Sr/Lead AI Backend Data Engineering - GenAI

As a Senior or Lead Backend Engineer on our Applied AI team, you will be at the forefront of integrating robust data engineering with next-generation AI capabilities. You will design, build, and maintain scalable backend systems and data pipelines that power critical functions across our platform - from fraud investigation and decision automation to process optimization. In this role, you will champion high data quality, system reliability, and stringent governance across all AI-driven initiatives, making a lasting impact on FICO's platform. This is an opportunity to collaborate with a high-caliber team and drive meaningful innovation through your deep expertise in backend engineering and applied AI.

What You'll Contribute

• Design and deploy scalable backend systems and data pipelines that seamlessly integrate applied AI capabilities into FICO's analytics and decision management platform.
• Build high-quality solutions for data ingestion, transformation, and storage, ensuring reliable, high-throughput data flow for real-time analytics.
• Design and implement LLM-powered solutions for decision automation, fraud investigation, and process automation within FICO's platform.
• Develop sophisticated prompting strategies and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures tailored to high-stakes, mission-critical applications.
• Partner with data scientists, ML engineers, and product teams to develop microservices and APIs that enable intelligent, data-driven decision-making.
• Optimize distributed architectures and implement real-time processing frameworks to support high-volume, low-latency workloads.
• Implement advanced monitoring, testing, and performance optimization techniques to ensure system reliability, security, and scalability.
• Define and evolve architectural patterns that support FICO's analytics and decisioning solutions at scale.
• Lead and mentor engineering team members, promoting best practices in software development, data engineering, AI integration, and systems design.

• In-depth experience in backend or data engineering, with a demonstrated track record of delivering complex, large-scale production systems.
• Strong coding skills in Python, Go, Java, or equivalent languages, with a commitment to clean, maintainable, and well-tested code.
• Hands-on experience with big data frameworks (e.g., Apache Spark, Kafka, Hadoop) and a strong understanding of both relational and NoSQL databases.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and container orchestration tools such as Docker and Kubernetes.
• Proven ability to design, build, and maintain scalable, production-grade backend systems with a focus on reliability and performance.
• Solid experience with testing frameworks (including A/B testing), performance optimization, and production monitoring/observability practices.
• Demonstrated experience integrating AI/ML solutions into production systems, including working with Large Language Models (LLMs) and related techniques.
• Experience with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures and familiarity with vector databases (e.g., Pinecone, Weaviate, pgvector) is strongly preferred.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to mentor engineers, influence technical direction, and collaborate effectively across disciplines.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. An advanced degree is a plus but not required.

• An inclusive culture strongly reflecting our core values: Act Like an Owner, Delight Our Customers and Earn the Respect of Others.
• The opportunity to make an impact and develop professionally by leveraging your unique strengths and participating in valuable learning experiences.
• Highly competitive compensation, benefits and rewards programs that encourage you to bring your best every day and be recognized for doing so.
• An engaging, people-first work environment offering work/life balance, employee resource groups, and social events to promote interaction and camaraderie.
• The targeted base pay range for this role is: $140,000 to $220,000 with this range reflecting differences in candidate knowledge, skills and experience.

FICO (NYSE: FICO) is a leading global analytics software company, helping businesses in 100+ countries make better decisions. Join our world-class team today and fulfill your career potential!, At FICO, you can develop your career with a leading organization in one of the fastest-growing fields in technology today - Big Data analytics. You'll play a part in our commitment to help businesses use data to improve every choice they make, using advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, optimization, and much more. FICO makes a real difference in the way businesses operate worldwide: * Credit Scoring - FICO® Scores are used by 90 of the top 100 US lenders. * Fraud Detection and Security - 4 billion payment cards globally are protected by FICO fraud systems. * Lending - 3/4 of US mortgages are approved using the FICO Score. Global trends toward digital transformation have created tremendous demand for FICO's solutions, placing us among the world's top 100 software companies by revenue. We help many of the world's largest banks, insurers, retailers, telecommunications providers and other firms reach a new level of success. Our success is dependent on really talented people - just like you - who thrive on the collaboration and innovation that's nurtured by a diverse and inclusive environment. We'll provide the support you need, while ensuring you have the freedom to develop your skills and grow your career. Join FICO and help change the way business thinks! Learn more about how you can fulfil your potential at www.fico.com/Careers FICO promotes a culture of inclusion and seeks to attract a diverse set of candidates for each job opportunity. We are an equal employment opportunity employer and we're proud to offer employment and advancement opportunities to all candidates without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. Research has shown that women and candidates from underrepresented communities may not apply for an opportunity if they don't meet all stated qualifications. While our qualifications are clearly related to role success, each candidate's profile is unique and strengths in certain skill and/or experience areas can be equally effective. If you believe you have many, but not necessarily all, of the stated qualifications we encourage you to apply.