and capabilities that will fundamentally change how Ratings analysts work and how Fitch delivers insights to global financial markets.Fitch is at an inflection point with AI. We've built momentum, we have organizational buy-in from the top, and we're making a major strategic bet on Toronto to accelerate everything. You'll work with a dedicated team of technologists building net-new solutions that push boundaries, experiment boldly, and deliver transformative capabilities to the Ratings business. This is your opportunity to join early enough that your influence shapes everything, established enough that you have the resources and runway to succeed.We're looking for seasoned technologists who thrive on greenfield opportunities—whether you're a full-stack engineer excited about AI's potential, an MLE/AI engineer who wants to build production systems, or a technical leader who sees this inflection point for what it is. If you're energized by "what if we tried..." rather than "this is how we've always done it," this is a critical leadership role with tremendous upward potential where you won't be convincing skeptics—you'll be building real systems with real impact alongside talented people who are equally excited about what's possible.What We Offer:Ground-floor opportunity with organizational backing – Shape architectural decisions and technical vision for transformative AI systems while having the budget, leadership support, and runway that most startups can only dream ofBuild the future through greenfield innovation – Develop net-new agentic systems and intelligent platforms that will define how financial analysis happens, with freedom to experiment, fail fast, and push technological boundaries without legacy constraintsToronto as Fitch's AI innovation hub – Be part of our strategic investment in Toronto as a center of excellence for AI-driven innovation, working alongside talented engineers in one of North America's most vibrant tech ecosystemsReal impact from day one – Build production systems with real users and measurable outcomes, backed by cross-functional believers and leadership commitment to seeing this succeedCutting-edge technology and continuous learning – Access to the latest AI tools, frameworks, and platforms; training and conference budgets; and the expectation that you'll stay at the bleeding edge and bring those insights back to the teamCareer acceleration and visibility – High visibility to senior leadership, clear paths to principal/architect roles, and the opportunity to establish yourself as a thought leader in AI-driven financial technologyWe'll Count on You To:Build transformative greenfield solutions from the ground up – Design and architect net-new agentic systems and intelligent platforms using Java/Springboot, REACT, and emerging AI technologies that fundamentally change how analysts work and how Fitch operatesDrive AI innovation and experimentation boldly – Lead exploration of generative AI, intelligent automation, agentic workflows, LLMs, RAG architectures, and other emerging technologies; create proofs-of-concept; evaluate what's transformative versus what's hype; and turn experiments into production capabilitiesDefine technical vision and architecture for the future – Shape architectural decisions for AI-driven systems, establish technical standards, drive technology choices, and influence how Fitch approaches intelligent platforms across the organizationLead through innovation and influence – Partner with product visionaries, senior stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to translate ambitious ideas into elegant technical solutions; mentor engineers; and foster a culture of experimentation, learning, and calculated risk-takingChampion quality while moving fast – Balance innovation velocity with engineering excellence; implement CI/CD for rapid iteration; solve novel technical challenges at the intersection of AI and production systems; and build solutions that are both cutting-edge and reliableShape team culture and direction – Help define how the Tiger Team operates, what "good" looks like, and how we balance exploration with delivery; model the curiosity, boldness, and pragmatism needed to succeed in a greenfield innovation environmentWhat You Need to Have:Deep technical expertise – 15+ years of hands-on experience building enterprise applications or AI/ML systems, with strong proficiency in modern programming languages, frameworks, and production environments (Java/Springboot/REACT experience highly valued)Architectural mastery and greenfield experience – Proven track record of designing scalable systems from scratch; deep understanding of software architecture, design patterns, and the ability to make bold architectural decisions in ambiguous environmentsBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)Innovation and experimentation mindset – Demonstrated history of exploring emerging technologies, building proofs-of-concept, learning from failures, and translating experiments into production systems; comfort with ambiguity and rapid changeLeadership and influence – Track record of driving technical decisions, mentoring engineers, leading initiatives in fast-moving environments, and building credibility through results and visionAI curiosity or expertise – Genuine excitement about AI's potential to transform workflows; ability to separate signal from noise in emerging technology spaces; hands-on experience with AI/ML technologies is a significant advantageOutstanding collaboration and communication – Ability to articulate technical vision to diverse audiences, work effectively with cross-functional teams, and bring your whole self while remaining open to others' perspectivesWhat Would Make You Stand Out:Hands-on AI/ML experience – Direct experience with generative AI, LLMs, RAG architectures, agentic systems, intelligent automation, prompt engineering, or integrating AI capabilities into production applicationsModern cloud-native and DevOps expertise – Deep experience with Docker, Kubernetes/EKS, AWS/Azure, microservices architecture, sophisticated CI/CD pipelines, and cloud-native development patternsStartup or innovation team experience – History of building greenfield products, working in fast-paced innovation environments, or being part of 0-to-1 initiatives within larger organizationsTechnical thought leadership – Track record of establishing technical direction, contributing to open source, speaking at conferences, or writing about emerging technologies and their practical applicationsFinancial services domain knowledge – Understanding of analytical workflows, regulatory processes, credit ratings, or how technology enables better financial decision-makingToronto tech community connection – Active participation in Toronto's AI/ML or software engineering communities, or strong interest in being part of Toronto's growing technology ecosystemIf you're ready to build transformative AI systems with organizational backing, talented colleagues, and the resources to succeed—this is the moment to join us.Why Fitch?At Fitch Group, the combined power of our global perspectives is what differentiates us. Our global network of colleagues comes together to accomplish things greater than they ever could alone.Every team member is essential to our business, and each perspective is critical to our success. We embrace a diverse culture that encourages a free exchange of ideas, guaranteeing your voice will be heard and your work will have an impact, regardless of seniority.We are building incredible things at Fitch and we invite you to join us on our journey.About Fitch GroupFitch Group is a global leader in financial information services with operations in more than 30 countries. Wholly owned by the Hearst Corporation, we are comprised of three main businesses: Fitch Ratings | Fitch Solutions | Fitch Learning.For more information please visit our websites: | | 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 Group 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 TORONTO ROLES ONLY: Expected base pay rates for the role will be between 190,000 CAD and 240,000 CAD. 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. #LI-Group #LI-AT#LI-Hybrid