Senior Software Developer / Technical Lead with an AI Focus

Senior Software Developer / Technical LeadAt Kyndryl, we design, build, manage and modernize the mission-critical technology systems that the world depends on every day. We are always moving forward – always pushing ourselves to go further in our efforts to build a more equitable, inclusive world for our employees, our customers and our communities.In our AI Led Application Modernization team we both create new applications and modernize old ones. We're a relatively new part of Kyndryl and operate with a startup mentality. We know that the way that software is created is changing and we have the opportunity to build a team that's aligned to the future. We end up modernizing all kinds of applications from the mainframe and Fortran to J2EE apps and ASP web front ends. We end up building new applications that are user centric. In both cases we use (and continue to improve) our Kyndryl Agentic Framework.Kyndryl is seeking a hands-on Senior Software Developer / Technical Lead with an AI focus to help us lead teams that build new applications and modernize existing ones for our clients. You will work as part of an AI Led Application Modernization team that believes the way software is designed, built, tested, and maintained is changing quickly—and that senior technical leaders have an opportunity to shape how teams adopt these changes responsibly and effectively. Among your responsibilities will be:Set technical direction for delivery teams, including architecture, engineering practices, modernization approach, AI adoption patterns, and quality expectations. Remain hands-on in the work by designing, coding, reviewing, testing, and troubleshooting software while helping other developers deliver well-architected solutions.Use AI-assisted development tools and create fit-for-purpose agents and agentic workflows using frameworks such as LangGraph, A2A, MCP-enabled tools, or similar approaches when they are the right solution for a client or delivery challenge.This role is both hands-on and leadership-oriented. You will write code, review AI-generated output, guide architectural decisions, mentor developers, establish delivery patterns, and help teams use AI responsibly to build and modernize software faster without sacrificing quality, security, or maintainability.Key ResponsibilitiesLead a team of developers through new application builds and modernization programs while remaining actively involved in design, coding, review, testing, and troubleshootingSet technical direction for projects, including architecture, integration patterns, modernization strategy, engineering standards, delivery approach, and technical risk managementUse AI-assisted development tools to accelerate code comprehension, generation, refactoring, testing, documentation, and migration planning while ensuring that outputs are validated by experienced engineering judgmentArchitect and build fit-for-purpose agents and agentic workflows using frameworks such as LangGraph, A2A, MCP-enabled tools, or comparable technologiesGuide modernization of existing applications by analyzing legacy code, identifying business logic, assessing constraints, defining target architecture, and creating incremental transformation roadmapsMake pragmatic architecture decisions across APIs, data models, cloud services, security, observability, integration, DevSecOps, and user experience considerationsMentor developers in software engineering practices, AI-assisted delivery techniques, secure coding, automated testing, maintainable design, and effective code reviewCollaborate with architects, product owners, business stakeholders, client technical teams, and delivery leaders to translate business needs into executable technical plansIdentify and manage risks in AI-generated software, including brittle code, hidden assumptions, weak tests, security issues, licensing concerns, maintainability gaps, and architecture driftCreate reusable patterns, accelerators, prompts, agents, reference architectures, and engineering practices that help the broader team deliver modernization work more effectivelyYou are a senior developer and technical leader who still enjoys building useful software and solving hard problems. You have seen enough delivery challenges to recognize patterns, anticipate risks, and help a team choose the right architecture and engineering approach for the situation.You have led developers through either new software development projects, application modernization efforts, or both. You know how to establish technical direction, break complex work into deliverable increments, coach developers through tradeoffs, and keep the team focused on building software that is secure, maintainable, testable, and aligned to business outcomes.You are excited by the changes coming to software development. You have a growth mindset, actively experiment with AI-assisted development tools, and are interested in creating practical agents, workflows, and engineering practices that help teams build, understand, modernize, and operate software more effectively.Required Technical and Professional Expertise7 years experience with hands-on software development experience delivering production-quality applicationsLead a team of developers, including mentoring, code review, technical planning, delivery guidance, and issue resolutionSet technical direction for software delivery projects, including architecture decisions, engineering standards, delivery patterns, and technical risk managementExperience with at least one modern programming language such as Java, Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, C#, Go, or comparable technologiesExperience with either new application development, application modernization, or bothPractical experience using AI-assisted development tools to support coding, refactoring, testing, documentation, debugging, code comprehension, and architecture explorationReview and validate AI-generated code for correctness, security, maintainability, performance, testability, and alignment with architecture and requirementsFamiliarity with agentic development concepts and experience building or prototyping fit-for-purpose agents using LangGraph, A2A, MCP-enabled tools, or similar frameworksStrong understanding of software architecture and engineering fundamentals, including APIs, data models, integration patterns, automated testing, version control, CI/CD, secure coding, observability, and operational supportAbility to analyze existing codebases, identify modernization opportunities, define target-state architecture, and create pragmatic incremental transformation plansAbility to communicate technical direction clearly to developers, architects, stakeholders, and client teamsGrowth mindset and enthusiasm for how AI will reshape the software development professionPreferred Technical and Professional ExperienceExperience modernizing legacy applications, including mainframe, Fortran, J2EE, ASP, monolithic, or other enterprise application estatesExperience architecting cloud-native applications, APIs, microservices, event-driven systems, or modern front-end experiencesHands-on experience with LangGraph, A2A, MCP, OpenAI or Anthropic APIs, Semantic Kernel, CrewAI, or comparable agent and orchestration frameworksExperience designing agents that interact with enterprise tools, repositories, documentation, tickets, CI/CD pipelines, runtime telemetry, or application dataExperience defining architecture guardrails, reference implementations, coding standards, reusable components, or engineering playbooks for delivery teamsFamiliarity with DevSecOps practices, automated quality gates, observability, containerization, infrastructure as code, and secure software delivery pipelinesExperience with retrieval-augmented generation, vector databases, tool calling, evaluation harnesses, prompt engineering, LLM application testing, or agent observabilityExperience working in Agile delivery environments with product owners, architects, business stakeholders, client executives, and distributed engineering teamsAbility to mentor and influence other developers in practical, responsible, and effective use of AI-assisted software development practicesThe compensation range for the position in the U.S. is - $143,640 to $273,000 based on a full-time schedule. Your actual compensation may vary depending on your geography, job-related skills and experience. For part time roles, the compensation will be adjusted appropriately. The pay or salary range will not be below any applicable state, city or local minimum wage requirement.There is a different applicable compensation range for the following work locations:California (San Francisco Bay Area):$172,440 to $327,600California (All Other):$158,040 to $300,360Colorado:$143,640 to $273,000Massachusetts$143,640 to $300,360New York City:$172,440 to $327,600Washington:$158,04