Senior Manager, AI Engineer Intelligence Layer

Alvarez & Marsal is hiring a Senior AI Engineer to build and scale the Intelligence Layer , an A&M knowledge-graph-based platform that securely makes structured and unstructured knowledge available through search experiences. This role combines platform engineering with AI integration and agentic workflow development, with a focus on secure access, governance, and production reliability.

Location: Chicago, IL (onsite) | Salary: USD 190,000 - 210,000 per year

What you’ll build

• Components of the Intelligence Layer, including ingestion pipelines , knowledge graph models , retrieval services , APIs , and user-facing capabilities .
• Graph schemas and queries using Neo4j and Cypher (or comparable graph technologies).
• Integrations that connect enterprise structured data and unstructured content , while preserving source permissions , metadata , and governance requirements .
• LLM integrations, including applying the Model Context Protocol (MCP) so Intelligence Layer capabilities are available to approved AI tools .
• Production-grade agentic pipelines with multi-step orchestration, tool routing, MCP-based tool use, retrieval, state management, evaluation, guardrails, observability, and human-in-the-loop controls.
• Secure, maintainable software that supports client confidentiality , access control , reliability , and observability .

How the work is delivered

• Partner with the Lead and Architect and delivery partners on implementation, testing, debugging, code review, and technical documentation.
• Communicate risks and blockers early and help the team make practical technical decisions as priorities evolve.

What you bring

• 5+ years of software engineering experience building production applications or data platforms.
• Hands-on experience with knowledge graphs , graph data modeling , and graph query languages, ideally Neo4j and Cypher .
• Full-stack development experience with strong Python and back-end skills, plus working experience with a modern front-end framework ( React is listed).
• Experience designing, building, and consuming APIs and integrating multiple structured and unstructured data sources.
• Practical experience with Claude , ChatGPT , or comparable large language model platforms.
• Hands-on experience building production agentic pipelines or workflows, including orchestration, tool use, retrieval, state management, evaluation, guardrails, observability, or human oversight.
• Working knowledge of Model Context Protocol , including how MCP servers expose tools and data to AI clients.
• Experience working directly with third-party delivery vendors on implementation, technical review, issue resolution, and delivery coordination.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and documentation skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).

Technologies you’ll use

• Neo4j , Cypher , Python
• Large language model platforms, Claude , ChatGPT
• Model Context Protocol (MCP)
• OAuth 2.0 , OpenID Connect , Microsoft Entra ID , Microsoft Azure
• React , APIs , agentic pipelines

Benefits

• Healthcare plans, flexible spending and savings accounts, life, AD&D, and disability coverages for regular employees working 30+ hours per week.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, including an annual discretionary contribution when eligibility requirements are met.
• Paid time off including vacation, personal days, seventy-two (72) hours of sick time (prorated for part-time employees), ten federal holidays, one floating holiday, and parental leave.

First-year outcomes

• Support delivery of the initial production iteration of the Intelligence Layer knowledge graphs.
• Deliver reusable agentic pipeline components supporting secure, governed workflows across business units and use cases.
• Enable global search and business unit specific search across approved structured and unstructured data sources.
• Ship tested ingestion, graph, retrieval, API, and user-interface components internal teams can operate and extend.
• Establish reusable engineering patterns and documentation to expand to additional business units and data sources.

Preferred qualifications

• Hands-on experience building MCP servers , agent tools, or custom AI integrations.
• Experience with Microsoft Azure services for application hosting, data, search, identity, or AI.
• Experience implementing enterprise authentication and authorization using Microsoft Entra ID , OAuth 2.0 , OpenID Connect , token scoping, or on-behalf-of flows.