Lead AI Software Engineer in Saint Paul

As our platform continues to evolve, we are looking for a Lead AI Software Engineer who can take ownership of complex initiatives, shape architecture and technical direction, and turn emerging AI capabilities into reliable, scalable solutions. This role requires someone who can make sound technical decisions, mentor other engineers, and remain hands-on throughout development., * Opportunity to lead AI solutions that solve real business problems

• Collaborative environment where ideas and innovation are valued
• Ability to influence architecture, AI strategy, and technical direction
• Opportunity to lead technical initiatives and mentor other engineers
• Ability to remain hands-on while having significant technical influence
• Fast-moving organization where your work has visible impact
• Opportunity to grow alongside a rapidly expanding AI platform

Are you an experienced software engineer with a strong track record of building production applications and leading complex technical initiatives? Do you have deep hands-on experience with AI technologies and modern web development? If you’re looking for an opportunity to lead AI development while staying hands-on, this may be an excellent fit., * 10+ years of professional software development experience

• Significant experience designing, architecting, and delivering complex production software applications
• Extensive hands-on experience building and deploying production AI-powered applications
• Strong, hands-on experience with Laravel, Next.js, and React
• Proven experience with OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Anthropic, or similar LLM platforms
• Strong experience with prompt engineering, RAG, embeddings, and AI workflows
• Experience integrating AI/LLM capabilities into production web applications
• Proven experience making architectural decisions for complex applications
• Demonstrated experience leading technical initiatives from concept through production
• Experience mentoring engineers and establishing engineering best practices
• Experience with .NET / C#
• Experience with SQL Server and/or MySQL
• Experience building and deploying applications in AWS and/or Microsoft Azure
• Strong understanding of scalability, security, performance, and maintainability
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders

• Ability to work independently, take ownership, and drive initiatives through completion

• Experience architecting relational databases
• Experience with both AWS and Azure
• Experience with both SQL Server and MySQL
• Experience with AI agents, tool/function calling, vector databases, LLM orchestration, or AI evaluation
• Experience establishing AI development standards, architecture, or best practices
• Experience evaluating and selecting AI models, frameworks, and technologies
• Experience mentoring senior and mid-level engineers
• Experience in financial services or other highly regulated industries

Beyond Technical Skills, We Value Engineers Who

• Handle change well and adapt quickly
• Take initiative and ownership
• Communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Lead by example and support team success
• Stay curious and continuously learn emerging AI technologies
• Are comfortable evaluating new technologies and determining where they can provide meaningful business value
• Think strategically while remaining hands-on and execution-focused
• Are confident making complex technical decisions and providing architectural direction
• Balance innovation with security, reliability, scalability, and maintainability
• Enjoy mentoring engineers and helping grow the technical capabilities of the team
• Are motivated by building intelligent systems that real businesses depend on, At Nextek, we set high expectations, but we back them with support, collaboration, and opportunities to grow. If you are a Lead AI Software Engineer with extensive experience who enjoys building intelligent applications, solving complex problems, leading technical initiatives, and mentoring engineers, we encourage you to apply. Check out more amazing opportunities here: www.careers.gradientfinancialgroup.com

• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
• 4 weeks of accrued PTO, plus 9 paid holidays
• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and 401(k)
• 8 hours of paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO)
• Ability to work in-office four days per week with one remote workday
• Ongoing professional development and AI training opportunities
• A collaborative team that values expertise, initiative, and growth