IT AI Innovation Engineer; Hybrid

IT AI Innovation Engineer (Hybrid) – Holland & Knight LLP

This position may be based in our global operations center in Tampa, FL, or at the Firm's Dallas office.

We are seeking an IT AI Innovation Engineer to join our team. The IT AI Innovation Engineer will be responsible for designing, building, and maintaining software systems that leverage AI technology to enhance Holland & Knight’s legal practice and operational efficiency. This cross‑functional role spans systems architecture, software development, workflow orchestration, and project implementation. The engineer will collaborate closely with the Innovation team, IT Applications, IT Risk, Legal, and key business stakeholders to deliver cutting‑edge solutions tailored to the legal domain.

The IT AI Innovation Engineer position is currently a hybrid role with designated days required to be in the office.

• Develop AI-Oriented Workflows:
  Build advanced AI workflows such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines, prompt chaining, contract automation, and interactive Q&A assistants for attorneys and legal support teams.
• Full-Stack Engineering:
  Develop front-end systems using modern and scalable frameworks (React, Type Script, Vue) back‑end systems with Python or Node.js, and integration with internal and third‑party systems.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  
  Work with Cloud Architects, IT Security, UI/UX Designers, Application Developers, and Data Governance teams to ensure compliance, scalability, and reliability.
• Iterative Prototyping with Stakeholders:
  Rapidly build prototype solutions, engage legal users in feedback cycles, and refine tools to deliver high utility and usability.
• Software Lifecycle Management:
  Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines and Git Hub Action workflows, ensuring adherence to firm SDLC and data governance guidelines while fostering collaboration between teams.
• Evaluation and Innovation:
  Evaluate third‑party AI tools and vendor offerings through hands‑on testing, code-based validation, and performance benchmarking. Strive to deliver tailored, maintainable engineering solutions that align tightly with the firm’s unique legal needs.
• Security Focus:
  Using a strong understanding of secure development practices, apply principals from industry standard frameworks (OWASP Top 10, SANS CWE, NIST). Conduct code reviews, applying least‑privilege principals in design, and implementing automated security checks in CI/CD pipelines.

• Strong foundation in software engineering and AI systems design.
• Proficiency in full-stack development (React/Type Script, Python, Node.js).
• Experience with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and prompt engineering.
• Familiarity with vector databases, semantic search, and LLM orchestration.
• Proficiency with version control (git).
• Hands‑on experience with Service Now platform and architecture.
• Solid understanding of cloud architecture and tools (e.g., Azure, AWS).
• Experience with cloud infrastructure tools (Terraform, Kubernetes, AWS CDK, etc.)
• Knowledge of database systems.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or equivalent.

• Experience in legal tech or collaborating with legal professionals.
• Familiarity with governance frameworks and compliance standards.

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Moderate or advanced keyboard usage.

Our goal is to promote a work environment in which individuals have access to the resources they need to be their best both professionally and personally, which includes resources that encourage individuals to focus on their health and well‑being. Below is a list of just some of the benefits we offer: comprehensive medical (PPO and HDHPs), dental and vision plans including coverage for domestic partners;

life and AD&D insurance; short and long term disability insurance; tax‑advantaged accounts for health care expenses, including FSAs and HSAs; FSAs for…