Lead AI Software Engineer

Lead AI Software Engineer

Guidehouse Technology is seeking a highly experienced, driven Lead AI Software Engineer to join our growing team supporting federal clients. This role is ideal for a senior technologist who is passionate about building scalable, secure, and user-centric AI-enabled solutions to address complex government mission challenges.

You will lead the design, development, and deployment of full-stack web applications on AWS, integrating workflow orchestration, relational data systems, advanced analytics, and intuitive, accessible user interfaces. Working with cross-functional teams—including software engineers, data scientists, product managers, and mission stakeholders—you will deliver high-impact solutions that combine modern engineering practices with Artificial Intelligence capabilities.

This role emphasizes hands-on leadership, strong engineering fundamentals, and modern software development practices—including the use of Generative AI–assisted coding tools to accelerate development, improve quality, and enhance delivery velocity.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of AI-enabled full-stack web applications deployed on AWS.
• Develop and maintain end-to-end solutions spanning frontend (ReactJS), backend services (Java/Python), APIs, workflow orchestration, and relational database layers.
• Design and implement accessible, user-friendly web interfaces, ensuring compliance with Section 508 and usability standards.
• Architect and manage RDBMS-based data models (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL, Aurora) supporting transactional and analytical use cases.
• Build and integrate workflow and process automation capabilities to support business and mission operations.
• Develop data visualization and analytics features to enable decision-making through dashboards, charts, and interactive UI components.
• Lead implementation of AI-enabled features such as intelligent search, chatbots, document processing, or agent-driven workflows.
• Utilize Generative AI–assisted development tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code) for code generation, debugging, testing, refactoring, and documentation while ensuring code quality and security.
• Operate within a SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) environment, contributing to agile release trains, sprint planning, backlog refinement, and cross-team coordination.
• Implement and enforce DevSecOps practices, leveraging application security tools (e.g., SAST, DAST, SCA) to identify, analyze, and remediate software vulnerabilities throughout the development lifecycle.
• Design and maintain CI/CD pipelines with integrated security scanning, automated testing, and compliance checks.
• Mentor engineering teams, conduct code reviews, and establish best practices in software design, security, and cloud-native development.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to prototype, iterate, and deliver scalable and secure solutions aligned to mission requirements.

What You Will Need

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Federal or DoD "Public Trust"; candidates must obtain approved adjudication of their Public Trust prior to onboarding with Guidehouse. Candidates with an active Public Trust or Suitability are preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related technical field, or additional four (4) years equivalent experience in lieu of degree.
• Minimum six (6) years of professional experience in software engineering, including experience in a senior or lead role.
• Expert-level proficiency in Java or Python for backend development.
• Strong hands-on experience with ReactJS for modern frontend application development.
• Demonstrated experience building and deploying full-stack web applications in AWS cloud environments.
• Experience implementing solutions involving workflow orchestration, relational databases (RDBMS), and data visualization.
• Experience designing and developing accessible web user interfaces, including familiarity with accessibility standards and testing tools.
• Experience designing and integrating RESTful APIs, microservices architectures, and distributed systems.
• Hands-on experience with Generative AI–aided coding and software development tools to improve productivity, code quality, and delivery efficiency.
• Experience working within a SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) environment.
• Experience using application security and DevSecOps tools to identify, analyze, and remediate vulnerabilities across the software development lifecycle (e.g., SAST, DAST, SCA, container and dependency scanning).
• Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, version control, and secure coding practices.
• Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to lead technical teams and engage stakeholders effectively.

What Would Be Nice to Have

• Experience developing AI/ML applications, such as Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), chatbots, semantic search, or agentic workflows.
• Familiarity with AI frameworks such as LangChain, Haystack, Semantic Kernel, or similar.
• Experience with AWS services such as Lambda, ECS/Fargate, API Gateway, Step Functions, S3, and Glue.
• Experience with modern data architectures, including lakehouse, federated query engines, or analytics platforms.
• Experience with data visualization tools and libraries (e.g., D3.js, Plotly, Tableau, QuickSight).
• Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, AWS CDK, CloudFormation).
• Knowledge of federal security and compliance standards (FISMA, FedRAMP, NIST 800-53).
• SAFe certification or additional Agile certifications.
• Experience mentoring teams and driving adoption of secure, AI-enabled, cloud-native development practices.

The annual salary range for this position is $113,000.00-$188,000.00. Compensation decisions depend on a wide range of factors, including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, security clearances, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs.

What We Offer:

Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace.

Benefits include:

• Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
• Parental Leave
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Group Term Life and Travel Assistance
• Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance
• Health Savings Account, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Transit and Parking Commuter Benefits
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development, Certifications & Learning Opportunities
• Employee Referral Program
• Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
• Care.com annual membership
• Employee Assistance Program
• Supplemental Benefits via Corestream (Critical Care, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Assistance and ID theft protection, etc.)
• Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus

About Guidehouse

Guidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer–Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.

Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

If you have visited our website for information about employment opportunities, or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Guidehouse Recruiting at View phone number on click.appcast.io or via email at View email address on click.appcast.io. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodation.

All communication regarding recruitment for a Guidehouse position will be sent from Guidehouse email domains including @guidehouse.com or View email address on click.appcast.io. Correspondence received by an applicant from any other domain should be considered unauthorized and will not be honored by Guidehouse. Note that Guidehouse will never charge a fee or require a money transfer at any stage of the recruitment process and does not collect fees from educational institutions for participation in a recruitment event. Never provide your banking information to a third party purporting to need that information to proceed in the hiring process.

If any person or organization demands money related to a job opportunity with Guidehouse, please report the matter to Guidehouse's Ethics Hotline. If you want to check the validity of correspondence you have received, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. Guidehouse is not responsible for losses incurred (monetary or