Technical Lead- RAG

Technical Lead

Our client is seeking a hands‑on Technical Lead to shape the architecture, infrastructure, and delivery of a new web platform powered by an advanced retrieval‑augmented generation (RAG) search experience. This role combines strategic technical leadership with active engineering contributions, guiding a small cross‑functional team to build a secure, scalable, and high‑performance AI‑driven application.

This role is fully remote.

• Define the overall technical vision and system architecture for a next‑generation web platform featuring an AI‑enhanced, RAG‑based search experience.
• Architect cloud infrastructure and platform components on Google Cloud, including AI search capabilities, vector retrieval, and supporting services.
• Develop the data ingestion, embedding, and indexing pipelines that enable accurate and efficient search functionality.
• Build and maintain Dev Ops foundations such as CI/CD pipelines, automated builds, environment management, IAM strategies, and deployment workflows.
• Partner closely with backend developers to design and validate API contracts, integration points, and middleware layers that interface with AI services.
• Lead architectural reviews, set engineering standards, mentor team members, and ensure consistent code quality across the development team.
• Collaborate with technical leadership and production partners to translate strategy into actionable plans, estimates, and delivery milestones.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical blockers to keep development moving smoothly.
• Prioritize system performance, scalability, monitoring, and security throughout the design and implementation process.

• 7+ years of hands‑on software engineering experience, including leading technical direction on cloud‑based application builds.
• Strong expertise with Google Cloud Platform services, including AI tooling, search components, storage solutions, service accounts, IAM management, and core networking concepts.
• Demonstrated experience architecting or implementing RAG workflows, vector search, or similar AI‑powered search technologies.
• Exceptional system design capabilities with the ability to translate ambiguous goals into well‑defined technical architectures.
• Proficiency in Dev Ops practices, including CI/CD automation, deployment pipelines, and modern cloud infrastructure operations.
• Ability to mentor engineers, conduct code reviews, and guide teams toward delivering high‑quality, production‑ready solutions.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to partner effectively across engineering, design, and production functions.
• Experience with Brightspot CMS—custom models, integrations, or frontend delivery workflows—is a plus.

Compensation:
Up to $55‑$75/hr. (DOE)

Vander Houwen Contractors Enjoy Exceptional Benefit Perks! As an eligible contract employee with Vander Houwen, you’ll have access to a full suite of benefits designed with your well‑being in mind. Our comprehensive package includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short‑ and long‑term disability, and a matching 401(k) to help secure your future.

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Vander Houwen is an award‑winning, Women & Diversity‑Owned, WBENC certified professional staffing firm. Founded in 1987, Vander Houwen places experienced professionals across the nation! Our recruitment teams specialize in either Technology and IT, Engineering, Human Resources, or Accounting and Finance career markets. Partner with us to land your next exciting career!

Vander Houwen is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E‑Verify. Vander Houwen does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state, or federal civil rights laws.

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