Senior Applications Engineer I

About Kirkland & Ellis

At Kirkland & Ellis, we don't just meet the standard for legal excellence - we set it. Our culture is built on teamwork, ingenuity and an unwavering commitment to continuous growth. We tackle the most sophisticated legal challenges with bold ideas and innovative solutions, powered by the exceptional experience and ambition of our 7,000+ people, including 4,000+ attorneys, across 24 offices worldwide. Our dedicated professionals share our lawyers' commitment to excellence and show up each day to do meaningful work that helps drive global business, investment and innovation forward.

What You'll Do

Are you a hands-on HR technology expert who thrives on leading complex system implementations and shaping scalable, secure solutions?

As a Senior Application Engineer I - HR Technologies, you'll play a critical role in owning the full lifecycle of the firm's HR technology ecosystem. From implementation to optimization, you'll lead the delivery of systems that power recruiting, onboarding, performance management, and Learning Management Systems (LMS), supporting teams across a global organization.

Working at the intersection of Human Resources (HR), Technology, Security, and external partners, you'll ensure solutions are aligned with strategic priorities, built for scale, and designed with a seamless user experience in mind. This is a high-impact role for someone who enjoys both technical depth and cross-functional collaboration-especially within a professional services or law firm environment.

Lead System Delivery: Own end-to-end implementation and lifecycle management of HR and talent systems, from requirements gathering through deployment and post-go-live support
Provide Advanced Support: Deliver Level 3 support for HR applications, diagnosing complex issues and implementing effective, sustainable solutions
Drive Technical Strategy: Serve as the primary technical and functional lead for Legal HR systems, advising on capabilities, best practices, and future roadmaps
Design User-Centered Solutions: Translate business needs into intuitive, high-quality system configurations that align with organizational goals
Ensure Governance & Compliance: Partner across HR, Technology, Security, and vendors to ensure systems meet all security, privacy, and governance standards
Build Integrations: Develop and maintain integrations across systems using APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), ensuring accuracy, reliability, and secure data flow
Strengthen Vendor Partnerships: Collaborate with vendors and developers to enhance solutions while aligning with internal technology and risk standards
Enable Data-Driven Decisions: Partner with stakeholders to design analytics and reporting that drive insight and informed decision-making
Maintain Documentation: Create and uphold system documentation, standards, and support procedures to ensure consistency and scalability

What You'll Bring

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field-or equivalent practical experience
Experience: 7+ years supporting and configuring HR technology solutions, including Learning Management Systems (LMS), recruiting, performance management, and talent platforms
Implementation Leadership: Proven success leading HR technology implementations or major enhancements across cross-functional teams
HR Systems Expertise: Strong understanding of HR and talent workflows, ideally within a law firm or professional services environment
Technical Skills: Experience with programming or scripting languages such as Java, .NET, or Python, along with strong SQL and data analysis capabilities
Integration Knowledge: Hands-on experience with Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms, APIs, and Single Sign-On (SSO) technologies (e.g., SAML, OAuth)
Problem Solving & Ownership: Analytical mindset with the ability to proactively identify, troubleshoot, and escalate issues as needed
Collaboration & Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across technical and business teams
Organization & Agility: Self-motivated and highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Qualifications:
Experience supporting HR systems within a law firm or large professional services organization
Hands-on experience with applicant tracking and talent acquisition platforms
Familiarity with Microsoft Azure, Active Directory, and identity management concepts
Experience building HR reporting, analytics, and dashboards

Compensation

The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position in Chicago. This range may differ based on your geographic location and cost of living considerations. At Kirkland & Ellis, we consider compensation more than just a base salary. We offer an exceptional range of flexible benefits including comprehensive healthcare, paid time off, and retirement. We also offer personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities all designed to help you realize your full potential both in life and at work.

Compensation Range:

Chicago: $149,000 - $166,000

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."

Don't meet every job requirement? That's okay! If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't perfectly fit every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right person for this role or others at Kirkland.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law. #LI-Hybrid #LI-AR1