Lead Software Engineer AI Materia AI

Lead Software Engineer – AI (Materia AI)

This posting is for proactive recruitment purposes and may be used to fill current openings or future vacancies within our organization.

Are you excited about building AI‑driven software that redefines how professionals work? Join a dynamic and highly skilled team at Thomson Reuters, where we combine the agility and innovation of a startup with the stability and resources of a global leader. As a Lead Software Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in developing AI‑powered systems that enhance accounting workflows through automation, intelligence, and seamless orchestration.

Focus: Engineers who can own end‑to‑end AI systems—from backend services and APIs to LLM‑driven workflows in production.

• Must have strong hands‑on Python backend experience (FastAPI/Flask, APIs, distributed systems).
• Exposure to Type Script/modern frontend frameworks is helpful, but not required.
• Proven experience in system design and architecture, building scalable, production‑grade systems.
• Strong emphasis on Python, backend engineering, and real‑world AI applications.
• This is a hybrid role, and the interview process may include onsite interactions.

• Design and build the backend for AI‑native products focused accounting research and accounting workflows such as tax filing, tax advisory, and audit.
• Develop and maintain backend services using Python, FastAPI, and PostgreSQL.
• Implement AI orchestration systems integrating LLMs from OpenAI, Anthropic, and other providers.
• Design APIs and backend logic for real‑time AI interactions.

• Ensure backend systems are secure, scalable, and optimized for AI‑driven applications.
• Monitor and enhance system performance, across millions of documents and AI driven interactions.

• Lead teams of engineers, AI researchers, and product teams to translate AI capabilities into real‑world applications, owning large projects or work streams.
• Foster a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement, exploring new AI technologies and methodologies.
• Assist in hiring and mentorship across the org.

You are a fit for the position of Lead Software Engineer if your background includes:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Related Field, or Equivalent Experience.
• 6-8 years of experience in backend development, building scalable web services and APIs.
• Strong Python skills, with experience in FastAPI, PostgreSQL, and AWS.
• Experience in distributed systems, API and data model design.
• Strong debugging skills and a track record of building production‑grade software.
• Strong communication and cross‑functional collaboration abilities.
• Passion for AI‑driven software and new engineering paradigms.
• A creative problem solver who enjoys exploring new technologies.
• Dedicated to building high‑quality, reliable AI‑first systems.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, evolving environment.

• Experience with AI‑driven systems, agent‑based architectures, or AI APIs from providers like OpenAI and Anthropic.
• Knowledge of vector databases, embeddings, or search‑based AI.
• Strong opinions on backend testing strategies and automation.

Eligible office location(s) for this role include one or more of the following:
New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and/or Irvine, CA;
McLean, VA;
Washington, DC. The base compensation range for the role in any of those locations is $146,800 USD – $272,600 USD. For eligible US locations, unless otherwise noted, the base compensation range is $127,400 USD – $236,600 USD. For Ontario, Canada, the base compensation range is $140,000 CAD – $175,000 CAD. This role may also be eligible for an annual bonus based on a combination of enterprise and individual performance.

• Hybrid Work Model: We’ve adopted a flexible hybrid working environment (2‑3 days a week in the office depending on the role) for our office‑based roles while delivering a seamless experience that is digitally and physically connected.
• Flexibility & Work‑Life Balance: Flex My Way is a set of supportive workplace…